By KIM COOK, Associated Press

Not so many years ago, a typical advent calendar was a basic cardboard box containing some 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. They make for festive décor, and appeal to our love of ritual, surprise, and small things.

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

**For Pet People**

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

– **Petco** offers Merry Makings’ feline calendar, featuring 12 days of catnip goodies and toys tucked behind the doors of a cute cottage. There’s one for dogs too, with biscuits, chewies, and small plush toys. ($25–$30)
– **Bocce’s Bakery** (NY-based) has a 12-day calendar with their signature wheat-, corn-, and soy-free treats, made with ingredients like peanut butter, banana, and chickpeas. ($14)
– At **Trader Joe’s**, the cat calendar contains freeze-dried sweet potato and salmon treats, while the dog version is all about freeze-dried chicken. ($7.99)

**For Gardeners & Makers**

What nature lover wouldn’t enjoy a pretty calendar packed with different kinds of flower seeds? Here are some great options:

– **Terrain’s Advent Calendar of Seeds:** Seven decorative seed bombs shaped like bees, butterflies, bunnies, and birds. Hang them on the tree until spring planting season, then watch your garden bloom with chamomile, clover, coriander, marigolds, and other pollinator-friendly wildflowers. ($48)
– **Amanda Watson Advent Stitching Calendar:** Bend, Oregon fiber artist Amanda Watson has created a calendar you stitch yourself—a new design for each day from Dec. 1 through Christmas. Even beginners can handle the project, and the finished artwork can be framed or turned into a tote or pillow. ($45)
– **Mondo Llama’s 25 Days of Christmas Crafts:** Perfect for crafty kids, this calendar comes with sticks, foam pieces, felt, mini markers, googly eyes, and more for a month’s worth of festive crafts. ($30)
– **Uncommon Goods Craft Project Calendar:** Build your own colorful holiday village; slots in the calendar hold your finished buildings, and the kit includes paint markers, watercolors, glittery gel pens, and more. ($95)

**Indoor and Outdoor Fun**

Looking for activities that entertain and engage? These calendars deliver experiments, games, and surprises:

– **Experiment a Day Science Advent Calendar (Thames & Kosmos):** Ideal for kids 8+, this calendar provides supplies and instructions for chemistry, biology, and physics experiments. Available at Uncommon Goods. ($40)
– **EXIT: The Game Advent Calendar (Thames & Kosmos):** An escape-room game in advent calendar format—each day unlocks a clue as you race through an intergalactic challenge. ($49.95)
– **Colitt Fishing Advent Calendar:** 24 reusable lures for fishing enthusiasts, packaged in a calendar box featuring a fierce sea creature on the cover. ($54.99)
– **The Purple Cow’s 24 Family Games Calendar:** Includes brainteasers, dice, and outdoor and nostalgic activities for family fun. ($40)
– **Centric Beauty’s “Wicked” Advent Calendar:** For fans of “Wicked,” this calendar features sparkly, shimmery balms, powders, and stick-ons for lips, eyes, and nails. ($16.49)

Whether you’re celebrating with pets, crafting with kids, planting for spring, or gathering for games, there’s an advent calendar to spark joy for everyone this holiday season. Don’t forget to give early so the countdown can begin!
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/11/16/advent-calendars-gift-guide/