If you’re looking for a Christmas activity that blends a scavenger hunt, clever puzzles, and a sprinkle of Elf mischief, you’re going to love this! I’m going to show you myElf Scavenger Hunt Game. A printable puzzle adventure that lets parents turn their home into a Christmas quest.

I’ve put together a collection of 24 clues, giving you plenty to choose from. Kids (or adults) follow a the trail, solving and uncovering clue words to discover a surprise at the end. It’s part escape room, part scavenger hunt, and packed full of fun.

Give this game and try. You’ll find tips and ideas on how you can easily make this elf scavenger hunt even more epic!

The Elf Scavenger Hunt Game

The game comes with 24 festive puzzle clues, printable certificates, and a Clue Locator form that lets you choose your own hiding spots. I really want the game to be played anywhere so you can use as many or as few puzzles as you like and set the clue locations to anywhere. This makes the kit perfect for both quick after-school fun and longer, magical adventures and you can set it up in ANY location!

So you want to sprinkle in some extra Christmas magic, I know I always do, let’s take this hunt to the next level…

Scavenger Hunt Idea #1:

Add Real Locks for Escape-Room Style Challenge. Want to make your kids feel like they are on a secret quest? Add a few locked challenges! Don’t worry, it’s really easy to do, I promise.

Use a combination lock

Place a small lock on a box, drawer, or suitcase and pop your clue inside. To open it, players must solve one of your puzzles. Locks instantly elevate the game, but they’re so simple to set up and endlessly fun.

Hidden UV Clue

Another favourite addition is using UV. It’s simple to do but adds a touch of magic.

• Write a clue using a UV pen (that invisible ink is pure magic for kids).
• The clue can reveal where the key is hidden or the lock code.
• And for extra fun… hide the Elf on the Shelf holding the key!

Kids will absolutely light up when they discover a secret glowing message, and even more so when they realise the elf has been involved all along.

Candy Sorting Lock Puzzle

I use this one a lot in my games, it’s so easy, and the kids will enjoy eating the goodies too! My go to sweets are coloured jelly beans or chocolate beans. I use them to reveal a 3- or 4-digit code. It’s simple, colourful, and great for younger players, they get to help sort out and count the candy and join in the fun.

• Place a handful of mixed jelly beans in a small container.
• Players count how many of each colour they can see.
• A card tells them the order (for example: red → green → yellow).
• Put the code lock on a box or bag they need to open.

If you like the idea of this clue but don’t want the extra sugar rush, how about having the kids sort out different coloured Christmas tree decorations? And then having part of the activity to decorate the Christmas tree.

Christmas scavenger hunt Idea #2

You don’t have to run the whole hunt in one go! There are a lot of clues to solve so why not draw out the excitement by spreading the clues over several days:

• Day 1: Follow the clue to find a Christmas book to read together
• Day 2: A clue leads to a hot chocolate station
• Day 3: The puzzle reveals tonight’s Christmas film
• Day 4: Clue points to a craft activity
• Day 5: Find a new ornament for the tree

I think this is a great way to spread out the activity and build on the festive fun. Have a mini hunt each weekend on the build up to Christmas with a fun family activity to do together.

Christmas Treasure Hunt Idea #3

Set up the hunt for Christmas Eve and make the final location reveal:

• A Christmas Eve box
• A cosy pyjama surprise
• Movie-night goodies
• A letter from the elf wishing them a magical night

We all know that the kids are full of excitement for the big day, and if your kids are anything like mine, they are a pain in the bum! All that energy flying around, and all you want to do is get five minutes to yourself to wrap up those gifts you’ve been putting off haha. This is a great problem solver. Use it to channel that energy.

Christmas Morning Magic Idea #4

Imagine the kids waking up on Christmas morning, their first clue is waiting for them,
and it leads them around the house until they find a special gift at the end! Or they can pick up little gifts as they go along the hunt

This works beautifully for:

• A “big” gift reveal
• A shared family present
• Making the most of the day

I love to add as many things as I can to make my Christmas day more exciting and make the magic last as long as possible. I’m not very religious, so for me Christmas is all about spending time with my loved ones and creating some magic. By setting up the game on Christmas morning you are giving the kids something interactive to enjoy while you sip that first cup of Christmas-morning coffee (or Bucks Fizz, yes please!).

Countdown fun Idea #5

I deliberately created 24 clues so this game can be used as an Advent calendar! Each day the kids receive a new clue from their elf. When the kids go to the location, they reveal an advent treat. It doesn’t need to be anything expensive or complicated. Here are a few ideas for advent suprises.

• Chocolate, simple and easy to pull together.
• Colouring pages
• Festive Hair scrunchies
• A book – I saw a great idea on Pinterest for a book-a-day advent calendar. If you love the idea of this but don’t want the expense, head to your local thrift store!
• Good for one hot chocolate coupon
• Choose tonight’s movie ticket
• Bake cookies together today card

What puzzles are included?

There are 24 different puzzles a little bit of everything. Here are some of the clues that you can expect. Picture decoding, Braille, Morse code, wordsearch, mirror images, and mazes, to name a few.

As there are so many clues, I have made it so there are four clue cards per sheet of printed paper, saving you on printer paper and ink.

Setup: Quick and Simple

The setup takes about 20-30 minutes. Here’s the basic flow:

1. Print the game pages: I recommend bright white card for a good sturdy finish, but regular printer paper is absolutely fine.
2. Plan the order you wish to play the clues. You don’t have to use all the clues in the kit, just pick the ones you like. Use the planner page included to plan the clue locations.
3. Cut and place the clues. The easy bit. grab a pair of scissors and get cutting!
4. Gather the players and set the scene. I would advise you to tell the players if there are any rules you have at the start of the game. There is an opening message but you skip this and create a story of your own if it doesn’t fit.
5. Let the adventure begin.
6. Don’t forget a treat for the end of the game! This could be something super simple, like a movie night for everyone to enjoy or a festive coloring book.

Final Tips for Parents

• You don’t need to use all 24 clues, choose what works for your family.
• Mix easier and trickier puzzles for the perfect balance and create a smaller hunt.
• Add treats, tiny gifts, or silly extras along the route.
• Have fun and get everyone involved. This activity is about making memories.

Ready to Create a Little Christmas Magic?

More Christmas Games I Think You’ll Love

Take a look at some of my favorite festive games. There is bound to be something that will make your Christmas even more magical.

• Kids early reader reindeer treasure hunt
• Build a snowman FREE scavenger hunt
• The case of the missing stocking puzzle hunt
• Santas Quest

Christmas is all about making memories; I hope you consider embracing the adventure and set up your own festive scavenger hunt.