Countdown to Christmas: The Best Advent Calendars of 2021

From a wine advent calendar to Harry Potter and LEGO Star Wars, this year's top advent calendars go way beyond cheap chocolates.
Happy child with homemade advent calendar (Photo: @photomasha_symchych via Twenty20)
Advent calendar (Photo: @photomasha_symchych via Twenty20)

For a lot of people, one of the best parts of the holiday season is the advent calendar. You know, those festive day-by-day countdowns to Christmas where you get a little surprise every day? Like the best family Christmas movies, advent calendars are fun because they’re all about anticipation for the holiday and everything it represents. Oh, and treats—advent calendars are also about the little treats behind those countdown windows, too!

The Best Advent Calendars for Christmas 2021

Long gone are the days where advent calendars were only filled with cheap chocolates. In fact, this holiday season has brought some unique Christmas countdowns to the party, including a wine advent calendar, a LEGO advent calendar, even a Harry Potter advent calendar. Here are our picks for the best advent calendars of 2021.

Wine Advent Calendars and Other Foodie Countdowns

2021 Wines of the World Wine Advent Calendar

Twenty-four nights of wine? Count us in! If you’re looking for an exclusively adult holiday countdown, look no further than the 2021 Wines of the World advent calendar. This wine advent calendar features wines come from all over the world and in almost ever varietal imaginable, including French Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux, and Italian Pinot Grigio.

CrateChef 2021 Foodie Advent Calendar

Cook like the top chefs in the country with this foodie advent calendar from CrateChef. Each box is filled with gourmet food and treats, and six of the boxes have kitchen tools inside. If you have someone in your house who is a big foodie, they will love this.

VineBox Women in Wine Holiday Edition 12 Nights of Wine Advent Calendar

Support women in the wine business with the VineBox Women in Wine Holiday Edition wine advent calendar. The 12-day calendar features 12 wines from women winemakers around the world. Each vial contains one serving of wine, which can be enjoyed on its own or paired with cheese and snacks for a holiday afternoon treat.

Bean Box Twelve Mornings of Coffee

Coffee lovers, rejoice because there’s a coffee advent calendar for you! The Bean Box Twelve Mornings of Coffee advent calendar is a 12-day event with a dozen 1.8-ounce bags of small batch coffee. Get your caffeine and holiday fix each morning after opening a new flap.

Lady M Advent Calendar

The Lady M Advent Calendar is a decorative wreath that also doubles as a food advent calendar filled with tasty sweets. Each flap is filled with chocolates and gummies from artisans around Europe. Each night you can open this up and hope you’re Christmas wish of a trip to Europe comes true.

Bonne Maman Mini Fruit Spreads And Honey Advent Calendar

A perennial favorite, the Bonne Maman Mini Fruit Spreads And Honey advent calendar is filled with delightful spreads and honey that can be enjoyed on morning toast, weekend waffles, and anything else you can dream up. While the spreads don’t often change from year to year, that’s fine with most people because the treats are just that good.

12 Days Of Hot Sauce Advent Calendar

This 12 Days of Hot Sauce advent calendar is a great option for lovers of all things hot and spicy. With this hot sauce countdown, you can pull out a very spicy bottle of red or green hot sauce to shake onto dinner or a breakfast omelet.

Wufers Advent Dog Cookie Calendar

This food advent calendar is for furry family members only! The Wufers Advent Cookie Calendar contains 24 different dog treats that your pet will be barking for all season long.

Advent Calendars for Kids (and Kids at Heart)

Harry Potter Advent Calendar: Holiday Magic

If your kids (or you!) are into all things Harry Potter then you’re going to want to get this magical Harry Potter advent calendar. Each of the 24 days in this Holiday Magic advent calendar features a cute Harry Potter collectible like a Hedwig key chain, trading cards, or a ticket for the Hogwarts Express.

Olive and Coca Chalet Lit Advent Calendar

If you’re looking for a DIY advent calendar you can fill on your own, consider the Olive and Coca Chalet Lit advent calendar, which features a winter chalet scene. Each of the 24 boxes are small but can fit things like candy, folded-up dollar bills, or clues about where to find larger gifts in your house.

Funko Pop! Advent Calendar: The Office

Jim, Pam and the whole Dunder Mifflin gang are all ready to celebrate the holidays with this Funko Pop! advent calendar themed to the beloved TV show The Office. Each of the miniature Funko Pops looks just like the quirky characters, right down to the clothes they were most often seen wearing on the show.

LEGO Advent Calendar – LEGO Star Wars

There’s just something about building a LEGO set that makes people happy. While this LEGO advent calendar may not be a full LEGO set, it’s still plenty of fun, and the LEGO Star Wars characters can be used on other builds. When every flap is open, the calendar makes a fun scene with beloved characters like Mando, The Child, and stormtroopers.

Bath and Beauty Advent Calendars

Enfusia 25 Days of Fizzy Bath Treats Advent Calendar

For anyone who doesn’t get enough me time, the Enfusia 25 Days of Fizzy Bath Treats advent calendar is just what the doctor ordered. With tiny bath bombs in a variety of colors and scents, you can toss one of these in the tub each night and soak away the hectic the holiday season.

Sterling Forever 24 Days of Jewelry Advent Calendar

Give yourself the gift of delicate jewelry with the Sterling Forever 24 Days of Jewelry advent calendar. While it’s a little more expensive than some of the advent calendars, it comes with 24 pairs of earrings that can be mixed and matched well past the holiday season.

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Megan duBois is a freelance writer who covers theme parks, cruising, food and drink, and family travel. Her work has appeared on Buzzfeed, Popsugar, Insider, Orbitz, The Daily Meal, Family Vacation Critic, TravelPulse, and more. Megan has been quoted as an expert and thought leader on theme parks for Forbes and other outlets. Follow her on Instagram @MinglingwithMickey and Twitter @Megand513 for theme park travel tips and tricks, and email her at megand513 [at] gmail [dot] com for story ideas.

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