Christmas Eve (daytime traditions)

[631upper]

Just wondering what people do as their "tradition" with kids on Christmas Eve.

My usual plan isn't happening this year (only found out today) and I'd like to do something special!

Kids are 7 and 3. We've seen Santa, done the festive lights etc etc.

bonus points if it's inexpensive!!

I'll fall back on the cinema if need be, but that doesn't seem special. I also have crafts / baking if they fancy that.

Thanks!

Watch a dvd.
Go for a walk.
Go to a children's service at church.

This yr I'm getting my hair done. Hopefully I'll be done for 12:30 and depending how organised I feel (at the min it's zero) we'll go to see mufassa at the cinema, ortherwise I'll be dashing about for last min presents for people I've forgotten. I'll start Xmas food prep about 4 and crack open the Prosecco around the same time with the Christmas tunes blasting to help me get in the mood. Kids will be hyper and eating everything in sight so it will be a fun day

Oh yes - I have lots of "picky food" on order!

At that age you want some thing active, park, swimming or maybe bowling.

Deff something active for the kids. In the afternoon, if you’re not listening to the carols from kings you’re doing it wrong.

Oh I love the bowling idea!

We have a fry up
Go for a nice long walk
Come home, party food, secret santa and games
Christmas eve boxes
Bath
Polar express
Put out mince pie and scatter reindeer food then bed
We've done it every year for 16 years and our eldest still loves Christmas eve

I love Christmas eve more than Christmas day

We spend Christmas Eve getting f ourselves sorted (kids may watch tv, I drop the dog at dog sitter, last min food shopping) then at midday we always stop, go to the pub for lunch followed by afternoon service at the church and then my brother in law for early evening drinks, have been doing it since the kids were small (now teens) and they would be gutted if we were to divert from it!!

We still go for a walk / drive around the local lights come home and watch home alone with hot chocolate

This year we are going to feed reindeer and to a pancake place for lunch. The last 2 years we went to the cinema which was also nice.

Normally it’s Muppet Christmas Carol, veg prep and decorate cookies.

This year we’ve switched things around and we’re having Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. DS is 6 and every he doesn’t want to sit and eat a roast when he has been grazing and could be playing. I spend half the day switching places with DH in the kitchen and we feel we’re missing out on the fun. Just seemed nicer to have a buffet on Christmas Day so we can enjoy ourselves.

This year we’re doing breakfast with Santa at the garden centre, watching a Christmas film and cooking the turkey dinner. I’m looking forward to it and hoping this becomes our new tradition (at least while DS is still young).

Christmas eve morning I get up early to put the gammon in the slow cook and make homemade sausage rolls. Mid morning we always got to MILs for a buffet lunch. We go to church (family friendly) at 4pm then home for the aforementioned gammon, chips and egg

Agree with the something active. We usually do something like a Christmas trail at a country park in the morning... This year we're going to a local castle, decorated in a particular theme... Has massive grounds and playground so will definitely tire them out!

Home for festive picky bits lunch, then usually a Christmas film in the afternoon.

We always go to the woods and feed the squirrels.

We always go for a swim to tire them out (although we're going to the theatre this year so I don't think we'll actually fit it in and will find a playground instead).

Home made pizza for dinner if we're at ours. Often pub.

Go to the zoo to wish the animals happy Christmas. We have a membership so go quite a bit but this time we wear Santa hats and I buy hot chocolate. It’s never busy and we enjoy the fresh air.

Usually swimming the morning (tire them out!) and then a McDonald’s drive through on the way home! lol

This year we’re going to a farm/softplay, again to tire them out as much as possible!

Go for a walk. See family for food. Movie and treats , new pjs

Harewood house
Church
Christmas Eve party at families where the kids look out for Santa
Home to put the carrot out ❤️

We track Santa using NORAD and watch the Home Alone movies. Sometimes we do something by ing energetic like the ski centre or trampolining to tire everyone out

Festive activities in the morning while watching a Christmas movie; this year we're painting Grinch ornaments. A long walk before lunch and a pop into our favourite cafe for some of their famous festive sausage rolls and mince pies. Back home to prep Christmas dinner while the children watch another Christmas movie. Head to DM's for Christmas Eve buffet and then back home for Christmas Eve boxes, hot chocolate, and The Polar Express.

Ice skating and hot chocolate

If DD is with me

Lazy morning
We go for a walk along the beach, to the beach side pub for mince pies and carols then walk hkme back along the beach.
Cheese, crackers, nice meats and nibbles.
Watch the Great Yarmouth Christmas Circus Spectacular on YouTube, they've filmed it and uploaded it for free since 2021.

If DD is at her Dad's I hit M&S around 3pm when they start marking stuff down and have a random selection for my Christmas eve dinner
Watch something on TV we've got National Theatre at home recently and there's lots on there I still haven't watched.
Finish wrapping the presents ready for our Christmas on the 27 th.

We will have a lazy morning with tv. The elves bring a gift for each child then mysteriously disappear for another year (thank god!)
Then a nice walk
Xmas eve boxes
Lots of food!
Baking gingerbread men is the main event
Then the usual mince pie etc out and attempting to put 2 excited kids to bed

Our Christmas eve box is full of bits to do on Christmas eve. There's new PJs and Santas treat plate but also Christmas dvds, crafts and a cookie mix to make the treat we leave for the big man. Will probably pack a game in there next year (something like dobble that's small) as DD will be old enough to join in