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Our teenagers may not believe in Santa any more, but there’s still something so magical about a countdown to Christmas — and who doesn’t like getting a fun little surprise every day?! That’s why advent calendars are the perfect way to build up joy all through December. It’s a memorable holiday tradition!
Whether your teen is “too old” for their favorite characters and little trinkets or still a big kid at heart, we’ve rounded up the best advent calendars for teens: from practical things they can use, like socks or skincare, to tiny toys and sweet treats, there’s something for every kind of kid. (And if your particular teen is into pampering and getting glitzy, be sure to check out our picks for the best beauty advent calendars for teens, too!)
Sugarfina 2024 Gingerbread House Candy Advent Calendar
Gingerbread gummies? Peppermint bark cookies? Red apple caramels? Sign us up! With Sugarfina’s Gingerbread House Candy Advent Calendar, you’ll get 24 days of their iconic sweets — perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth!
Funko Pop! Advent Calendars
Funko Pop! figurines are a pop culture phenomenon, and whether your teen is a casual fan or a diehard collector, they’ll love Funko’s variety of advent calendars, featuring 24 unique mini figurines. We’ve highlighted Harry Potter here, but there are Funko Pop! calendars for just about every fandom: Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, Disney,Pokémon, even Five Nights at Freddy’s! They range from approximately $25 – $70.
Investigation Advent Calendar — The Case of Nicholas Kringle
It’s nearing Christmastime, and charitable, friendly local Nick Kringle has gone missing. With this unique advent calendar, you can uncover new leads in a sealed envelope each day, guiding you closer to solving the crime — with witness testimonies, crime scene photos, police reports and more. Any wannabe detectives will love getting closer and closer to the truth every day leading up to Christmas!
Williams Sonoma “Elf” Advent Calendar
If Elf is one of your family’s most-beloved holiday flicks, this 12-day advent calendar based on the movie is perfection. With candies, cookies, and — yes — even a little bottle of maple syrup, it’s filled with Buddy the Elf’s favorites (besides smiling, of course). The only thing missing is the World’s Best Cup of Coffee!
12 Days of Astronaut Ice Cream
It doesn’t matter how old you are: there’s just something cool about space food! With this unique advent calendar from Uncommon Goods, you can enjoy 12 different flavors (chocolate! Strawberry! Bubble gum!) of astronaut ice cream.
Christmas Bucket List Advent Calendar Activity Event Tokens
Whether you’re filling your own advent calendar with these laser-cut, engraved, hand-painted experience tokens or simply drawing one out of a jar each day, this is a holiday countdown the whole family is sure to love! You get 24 Christmas-themed activities, perfect for quality family time.
Williams Sonoma Grinch Advent Calendar
Every Who down in Whoville will delight in this advent calendar filled with sugary treats — a sweet nod (literally!) to Dr. Seuss’s iconic Christmas-ruining scoundrel.
Pacas Sock Advent Calendar
Socks might not be the most exciting thing to find under the tree, but they hit different when you get a fresh pair for 12 whole days in a row leading up to Christmas! There’s nothing like a new pair of cozy socks, especially from Pacas: cushiony, breathable, supportive, and buttery soft. You’ll get 12 pairs of their bestsellers — both men’s and women’s calendars are available!
Retro Games Coding Advent Calendar
Surprise your favorite tech enthusiast with a holiday countdown that combines fun and learning. Each day, they’ll unlock a new electronic challenge to build, guided by detailed diagrams. As they progress through the countdown, projects increase in complexity — but each results in an engaging game or activity like code cracker, roulette, wire maze, and more: 24 games in all.
The Book Lover’s Advent Calendar
The avid reader in your life will appreciate this advent calendar designed specifically for bookworms! Every day reveals a new surprise: magnetic bookmarks, notepads, pins, stickers, ornaments, and more!
Kiehl’s Open For Advent-Ure Gift Set
Since 1851, Kiehl’s has been helping people (of any gender!) care for their skin. This advent calendar contains 24 of their iconic customer favorites for a holiday glow-up that will last all month long. A $293 value!
Man Crates Jerky Advent Calendar
Don’t be fooled by the brand name, Man Crates — ’cause this beefy advent calendar is perfect for ANY jerky-lovin’ soul! It’s filled with 25 unique flavors of beef jerky: sriracha, chili lime, root beer, lemon pepper, and sesame ginger, just to name a few!
EXIT: The Game Advent Calendar — The Silent Storm
Another unique spin on the traditional advent calendar — if solving crimes isn’t your teen’s thing, how about solving escape room-style puzzles? In the EXIT: The Game Advent Calendar (The Silent Storm), the player (or players — it’s great for one person or a group!) are trying to find Santa and escape his workshop during a nasty blizzard. Every day comes with a new riddle … and a hint book, just in case!
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