Advertisement
Shopping

16 Unique Advent Calendars You Totally Need 2024

Forget typical chocolates, these unique advent calendar picks step the holiday up a notch.

By Courtney Leiva
16 Unique Advent Calendars You Totally Need 2024

Skip the ordinary kids' advent calendar this year and check out these one-of-a-kind options that are sure to delight! From pop culture collectibles to food and jewelry, there are all kinds of unique advent calendars for everyone. Plus, all of our picks are under $100 (and on Amazon), so you can meet all your gifting goals and stay within budget.

What is an advent calendar, anyway?

ICYMI: An advent calendar is a classic holiday tradition that celebrates the season of Advent every day leading up to Christmas. The best unique advent calendars usually feature 24 to 25 doors, each containing a small piece of chocolate or a prize. It's a little daily surprise to get you in the holiday spirit!

These festive calendars have come a long way since the days of just chocolate. There are options for everyone, from foodies to pet parents to comic book die-hards. To help you find the best calendars for your budget, we picked loads of the coolest, most unique options so you can start shopping straight away. Our top picks just ahead:

Advertisement

Unique advent calendars we love for 2024

A Christmas Story Advent Calendar

a christmas story advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant

Why settle for one day of 'The Christmas Story' when you can have 25? This gift set lets you relive the magic for 25 days straight with figurines inspired by the movie, including the infamous leg lamp. And with a display scene included, you can show off your festive collection to all your friends and family.

The Advent Calendar for Couch Potatoes

advent calendar for couch potatoes, unique advent calendars Merchant

If you're struggling to find the perfect gift for your fitness enthusiast friend, look no further. This advent calendar is not only a fun gag gift, but it's also a great way to help them stay active during the holiday season. With 24 workout ideas, they'll be able to keep up with their fitness routine without even thinking about New Year's resolutions. Now that's something.

Himalayan Pet Supply Best Friend's Advent Calendar

himalayan pet supply best friends advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant
Advertisement

Want to give your furry friend a special treat every day leading up to the holidays? Check out this advent calendar made just for dog moms and dads! Inside, you'll find 24 treats in the form of chunks, tablets, and wafers, perfect for dogs of all ages. And with flavors like cheesy peanut butter, salmon, and bacon, your pup is sure to be wagging its tail in excitement!

Walker’s 2023 Advent Calendar

walkers advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant

Walker's Advent calendar is the perfect way to give the gift of shortbread instead of chocolate. It's like a Christmas countdown, but with cookies! And with 28 different flavors and shapes, you'll have a new treat to try every day. Plus, the beautiful box makes it a great gift for anyone on your list.

Jewelry Set Advent Calendar for Women 2023

jewelry set advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant

Advertisement

This jewelry-filled advent calendar is a dream come true for anyone who loves a little sparkle in their life. With 24 unique surprises including bracelets, hair accessories, earrings, and necklaces, it's the perfect way to make every day of Advent feel like a special occasion. She'll love it so much, she might just ask for it again next year!

Friends TV Show Sock Advent Calendar

friends tv show socks advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant

Looking for the perfect gift for a "Friends" superfan? This sock advent calendar is the answer! It's got 12 pairs of unisex socks with references that only true fans would understand. And with a 97% polyester and 3% elastane blend, these socks are as stretchy as they are comfortable.

Burt's Bees 12 Holiday Finds Advent Calendar

burts bees advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant

This Burts Bees Advent Calendar is a beauty lover's delight! It contains 12 different nourishing lipsticks to keep lips hydrated and mistletoe-ready all season long. And at under $50, it's an absolute steal.

12 Days of Coffee Advent Calendar

door county 12 days of coffee advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant
Advertisement

Move over, chocolate! This coffee calendar is guaranteed to make everyone you gift it to say: 'I love you a latte.' It's got 12 full-pot bags of ground coffee in a variety of festive flavors, including Jingle Bell Java, White Christmas, and Candy Cane. Plus, each bag can make an eight to 12-cup pot, so there's no need to measure (or make a mess) with this!

24 Family Games Advent Calendar

24 family games advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant

Make every day of December a family game night with this unique advent calendar. It's filled with 24 brain-tickling challenges that'll keep everyone on their toes, from nostalgic favorites to mind-bending puzzles and outdoor-friendly fun.

And don't worry, the included handy picture guide will save you from any head-scratching moments, so you know exactly how to play each game... and can focus on winning the holiday bragging rights.

Funko Advent Calendar: Marvel 80th Anniversary

funko marvel advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant
Advertisement

Sure, this Advent calendar may be a little more expensive than some of the others on our list, but it's the perfect treat for any Funko Pop! Collector or Marvel die-hard. For each day of Advent, there are 25 unique hero and villain characters to discover, with the last day offering the biggest surprise. Trust us, the look on their face when they unwrap this will be more than worth it.

BomBombs Hot Chocolate Mix Gift Set

bombombs hot chocolate advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... this hot chocolate gift set full of sweet chocolatey goodness. It includes 12 exciting hot chocolate mixes ranging in a variety of flavors, from gingerbread to bacon. And seriously, what's better than a calendar filled with hot cocoa?

Sudoku Advent Calendar

sudoku advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant

Advertisement

Give tired eyes a break from hours of screen time with this sudoku advent calendar! It's got 200 puzzles of varying difficulty levels, so you (or your giftees) can challenge yourself and unwind at the same time. And don't worry, we won't leave you hanging—the answers are included with calendar so you can check your work.

Stress Balls Christmas Advent Calendar

stress balls with advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant

Do you know someone who could use a little stress relief lately? This advent calendar has 24 stress balls to help them relax and unwind. Each day reveals a new and colorful squishy ball with water beads, making it a fun way to relieve yuletide stress. Who knows, you might even want to get one for yourself!

Seashell for Kids Advent Calendar

christmas sea shells advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant

Calling all mermaid lovers! This unique advent calendar is the ultimate 'sea-sonal' delight. Each day, a new door opens to reveal a surprise shell, like a cockle shell, spider conch, or knobby starfish. And don't worry about losing these deep sea treasures — this calendar comes with handy pouches to keep them safe and a colorful guidebook to help you identify each one.

Bonne Maman 2023 Limited Edition Advent Calendar

bonne maman advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant
Advertisement

Moms, grandmas, and mothers-in-law deserve something sweet every day leading up to Christmas, don't you think? That's why we think this Bonne Maman advent calendar is the perfect gift for anyone with a sweet tooth. It's filled with 23 mini spreads in different flavors, plus a honey jar. How sweet!

Pukamam Crystal Advent Calendar

crystals healing advent calendar, unique advent calendars Merchant

This chakra crystal advent calendar is the perfect gift for anyone on your list who is a total gem. It's got 12 crystals, a necklace, a Flower of Life crystal grid, and a crystal card, all in a handy storage pouch. No wonder it made our list of the best advent calendar picks for teens!

This article contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

This article was originally published on Sep 20, 2023

Weekly Newsletter

Keep up with your baby's development, get the latest parenting content and receive special offers from our partners

I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time.

Advertisement
Advertisement