Fishing lures. Pet toys. Art supplies. Advent calendars offer personalized ways to count down

By Kim Cook, Associated Press

Not so many years ago, a typical advent calendar was a simple cardboard box containing chocolates or other candies behind little daily windows. Today, advent calendars have evolved into creatively designed collections that dispense items ranging from pet toys to soaps, fishing equipment to art supplies. These calendars make for festive décor and appeal to our love of ritual, surprise, and small treasures.

Of course, if you’re gifting an advent calendar, you’ll want to give it early—just in time for your recipients to count down the days to Christmas or another milestone. Here are some countdown calendars that cater to different interests, promising daily doses of joy.

### Advent Calendars for Pet Lovers

Because they’ve been (mostly) good boys and girls all year, consider a daily treat calendar for the household pets:

– **Petco’s Merry Makings**: Choose from a feline calendar featuring 12 days of catnip goodies and toys behind the doors of a cute cottage, or a dog version with biscuits, chewies, and small plush toys. ($25-$30)
– **Bocce’s Bakery**: This New York-based dog-snack maker offers a 12-day calendar featuring wheat-, corn-, and soy-free treats made with ingredients like peanut butter, banana, and chickpeas. ($14)
– **Trader Joe’s**: Their cat calendar contains freeze-dried sweet potato and salmon treats, while the dog version focuses on freeze-dried chicken. ($7.99)

### For Gardeners and Makers

What nature lover wouldn’t appreciate a pretty calendar with different kinds of flower seeds?

– **Terrain’s Seed Bomb Advent Calendar**: Contains seven seed bombs, each packaged in a decorative ornament featuring bees, butterflies, bunnies, and birds. Hang them on the tree until planting season, then watch wildflowers like chamomile, clover, coriander, and marigold greet the spring. ($48)
– **Amanda Watson’s Embroidery Advent Calendar**: Created by a needlecraft artist in Bend, Oregon, this calendar lets you stitch one new design each day from December 1 through Christmas. The project is beginner-friendly and the finished artwork can be framed or transformed into a tote or pillow. ($45)
– **Mondo Llama’s 25 Days of Christmas Crafts**: Ideal for crafty kids, this calendar includes all the sticks, foam and felt pieces, mini markers, googly eyes, and more to make a bunch of cute holiday crafts. ($30)
– **Uncommon Goods’ Craft Project Calendar**: Slots hold your finished buildings so you can assemble a colorful village to display. The kit includes paint markers, watercolors, glittery gel pens, and more. ($95)

### Indoor and Outdoor Fun

– **Thames & Kosmos Experiment a Day Science Advent Calendar**: Perfect for kids 8 and up, this calendar includes supplies for daily chemistry, biology, and physics experiments. Available at Uncommon Goods. ($40)
– **Thames & Kosmos Exit: The Game Advent Calendar**: Experience an intergalactic race with this escape-room game, where each day offers a new clue. ($49.95)
– **Colitt Fishing Lure Calendar**: For fishing fans, this calendar features 24 reusable lures in a box decorated with a fierce denizen of the deep on the cover. ($54.99)
– **The Purple Cow’s 24 Family Games Calendar**: This calendar offers brainteasers, dice, and nostalgic activities for the whole family. ($40)
– **Centric Beauty’s “Wicked”-Themed Advent Calendar**: Inspired by the musical, this calendar is filled with sparkly, shimmery balms, powders, and stick-ons for lips, eyes, and nails. ($16.49)

No matter who’s on your holiday shopping list, there’s an advent calendar to make their season bright—one delightful surprise at a time!
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/16/advent-calendars-gift-guide/

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