Christmas Scavenger Hunt Planning & Ideas

Christmas Cookies - They can be freshly baked or store-bought. Encourage participants to eat them once the hunt is over or hide them all around the space you are hunting and give extra points per cookie found.
Ornaments - You can be vague or specific with this (ask for a certain color, shape or figurine or require people to find a homemade one) depending on how difficult you want this task to be. Or offer a DIY station where participants have to engage in arts and crafts to create their own ornament.
Giant Ornament - Up the ante and suggest groups find a giant ornament (the kind typically found in front of a business or as part of a big community display) or make their own.
Christmas Tree Toppers - From an angel to a specially made family topper, grabbing this could require some ingenuity (or just a ladder). Really any lightweight decorative item can work.
Nativity Scene - This could be found on someone's lawn or maybe inside a home by the fireplace. Encourage groups to get creative!
Christmas Stockings - Similar to the ornament, you can be as vague or as specific as you want when asking people to find this item or have them make their own at a station.
Decorative Snowman - The giant blowup kind works, and so does a small figurine or even an ornament. The group has to find a representation of a snowman to cross this element off the list.
Twinkling Wreath - A little bit harder to find than just any wreath, make the group find one that sparkles or glitters.
Season's Greetings Sign - They're all over the mall and at stores, but will there be one in the neighborhood? Participants may have to strategize whether it's worth finding this or giving up.
Family Christmas Card - The bigger the collection they can find, the more points the team gets. You can include both print and digital family Christmas cards, but don't tell them that, let them figure it out. Another fun twist would be to have each team recreate a pose from a family Christmas card they find.
Colorful Christmas Lights - Ask teams to find houses decorated in a specific color.
Elf on a Shelf - Offer bonus points for the most creative elf on the shelf scene that's captured. Just be sure you don't disturb the elf and don't touch him or her.
Document a Snowball Fight - Teams may have to get creative and "create" snow. They can use cotton balls, bundled sheets or any other white and round item that doesn't weigh much.
White Christmas Tree - This one is slightly harder to find than just any decorated tree but if you're near a big box store or a home decorating store they can be found in abundance.
Take a Team Photo with Santa - This could be at the mall or just with a neighborhood blowup Santa — but don't tell the teams they have options…let them figure it out and get creative!
Reindeer and Sleigh Scene - Consider extra points for creative poses with Rudolph and his friends.
Carolers - Suggest participants actually take a video of the carolers, or even join in singing with the group.
Ugly Christmas Sweater - Surely someone in the group is wearing one or owns one of these seasonal favorites.

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