Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt

There’s something magical about piling into the car, turning on Christmas music, and driving through a well-decorated neighborhood filled with twinkling lights. Add in a little friendly competition, laughter, and a free printable scavenger hunt list, and you’ve got the perfect family Christmas activity that everyone — from toddlers to teenagers — will love.

This Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt is one of our favorite fun Christmas scavenger hunts to enjoy with kids, teens, and even adults. It’s simple to set up, requires very little prep, and turns an ordinary drive around town into a holiday adventure your whole family will remember for years to come.

Whether you’re looking for a fun Christmas Eve tradition, a quick weeknight activity, or a festive idea for your next holiday party, this free printable Christmas light scavenger hunt list is just the thing to make your night merry and bright.

Hi guys! I am Stephanie from Somewhat Simple and I am excited to share with you a fun (and EASY!) Christmas tradition my family loves— a Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt!

This was an idea we adopted a few years ago and it is a simple way to enjoy your neighborhood Christmas decorations.

A Fun Christmas Scavenger Hunt Activity for the Whole Family

We created this Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt because we love finding easy Christmas activities that bring our family together during the busy holiday season. We also love free printables.

The best part? It works for younger kids, older kids, toddlers, teens, and even grandparents.

Everyone can join in the fun, and the printable list makes it easy to keep track of what you’ve spotted — from Santa’s sleigh to a sparkling reindeer, or even a glowing North Pole sign. It has become a long-standing tradition for our family.

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All you need is:

The Free Printable Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt List (download below!)
A pen or pencil
A warm car (or comfy walking shoes if you’re doing a walking Christmas light hunt)
A sense of holiday adventure

If your family loves games and competition, make it extra fun by offering small prizes for the winner who spots the most items first!

How to Play the Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt

This fun Christmas scavenger hunt activity is easy to set up and doesn’t take long to start enjoying. You can play it in your own neighborhood, at a local park with a light display, or even while walking through a festive downtown area. It is a super easy Christmas activity.

Here’s how to play:

Print your scavenger hunt list.
Download the Free Printable Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt List and print one copy for each player (or one per team). We like to print on a piece of card stock so it’s sturdy.
Gather your supplies.
You’ll need a pen or pencil for each participant. Bring clipboards or notebooks if you’re doing a walking Christmas scavenger hunt to make marking items easier.
Choose your route.
Decide whether you’ll drive through a well-decorated neighborhood or visit a local Christmas light display.
Set your rules.
- Will you play individually or in teams (great for family scavenger hunts)?
- How long will the game last?
- Will you offer a prize for the first person to complete the list?
Start your light hunt!
Turn on your favorite Christmas movie soundtrack or holiday playlist, and start searching for all the festive items on your scavenger hunt list.
Celebrate the winner!
When you’re done, give out a small treat or a holiday-themed prize for the winner. You can even end the night with hot chocolate, Christmas cookies, or a movie night watching The Polar Express or Elf.

What’s on the Free Printable Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt List

Our Free Printable Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt List includes classic holiday decorations that kids love spotting. You’ll find everything from a glowing snowman to a gingerbread house, colorful ornaments, and even Santa himself!

There is a blank sheet of the savenger hunt printable. Here are just a few fun items to add to look for on your Christmas scavenger hunt list:

Reindeer
Snowman
Christmas Tree
Candy Canes
Nativity Scene
North Pole Sign
Penguin or Polar Bear
Stars and Snowflakes
Christmas Wreath
Red and Green Lights
Merry Christmas Sign
Inflatable Grinch or Frosty
Gingerbread house
Colorful ornaments
Snow Globe Decoration

This printable scavenger hunt is designed to work for families with younger kids who are just learning to identify shapes and colors, as well as older kids and teens who love a little friendly competition.

If you want to make it even more interactive, encourage each player to take their own pictures of Christmas items they find along the way. You could even create a digital scrapbook or slideshow afterward to relive the fun memories.

Create Your Own Scavenger Hunt List

Want to make your own version of the scavenger hunt? We’ve made it easy to customize!
You can create your own list of scavenger hunt items by adding special decorations you know appear in your community — like a neighbor’s giant Santa, your city’s Christmas tree lighting, or that one house that goes all out every year.

Older kids and teens will love creating their own scavenger hunt list to challenge friends or siblings. Younger kids can help color and decorate their lists for some extra holiday crafting fun before the big night.

Make It a Family Tradition

Every year, our family looks forward to our Christmas Light Hunt Night. We load up the car with hot cocoa, Christmas snacks, and our scavenger hunt printables. Then, we drive around listening to our favorite Christmas music, laughing, and marking off the decorations we see.

This simple family scavenger hunt has become one of our most loved traditions — something we all look forward to during December.

Whether you do it on Christmas Eve, a cozy weekend night, or as part of a holiday party, this fun idea is perfect for bringing everyone together. It’s one of those easy Christmas activities that doesn’t cost much but creates lasting memories.

Tips for Hosting a Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt Party

If you want to turn your light hunt into a full-blown party, here are a few ways to make it even more festive:

Invite friends or neighbors.
Hand out copies of the Free Printable Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt List and form teams by car or by family.
Add themed prizes.
Try small gifts like holiday treats, stickers, or even a Christmas ornament for the winning team.
Warm up afterward.
After your scavenger hunt, gather indoors for hot chocolate and Christmas cookies. You could even watch a Christmas movie like Home Alone or A Christmas Story.
Make it a neighborhood event.
Encourage families in your area to decorate for the light hunt and join in the fun.

Hosting this as a community or classroom party is a great family activity that spreads holiday cheer and gets everyone outside to enjoy the holiday season.

Download the Free Printable Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt List

Ready to get started?
You can download our free printable Christmas lights scavenger hunt PDF below. Print it at home, grab your pen, and start marking off your finds!

? [DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SCAVENGER HUNT LIST HERE]

Print as many as you need for your family, classroom, or neighborhood event. The printable includes easy-to-recognize icons, making it perfect for toddlers, younger kids, and older kids alike.