Christmas is around the corner, and you know what that means: spreading Christmas cheer all around! With COVID-19 still very present, there are various limitations on the types of activities we can do away from home. I love spending Christmas break at home watching Christmas movies with my cat and doing all sorts of other fun things.

One fun Christmas activity you can do at home is make gingerbread houses. They are super fun to make, and they taste delicious, too! There are so many types of gingerbread houses to make such as a Christmas village, a doghouse, or some covered with many different toppings. I have seen some covered with sprinkles, pretzels, graham crackers, etc. There are also many gingerbread houses based on television shows and movies such as “SpongeBob,” “Harry Potter,” and “Star Wars.” The thing with gingerbread houses that makes them so fun is that you can customize them in any way you like, and you can be as creative as you want.

Another fun Christmas activity you can do is bake Christmas-inspired treats. Many kinds of things you can bake include Christmas cookies, cheesecakes, and cupcakes. Baking is also something that is fun to do with many people. You can bring family or friends together and have a baking party. This is a very fun thing to do around the holidays if you are feeling festive and hungry.

This next activity requires traveling to the Gaylord National Hotel in National Harbor. Though this is not an at-home activity, it presents many opportunities to get in the Christmas spirit. One thing you can do is check out I Love Christmas Movies, a program where you can experience scenes from five Christmas films: “The Polar Expresses,” “Elf,” “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “A Christmas Story,” and “The Year Without A Santa Claus.” You can even go snow tubing and play ice bumper cars! You can also make gingerbread, go on a scavenger hunt with Snoopy, and build a bear at Build a Bear! There is also a fantastic light show with thousands of lights, lasers, and music while the tree lights up. There is also the ICE show, which is a super cool show full of full-size art displays made of ice, but unfortunately, they are not offering it this year due to COVID-19.

Another fun thing you can do is visit Kennedy Krieger Institute’s 32nd annual Festival of Trees. This year, the festival is being held virtually, so you cannot go in person. At least you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home, and you can stay warm! This year, you can still auction for trees and buy through their online store. You can go to a toy drive on November 26th & 27th from 10 am to 2 pm. It is a fun event with music, Santa, princesses, and giveaways that you can enjoy from your car. You can also view and buy their one-of-a-kind trees, wreaths, and gingerbread houses. You can purchase a special design to pick up at the Maryland State Fairgrounds or have it delivered to your home. Some of their one of a kind trees I have seen over the years are Disney, Santa’s workshop, sports teams, and more. My parent’s workplace even had its own tree! There is a live Q&A event with Santa, Elsa, and Anna! You can also buy from their online store. This is a super fun way to celebrate the holiday season while also supporting The Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Another fun activity you can do is make Christmas crafts! There are many different types of crafts you can make for the holiday season such as making ornaments, garlands, gifts, paintings, etc. Personally, I love to make Christmas ornaments and presents because you can let your creativity shine! Also making presents for someone shows your kindness and love toward that person.

These are just a few of my favorite things I like to do during the Christmas season. I hope you all have a fun and relaxing Christmas season!