35 Unforgettable Christmas Eve Traditions Your Family Will Cherish Year After Year

Spend an enchanting evening taking in the holiday lights and decorations throughout your neighborhood. Whether you walk up and down the streets or drive past the houses, your night will be filled with Christmas Eve magic. Some cities and towns even host light shows and festivals, so check your local events calendar to find out if there’s one near you!

Christmas Eve wouldn’t be complete without holiday treats! To bring a cozy touch to your December 24 celebration, try a hot cocoa bar. Prepare mugs of hot chocolate and stack a station with seasonally inspired toppings like candy canes, marshmallows, whipped cream, and sprinkles that your kids can use to enhance their nice and toasty beverages.

If you’re looking for a great way to entertain your children on Christmas Eve, get them set up with kid-friendly Christmas crafts. Whether they make paper snowflakes, felt stockings, pinecone garlands, or painted ornaments, doing arts and crafts will fill your home with Christmas cheer. Don’t forget to put on a holiday playlist with all the best hits!

Your little ones have likely spent the past month watching all the Christmas classics, but we recommend saving the best for last! On Christmas Eve, cuddle up on the couch and let your all-time favorite holiday film transport you. Complete the spellbinding setup with fuzzy blankets, Christmas cookies, and hot chocolate.

By Christmas Eve, your kids have probably already written a letter to Santa, complete with their very specific wish list, but why not leave one last note before the holiday is over? On the night before Christmas, you and your kids could write a heartfelt message to Santa, thanking him for the gifts and wishing him a happy new year. Your kiddos will have a blast decorating the cards with handmade drawings and holiday-inspired stickers!

Wearing matching pajamas is a widely cherished Christmas Eve tradition that many families take part in. To make this ritual even more exciting, buy a different pair of pajamas every year and gift them to your kids on Christmas Eve. That way, on Christmas morning, everyone will open presents in the same holiday-themed outfit!

As Buddy the Elf says: "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." Whether it’s a neighborhood gathering or a family karaoke night, singing Christmas carols on December 24 is a must. Queue up a playlist with your favorite Christmas songs and shout them from the rooftops.

Attending a live nativity is a beautiful and meaningful way to spend Christmas Eve as a family. By watching this reenactment of Jesus’ birth, your kids will better understand what the holiday is all about. Plus, complimentary refreshments are usually involved!

The Christmas pickle tradition is a pretty big dill—especially for the kiddos! Here's how it works: you'll hide a pickle ornament in the tree on Christmas Eve, then in the morning, the kids will race to see who can find it first. The winner gets to unwrap the first present or receives a small extra prize.

You likely received a handful of cheerful Christmas cards this holiday season! So, carve out some time in your evening to go through them all. You'll be filled with joy at all the wonderful people you have in your life.

From classic games like charades and Heads Up to more unique contests like a hot chocolate marshmallow toss, your whole crew will have so much festive fun playing Christmas games together.

There's nothing cozier than a Christmas Eve bonfire! Grab some blankets, bundle up, then build a roaring fire for roasting marshmallows or even chestnuts. Don't forget the hot cocoa!

Dress up in your most festive outfits or grab some matching pajamas to pose in front of the camera! A family (or friend group) photoshoot will ensure you never forget your special celebrations. You might even use the best ones for next year's holiday cards.

If you're leaving milk and cookies for Santa, be sure to leave a little snack for his reindeer, too! You can grab carrots or make special food for his flying sleigh team using oats, sprinkles, and (biodegradable) glitter!

Make a list of Christmas decorations (like a wreath, inflatable Santa, large nutcracker, and more) then go on a family walk around your neighborhood to see how many of the items you can check off.

Spend your Christmas Eve cozied around the fire with your family as you put together a festive puzzle (or play a seasonal board game)! Snacks and hot cocoa included, of course!

When Christmas Eve rolls around, it's time for your Scout Elf to head back to The North Pole. So, be sure to give them a proper sendoff before they join Santa on his journey!

If you're lucky enough to enjoy a white Christmas, spend the evening enjoying all the fun snow activities! You can go sledding, build a snowman, make snow angels or even go ice skating.