If you’re currently planning all things holiday for your family and friends, a Christmas light scavenger hunt is a great activity for groups of all sizes! It’s FREE to do and you can get started with the printable Christmas light scavenger hunt list in this post.
Scroll down to get your free printable and some tips for planning your own holiday lights scavenger hunt this year!
CHRISTMAS LIGHT SCAVENGER HUNT
If you’re looking for something fun to do for the holidays that doesn’t have to cost anything at all, a Christmas Light Scavenger hunt is a fun one to start.
You can run your scavenger hunt any way you want to. So you can do some elaborate planning or keep it very simple.
At the basic level, all you need is the Christmas light scavenger hunt list, a pen or pencil, and somewhere to go look at lights!
For us, our neighborhood usually has a lot of houses with lights up. But I know there are also a lot of local websites that list some of the best neighborhoods for seeing holiday lights. So there are definitely options.
HOW TO PLAN A CHRISTMAS SCAVENGER HUNT
Planning a holiday lights scavenger hunt has a few basic things to consider. If you’re keeping it simple, some of this won’t apply to you. But if you’re looking to turn it into more of an event, you might consider some of these things.
WHEN WILL YOU GO HUNTING?
You can head out on an impromptu hunt without planning what day you will go. But you can also make plans and if you want to go out with a group of friends or family, you will probably want to get something set up.
So decide when you will go on your lights scavenger hunt.
WHERE WILL YOU GO TO SEE LIGHTS?
There are a variety of places you can go to see Christmas lights. Some ideas include:
- Your neighborhood
- A popular neighborhood in your community
- A drive through holiday lights show
- A Christmas festival
We even have a stretch in an outdoor shopping area near where we live that has a variety of lights set up. Something like works for a hunt too!
You can also think about if you’re going to walk to look at the lights or be driving. This might depend on the location you choose.
If you’re walking, you’ll want your participants to be sure to dress for the weather!
HOW WILL YOU RUN YOUR SCAVENGER HUNT?
The easiest way to do the scavenger hunt is to print enough copies of the Christmas light scavenger hunt printable so everyone has a copy and then head out to see the lights.
But if you’re going with a group, there are some other things to consider. How will you group everyone? Some ideas include:
- Each person gets their own checklist
- Groups splits into pairs
- Groups splits into two bigger teams – kids versus adults, boys versus girls, grouped by age, etc.
Depending on the ages of the people you have participating, you can even think about turning it into a photo scavenger hunt.
Have someone on the team take a photo of each item the team checks off on the list.
Or turn it into a selfie challenge and have them take selfies with the lights in the background. (If you’re driving, this one might not work as well as if you’re walking around the neighborhood.)
WILL YOU HAVE PRIZES FOR THE SCAVENGER HUNT?
If you’re going out with a larger group, you may want to consider some little prizes since it is the holiday season.
You could have a little gift for everyone at the end of the hunt. Or you could give out prizes for the people who find the most items.
Some ideas include cookies, holiday candy, small gift cards, ornaments, etc.
The prizes don’t have to be expensive. You don’t even have to have any prizes. Bragging rights can be enough. Or perhaps you started a trophy of some sort that your group of friends and family pass around from year to year.
PRINTABLE CHRISTMAS LIGHT SCAVENGER HUNT
No matter which Christmas light scavenger hunt ideas you use, be sure to download your Christmas scavenger hunt list so you’re ready to go out!
Fill out the form below to receive your file via email and you’ll be ready to start planning!
If you don’t want to sign up for the free printable, I have a slightly different version available in my Etsy shop HERE!
