18 Fun and Festive Activities to Do in December

by Cindi Sutter, Founder & Editor Spirited Table®—Content provided by Maggie Seaver

Breathe in the crisp December air or stay in for hot hazelnut toddies—whatever your pace, here’s how to fill December with the perfect mix of good times and down time.

December is a busy month, however you slice it. Ready or not, winter is here, and so are the holidays, which means you're likely decorating your home for the seasongrocery shopping galore, finding new ways to connect and celebrate with faraway loved ones, and checking off your holiday gift list. So when you find rare moments of down time, you'll want to make the most of it—whatever that means to you and your family.

If you have school-aged kids, they're likely on holiday break for much of December, so they'll need to find fun and safe winter activities, both indoor and outdoor, to occupy them (or you'll need to find some for them). Otherwise, you might be looking at a lovely stretch of time off from work, in which case you're going to want to make the most of that sweet PTO.

Click here for just a few of the 18 fun and festive activities for December

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Whether you're more interested in hibernating, holiday prepping, or bundling up to enjoy outdoor winter activities, December is all about welcoming the new season, wrapping up the past year, and being with our loved ones. Before the year is over, here are a few fun activities (and, yes, a few productive recommendations, too) to do in December with friends, kids, your partner, or solo.

Plan a Wintry Getaway

It's cold, it's dark, it's busy—a long weekend somewhere warm might sound pretty enticing right now. If you're looking for inspiration, consider some of these warm-weather destinations (and a few cool options, if you're into the wintry weather).

Do Some Cookie Decorating

This is one December activity you can do with friends or with kids—or both. Start with simple sugar cookies or festive gingerbread shapes, set out colorful icing, and sprinkles, and candy and get to decorating for the afternoon.