10 Free (or Cheap!) Festive Activities to Do This Christmas

Sleigh-bells ring and that can mean only one thing… it’s time to spend a load of cash on things you neither want nor need. Christmas is an expensive time of year. But it doesn’t have to be. Now that we’re well and truly in the festive season, let’s take a look at some of the free and cheap activities you can do with your family.

1. Film a Christmas Newsletter Video

Want to share some news with your loved ones? While you can write a festive newsletter to your family and friends, here’s a fun, virtual idea. Why not gather your household and film a newsletter to send to people? During the short and sweet video, you can each share a little snippet of news and something that made you smile in 2020. When you’re done, go ahead and send the video to the people that matter the most. Happy holidays!

2. Make Your Own Christmas Cards

Looking for a fun activity that doesn’t cost the earth? Look around your home for craft materials. You could use old paper, some broken decorations, or even photos to make your own Christmas cards. Be as creative as possible when it comes to making these. You can send them out to your loved ones or brighten up the neighbours day with them.

3) Write a letter to santa

Keeping the kids entertained over Christmas can be really tough! One of the ways to get their attention is to talk about their favourite man in a red coat… Santa. Ask your kids to write a letter to the man himself ahead of Christmas day. Rather than focussing on what they want for Christmas, tell them to write all of the good things they’ve done this year.

4. Make Some Paper Snowflakes

Making paper snowflakes is a fun and, importantly, cheap festive activity. Start by getting some old paper and a pair of scissors. Fold the paper up into a tiny square. Next, start cutting little shapes into the paper to make a unique design. When you unfold the paper, you will have a completely original snowflake. Stick it in your window for decoration!

5. Learn Some Festive Songs

You might not be able to go Christmas carolling this year, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t sing a tune! Chances are, you already know a whole bunch of festive songs. However, it could be the perfect time to learn some new ones too. Check out the best Christmas carols online and pick out a few you don’t know to perfect this year!

6. Go Out and See The Lights

Have your neighbours been decorating their homes? If you want to get out and have a nice winter walk, here’s a fun activity for you and the family. Find out where the best Christmas lights are in your hometown and visit those streets. You can even make a game out of it with your family. Why not rate your favourite houses out of ten? (Just make sure the neighbours don’t hear you calling their decorations a four out of ten!)

7. Track Santa’s Journey Online

Next up, we’ve got a fun, virtual activity that small children love! It’s amazing to think that Santa travels all around the world in just 24 hours. From Christmas Eve onward, you can track Santa’s journey in real-time. Head to Norad Santa to find out where he is at any given time.

8. Host a Fun Night on Zoom

If you’re not seeing your family members this year, but still want to connect with them, why not schedule a Zoom call? While you might be done with quizzes for the year (aren’t we all?), there are plenty of other ways that you can have fun online.

For example, you might want to play a board game or play bingo with them via the magic of a video call. Try to be creative and come up with ways that you can spend time together on a call. You might want to play some music, crack open the wine, and have a party.

Need some inspiration to help you along the way? We’ve got you covered! Check out our list of festive Zoom activities[1]  that you can play with your family this year!

9. Attend a Free Online Event

Most real-life events might be postponed for a while… but that doesn’t mean that you have to miss out completely. Why not check out some free online events on Eventbrite and fill up your diary for the festive season?

From virtual Christmas carol concerts to online performances for the whole family, there’s something for everyone. Here are some of our highlights if you don’t know where to start:

• Elves: Disaster in the Control Room
• B.M. Holiday Magic Show
• Panto Tales!
• Little Red Riding Hood

Make sure you book or register for the event in advance. In some cases, the ‘ticket sales’ will end ahead of the event time. Yes, even though these events are free!

10. Donate Your Old Things to Charity

Is your home cluttered with things you don’t want or need? Now is the time to have a good old-fashioned clear out. The festive season is the perfect time to give something back to those less fortunate. Go through your things and see what you can donate to charity. Next, bag them up and give them to your local charity shop. Failing that, keep an eye out at your local church or community centre. These places may also be accepting donations too!

The Takeaway!

Christmas may be the time of excess, but that doesn’t mean that you have to spend over the odds. Try some of these free or cheap Christmas activities and you will have a ball of a time. Why not create a schedule and plan out something fun to do each day?