Awesome Advent Calendars For All The Family
Home » HOLIDAYS » CHRISTMAS »There was a time when Advent Calendars were just for kids. I remember the ones from my childhood didn’t even have chocolate in them! *gasp* We didn’t know any different back then, so opening each little door and seeing the picture behind it was always so exciting!
Kids these days don’t know they’re born! I think the 5 year old me would have eyes popping out of her head with the vast array of awesome Advent Calendars that are available these days!
Awesome Advent Calendars
But advent calendars are not just for kids these days – there is a huge trend in adult advent calendars too!
From beauty and make-up products, to candles, to cheese, to beer, to gin, and more! I’ve rounded up 10+ awesome advent calendars for all the family so that everyone can enjoy the countdown to Christmas!
I’ve reached out to brands for this Advent Calendar post, so products marked with an asterisk (*) have been gifted to me. This post also contains Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links. If you clicked the link then made a purchase, a small percentage of the sale price would be paid to me. It doesn’t cost you anything more but it helps keep the lights on over here!
Prices correct at time of publication.
This awesome advent calendars post is detailed (and long!) Of course I would love you to browse through all the items within it, but if you are short on time, each of the links listed will jump to the relevant section. Be quick though as the popular advent calendars are already starting to go quick – and even sell out!
For the person that enjoys crafts…
Hama Beads*
Hama fantastic Christmas with this new Advent Calendar designed to inspire ‘Yule’ and yours this Winter! Create exciting festive designs daily that can be used as gifts, to decorate your Christmas tree or simply as stand-alone decorations. From snowflakes to penguins, there are hours of fun to be had creating your very own magical Christmas scene.
The Hama Advent Calendar comes with 5,000 beads, 5 peg boards of different shapes, 6 bead supports, ironing paper and instructions for ages 5+.
Okay, so this is meant for the young, but being able to do a little craft each day is fun for the young at heart (me!) I was a bit confused with the size of the doors to start with, wondering how the boards and beads fit behind it. But then, duh, I opened up the clearing wrapping, and discovered that there are two parts – the calendar which has the pattern to follow each day, and the beads etc are in the box underneath.
The Hama Bead Advent Calendar (RRP £15.99) is available Amazon and all good toy retailers.
Make sure you are following me on Instagram @ThePurplePumpkinBlog as I’ll be sharing the opening of this each day through December!
For the person who loves candles…
Yankee Candle Advent Book & Advent Wreath
If you love Yankee Candles, then one of this pair of Advent Calendars will make your Christmas! I had one a few years ago, and it was lovely to have a new candle to burn each day.
The Advent Book includes 12 Tea Lights and 12 Votives in the following fragrances:
The Perfect Tree | Spiced White Cocoa | Magic Christmas | Crackling Wood Fire | Christmas Eve | Sparkling Cinnamon | All Is Bright | Snow In Love | Spiced Orange | Winter Glow | Festive Cocktail | Christmas Garland
The Advent Wreath includes 1 Glass Tea Light holder and 24 Tea Lights in the following fragrances:
Red: Sparkling Cinnamon | Green: The Perfect Tree | Tan: Candy Chestnut | White: Winter Glow | Pink: Snowflake Cookie | Light Green: Macaron Treats
You can buy the Yankee Candle Advent Book (£30.75) and the Yankee Candle Advent Wreath (£21.50) from Amazon.
For the person who loves peanut butter…
Reeses Advent Calendar*
Make the countdown to Christmas even more magical this year with your very own Reese’s Advent Calendar – filled with twenty-three Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Miniatures and two full size WHITE Peanut Butter Cups behind window number 24, to give that chocolate lover a daily treat throughout December!
Okay, so this is a chocolate advent calendar, but it’s filled with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! Only the best peanut butter and chocolate combo there is – in my humble opinion! Again make sure you’re following me on Instagram @ThePurplePumpkinBlog as I will open the 1st and the 24th to show you what they miniatures and the white peanut butter cups look like.
You can buy the Reeses Advent Calendar for around £5 from supermarkets.
For the person who loves Disney…
Disney Tsum Tsum Advent Calendar
Enjoy counting down the 24 days until Christmas with the Disney Tsum Tsum Advent Calendar. Open a new window each day to reveal a surprise Tsum Tsum figure or accessory and create a sleigh full of presents pulled by adorable Tsum Tsum “reindeer!”
There are 18 Tsum Tsum figures: 6 large, 6 medium, 2 of which are in holiday attire, and 6 small, as well as 6 holiday themed accessories, and 6 seasonal headpieces in a holiday sleigh themed package.
I bought the USA version of the Tsum Tsum calendar last year from Target. I opened it every day on my Instagram. As I write up this post, I have literally just purchased this exclusive to Asda one, as Target (for some reason) are not shipping theirs to the UK this year… boo! But I LOVE Disney Tsum Tsum and collect them, so had to have this!
Here is last year’s finale stop motion video that I did! Make sure you are following me on Instagram @ThePurplePumpkinBlog as I’ll be sharing the opening of this each day through December!
Buy the Disney Tsum Tsum Advent Calendar, exclusive to Asda for £28
For the little person who is 1 – 5 years old…
Toot-Toot Animals Advent Calendar*
Countdown to Christmas with the fantastic Toot-Toot Animals advent calendar. Featuring 24 fun play pieces including a Toot- Toot Animals reindeer, a Christmas tree and lots more. The box
panel even folds down to become a Toot-Toot Animals play area! Reindeer includes 3 Christmas songs, 6 festive melodies and fun sound effects.
When my son was a little boy he had a few VTech toys and I always thought they were fabulous. If these advent calendar had been around back then I know I would have snapped it up! But he’s all grown up now, so the Toot-Toot Animals one is going to be opened up by my 5 year old niece. She is going to LOVE it!
Make sure you are following me on Instagram @ThePurplePumpkinBlog as I’ll be sharing the opening of this each day through December!
Buy the VTech Toot-Toot Animals Advent Calendar (RRP £24.99) from Amazon. If your little one is into cars there is also the VTech Toot-Toot Driver Advent Calendar (£17.99 at time of posting) from Argos.
For the person who loves to wear earrings…
Avon Earring Advent Calendar
I saw this advent calendar in my Avon brochure a few weeks ago, and bought one for myself and for my sister as we both love wearing fun stud earrings. This calendar has 25 pairs of pierced stud earrings in an advent calendar gift box, approx. 15cm x 15cm. I’m looking forward to having a new pair of earrings to wear each day!
The Avon Earring Advent Calendar is currently £10 (regular price £15) and can be bought online or from your local Avon Independent Sales Representative.
For the little person who might need reminding to be good!…
The Good Elf – Sleepzzz Until…*
With Santa being so busy in the festive period, he relies on his friend the ‘Good Elf’ to report back to him with news of kind, polite and helpful children. ‘The Good Elf’ is a fantastic interactive way for parents to help their children behave and countdown to the big day so they know how many sleeps until Santa visits. Adults can reward children with a sticker for extra special goodness. Notes can be made so that the Elf can tell Santa exactly what the child did that day to deserve an Elf sticker. Each box contains:
One Good Elf – 12″ (30cm) plush. One hanging “Sleeps until Christmas” countdown board, with tear off sheets. 24 x Elf stickers.
Not suitable for children under 3 years
Not a traditional advent calendar in the sense of opening a door to see what is behind, but a lovely alternative. It will encourage children to tell Santa about their day by writing little notes, and I’m sure they’ll behave a little bit more so that they get a sticker each day too!
Buy The Good Elf (£12.99) from Sleepzzz Until…
For the person who loves Star Wars..
LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar
Get ready for festive fun with the LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar. Behind the doors lie a galaxy of Star Wars minifigures, starships, vehicles and more waiting for you to discover! Once you’ve collected all the gifts, unfold the playmat and play out your own epic adventures on desert planet Jakku, Starkiller Base and in deep space. With this calendar, the holidays will arrive quicker than you can say “Unkar’s Thug!”
My husband is Star Wars mad. I wanted to get him a LEGO advent calendar last year – but they had sold out. Not this time though, I’ve just purchased one!
Make sure you are following me on Instagram @ThePurplePumpkinBlog as I’ll be sharing the opening of this each day through December!
The LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar costs £23 from Asda
For the person who loves beauty products…
Beauty Advent Calendars
This is a market which is saturated – there are so many beauty advent calendars to choose from, and at varying price points too, from just £8 (Superdrug) up to £300 (Harrods)!
Many that I have come across say that the value of the products inside are worth more than what you pay for the advent calendar itself. For example, The Body Shop 25 Days Ultimate Advent Calendar is priced at £99, but the contents are valued at £214. If you’re beauty product mad, then I know you will make the best judgement call for yourself on this type of advent calendar.
I’ve included a selection of beauty advent calendars that I would buy for myself – either because I think they’re good value for money, or I love the brand that made the calendar!
The Body Shop 25 Days Deluxe Advent Calendar – £65 (worth £116)
This Christmas, The Body Shop has re-imagined Beauty Advent Calendars in a brand new, wonderfully playful way. As well as being filled with a selection of your favourite beauty treats; from body care and skincare, to make-up and accessories, these advent calendars are also hiding a few more surprises behind their doors… You’ll find a feel-good action to complete every day, and the fun and games don’t stop there… once you’ve opened box 25, your calendar transforms into a trivia quiz to play on Christmas Day. Just the thing for bringing the whole family together.
The Ciaté Mini Mani Advent Calendar – £50 from Marks & Spencer
Ciaté London’s mini mani month is the ultimate holiday beauty haul, carefully packaged in individual boxes with 19 mini paint pots and 1 full size including 4 new and exclusive shades! Inside one box you’ll find a special limited edition surprise, alongside 1 mini treatment and 1 magical nail topper. Featuring crème shades in the new and improved Gelology™ formula, pair with Gelology™ top coat for longer lasting wear and uber shine!
L’Occitane en Provence Advent Calendar – £49 from Debenhams
Hidden behind every door are 24 bestselling products from L’Occitane fragrance, skincare, body and hair care, this calendar is guaranteed to put a smile on anyone’s face! To illustrate this year’s calendar, renowned French illustrator Kanako has captured the festive Christmas atmosphere of a typical village in Provence. Full of charm, the illustrations depicts the joy of Christmas shopping and the buzz of the village who simply can’t wait for Christmas to come!
Soap and Glory It’s A Calendar, Girls! – £40 from Boots
Treats galore behind every door, the countdown to Christmas has never looked so beautiful with six body wash pods, a body buffer, hand cream, foot cream, primer, mascara and gloss sticks, treat yourself to a mini treat a day and feel pampered in the lead up to the Christmas period.
LookFantastic Advent Calender – £79 from LookFantastic
Housed in a decadent and elaborately decorated case are 25 beauty products that have been carefully selected, wrapped and boxed, ready to be spritzed, loved and swatched. The advent calendar includes 9 full-sized products and 16 deluxe samples; 19 of which are exclusive to lookfantastic. Together, these will guide you through the festive season. When the countdown to Christmas is over, the beautiful case, complete with looking glass, can be used as a vanity unit to store your beloved beauty treats and essentials. With a worth value of £300, this enchanting wonderland is the perfect way to discover new and exciting brands, as well as rediscover classic luxuries
For the person who loves booze…
Alcoholic Advent Calendars
A big rise in adult advent calendars containing booze this year! Here are a few I’ve taken a fancy to…
The Flavourly Craft Beer Canvent Calendar – £59 from Flavourly
Flavourly are proud to introduce their first ever craft beer CANvent calendar! Containing 24 cans of Christmas cheer beer. They have picked some of their favourite beers from the year, as well as a few new-and-exciting surprises – one for the beer lovers out there!
Gin & Tonic Advent Calendar – £125 from The Pit Stop
If you love a G&T this one is for you – slightly different from the other gin advent calendars out there (what is it with gin at the moment – it’s EVERYWHERE!) – this one contains a 70cl The Lakes Gin, and 24 x 200ml bottles of different Tonic Waters. I do love a G&T and this feels like it’s right up my street!
The Pit Stop also sell a range of boozy advent calendars including beer, wine, and fizz… They also sell one with pork crackling!
Chase Distillery Advent Calendar – £129.95 from 31Dover
The ultimate Christmas countdown with 24 x 5cl miniatures which are: 2 x Chase Vodka | 2 x Chase Rhubarb Vodka | 2 x Chase Marmalade Vodka | 2 x Chase Smoked Vodka | 2 x Chase Elderflower Liqueur | 1 x Chase Blackcurrant Liqueur | 1 x Chase Raspberry Liqueur | 2 x Williams GB Gin | 2 x Williams Elegant Gin | 2 x Williams Pink Grapefruit Gin | 2 x Williams Seville Orange Gin | 1 x Pococello Limoncello | 1 x Naked Chase Apple Vodka | 2 x Williams Chase Sloe & Mulberry Gin
Prosseco Advent Calendar – £144.95 from Not On The High Street
Behind each door, a 20cl bottle of sparkling wine is ready for you to drink and enjoy, including Prosecco, Cava, Sparkling Pinot Noir and Rose from Italy, Spain and Australia.
Perfect for putting an element of sparkle into your festive season.
For the person who loves food…
Foodie Advent Calendars
Tea Advent Calendar – £35 from Bluebird Tea Co.
Behind each door is a different silk pyramid tea bag or a tea gift. The 2017 calendar features 16 tea bags including favourites such as Snowball, Christmas Cake, Strawberry Lemonade, Earl Grey Creme + Gingerbread Chai. As well as brand new, exclusive Christmas blends not available to purchase individually in tea bags this year… Mrs Claus’ Raspberry Prosecco, Mince Pie + Spiced Clementine to name just a few! Other tea gifts include: mini matcha sachets, Bluebird pin badge, and tea scented solid perfume!
Marshmallow Advent Calendar – £13 from Naked Marshmallow
The world’s first gourmet marshmallow advent calendar! Behind each door is a handmade festive flavour, with an extra special sumptuous surprise behind the final door on Christmas Day. The Marshmallow Advent Calendar features six sumptuous alternating flavours which include: S’mores, Candy Cane, Humbug, Gingerbread, Mint Choc Chip & Choc Orange. The marshmallows are handmade in the UK using the finest natural ingredients and no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.
The Big Chilli Advent Calendar – £35 from Sous Chef
This is an amazing calendar for chilli lovers! Embark on a world tour with the smoky Mexican chipotle, fiery Indian bhut jolokhia, and sweet prik chee fah from Thailand – without even leaving your kitchen. Will you be brave enough to try Carolina Reaper, the world’s hottest chilli?
With a recipe book containing 24 recipes, as well as the 24 chillies each day – whole chillies, flakes, and powders, you’ll be a chilli expert by Christmas day!
This advent calendar started life as a blogger’s homemade idea and is now available from selected Asda stores for £8. It contains 24 individually wrapped cheeses including various types of cheddar, Red Leicester, Wensleydale with cranberries, Applewood and more.
Christmas Coffee Advent – £40 from Not On The High Street
This coffee advent from Perkulatte, is presented in a luxury gift box, packed full of coffee. Each bag is numbered and filled with approximately 20g of fresh Cafetiere grind artisan roasted coffee, just enough to make you that one special cup of coffee a day. There are 12 different varieties of coffee which may include – Brazil Villa Borguesa, Colombio Excelso, El Salvadoe El Molinito, Costa Rica SHB, Malawi AB Phoka Coop.
Random Advent Calendars
Don’t forget you can always make your own advent calendars! I’ve got two ideas that I’ve shared in the past – Christmas Grab Bags and a Free Printable Advent Calendar
And I could go on sharing different awesome advent calendars that I’ve found while writing this post, so I’m going to do just that, and wish I had lots of cash so I could buy them all up!
- Cowshed Advent Calendar – Contains 24 miniature Cowshed treats for hands, hair, face and body (£90)
- Clarins Men 12 Days of Christmas – Contains 12 products to cleanse, moisturise, and scrub (£60)
- Laura Ashley Royal Bloom Calendar – Contains 24 mini versions of Laura Ashley’s classic bath & beauty luxuries (£40)
- Superdrug Flutter Beauty Calendar – Contains six Mini Nail Polish, six Mini Lipgloss, six Mini Eyeshadow and six Mini Lip & Cheek Tint (£8)
- Technic Man Stuff Advent Calendar – Contains a mix of essential toiletries and hardware (e.g., nailclippers) (£10)
- Susanne Kaufmann Organic Beauty Calendar – Contains organic skin care and hair care treats (£110)
- Virgin Wines Advent Calendar – Contains 24 single serve bottles of wine – reds, whites, rosés, Prosseco, and Champagne. (£79.99)
- Molton Brown Cabinet of Luxuries – Contains decadent, scented luxuries including eau de toilette, hand cream, and shower gel (£165)
- L’Occitane Luxury Advent Calendar – Contains 24 indulgent surprises (£89)
- John Lewis Christmas Tea Light Advent Calendar – Contains 24 scented tea lights and a holder (£25)
- Love Honey Adult Toy Calendar – 12 carefully selected sexy surprises await behind each door ready to shake up your evenings in (£119)
- Fortnum & Mason Chocolate Advent Calendar – Contains a delicious selection of chocolates including Pink Marc de Champagne, Gin & Lime truffles, and Hazelnut Marzipan (£35)
- Montezuma Organic & Vegan Dark Chocolate Advent Calendar – Contains 240g of pure Organic 73% Cocoa Dark Chocolate. Also available in Milk Chocolate (£9.99)
- Thorntons Snowman Advent Calendar – Contains 24 milk chocolates, including 3 snowmen, and 1 personalised plaque (£7)
- NYX Professional Make Up Kiss & Tell Advent Calendar – Contains 24 lipsticks including matter, cream, gloss, and liquid. (£50)