{Squeal} Today we are sharing our free printable Christmas light scavenger hunt games that will transform your town into a holiday adventure for your kids and entire family. Going on a Christmas light scavenger hunt is a yearly tradition at our house and a fun way to look at Christmas light displays together.
–>Look for the green button below to download our free Christmas lights scavenger hunt printable.
Family Christmas Games
Our family holiday traditions include driving around town and looking at lights and Christmas decorations so making it a game is a fun idea to play along with families spending time together.
This is a simple Christmas game that kids of all ages and adults can play. Kids who are not reading yet can participate with a reading partner. Older kids love the competitive holiday fun. It will become your new family tradition.
Go on a Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
About mid-December, when Christmas shopping has hit a peak and you have already made 16 batches of cookies, you might need to take a family break. Turn off everything for the night, say no to any commitments and do this family fun activity!
Related: Go on a nature scavenger hunt
Isn’t spending time together what the holiday season is all about anyway?
Printable Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt
One of our favorite things to do as a family is look at Christmas lights we turned it into a Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt free printables.
Last year we went at least once a week, even if it is only around our own neighborhood looking for twinkling lights, Christmas items and checking off the list of things that were all things Christmasy and bright!
We crank up some Christmas music and holiday tunes on the radio and “ohh” and “ahh” our way through the light show. It is a wonderful time spent together.
Using this fun printable, we had a blast identifying everything on the list. It was a simple way of turning this fun holiday activity into a favorite holiday traditions idea with a little competition.
You tend to really take your time looking at the lights when you are also “hunting” for an object in them.
While this way of gamifying holiday decorations makes it more of a competition, keep it casual. We don’t have a time limit or any specific rules. At the end of the night we count up how many different decorations each person checked off the free printable Christmas lights scavenger hunt list.
Click here to download & print the Christmas light scavenger hunt pdf file
Family Holiday Light Searching Tips
1. Plan Your Light Trip Ahead
Have an idea in mind about where you want to look at Christmas Lights. Many areas offer shows to walk or drive through and there are lots of private companies that put on “walks” too.
If you are going to a certain neighborhood, make sure you have good directions on how to get there.
Otherwise if you are like my family, you end up driving around poorly lit (for Christmas) neighborhoods in search of better ones.
2. Have a Holiday Light Backup Plan
What happens if you get to the area and it is packed with cars?
Don’t turn around and disappoint the family, have an alternate place to see lights.
Don’t overlook more rural neighborhoods. They can be surprisingly festive and not have the crowds of the city.
3. Snacks for Looking at Lights
Pack some fun snacks for the trip – Christmas Cookies, anyone?
Kids will think it is super special if there is hot chocolate in a thermos or a special sippy cup drink. Another favorite of my family is spiced apple cider for those who aren’t pro hot cocoa.
4. Plan for Potty Breaks
Has everyone gone potty before you leave home?
And if you have a newly-toilet trained one, pack your portable potty in the back, or know where some clean restrooms are that you can use.
5. Music
Put on some fun Christmas Songs and have a sing-along right in the car.
There are lots of radio stations and satellite stations that run holiday music for the last 6 weeks of the year. Those can be an easy solution if all your holiday music is on CD…remember those?
Now get out there and make some memories!
More Christmas Lights & Games from Kids Activities Blog
- Check out our visit to see the Christmas lights at Texas Motor Speedway a few years ago…
- And the beautiful lights that appear yearly at the Gaylord Texan Christmas lights associated with ICE and other holiday events.
- Don’t miss our printable Christmas games – this one is a really cute Memory game that the whole family can play.
- These are all fun & games: free Christmas printables.
Did you have fun with this Christmas light scavenger hunt this Christmas season!
Love this! My daughter just asked me to make one for this year so you have now saved me all the work 😀
What a fun idea! This will keep us busy this in the evenings during our holiday break. Just pinned onto our Reading Board.