10 Holiday Scavenger Hunt Templates & Christmas Clues

Holiday scavenger hunt templates are ready-to-use lists of seasonal objects, clues, or photo challenges. These ten templates cover Christmas gift trails, office parties, adults, kids, video calls, and outdoor walks, with rules and answer keys where needed.

Holiday hunts are a seasonal form of scavenger hunt ideas and are similar to office scavenger hunts, virtual scavenger hunts, and photo scavenger hunts. They fit an office Christmas party or a broader holiday team building plan. They are also called Christmas treasure hunts, Xmas scavenger hunts, or festive scavenger hunts.

This list includes:

1. Free printable holiday scavenger hunt templates
2. Christmas scavenger hunt to find gifts
3. Holiday scavenger hunt for kids with clues
4. Christmas scavenger hunt for adults with clues
5. Christmas scavenger hunt for kids
6. Outdoor winter scavenger hunt
7. Holiday scavenger hunt for the office
8. Virtual holiday scavenger hunt
9. Christmas photo scavenger hunt
10. Naughty & nice list scavenger hunt
11. Holiday color scavenger hunt
12. How to plan a holiday scavenger hunt

Free printable holiday scavenger hunt templates

Open the free printable holiday scavenger hunt pack. It contains all ten player sheets and separate host answer keys. Use your browser’s Print command to print selected pages or save them as a PDF. The printable is an HTML page, so you can also copy the clues into your own document.

Choose one template, check that the required objects are available, and tell players what counts as a find. A location note, photo, or spoken explanation can work; use the same rule for everyone. Keep fragile decorations and borrowed items where they belong.

Christmas scavenger hunt to find gifts

Best for: one gift recipient or one group searching together
Time: 15 minutes to set up; 10–15 minutes to play
Materials: Six clue cards, scissors, tape, a gift or location note, and one gift bag; access to shoes, a bookshelf, a mirror, a refrigerator, and a dining chair.

This Christmas treasure hunt follows a six-stop trail around the house. Each answer names the place where the next card waits.

1. Check that all six locations exist. Print and cut out the six clue cards. Keep the answer key for yourself.
2. Hand clue 1 to the player. Hide clue 2 by the shoes, clue 3 beside a bookshelf, clue 4 near a mirror, clue 5 beside the refrigerator, and clue 6 on a dining chair. Put the gift or location note in one gift bag, visible and within reach in the same room as the dining chair. Remove other gift bags from that room.
3. Follow the cards in numerical order. Give a hint when someone gets stuck; this hunt ends with finding the gift, not beating a timer. For multiple recipients, run separate trails with different card colors.

Clues to copy

1. With soles below and room for toes, look beside the pair you wear outdoors.
2. Stories stand together, spine beside spine. Your next clue waits on their shelf, near a tale you might like.
3. I show your holiday sweater without taking a photo. Look at the glass that copies each move you make.
4. I keep party leftovers chilly inside. Your next clue waits beside my door, outside.
5. At the holiday table, I give you a seat. Look where you sit when it is time to eat.
6. I carry a present with handles on top. Look inside this paper bag for your final stop.

Make it work: Use only easy-to-reach places. Do not hide cards inside appliances, behind heavy furniture, or among someone else’s belongings. If a clue location is missing, rewrite that card before printing.

Holiday scavenger hunt for kids with clues

Best for: children who can read short clues, with an adult helper
Time: 10–15 minutes
Materials: Six printed or drawn object pictures, six clue cards, paper and a pencil.

Set out the six answer objects or drawings in one room. Children solve each riddle, find its matching picture, and write the answer. Nothing needs to be hidden inside an object.

1. Draw or print a mitten, bell, star, scarf, mug, and candy cane. Put them at child height around one room.
2. Give children all six riddles, or read one at a time. They point to each matching picture and mark it on their sheet.
3. Award one point per match, up to six. Let children work together and explain their answers.

Clues to copy

1. I have a thumb but no fingers of my own. On a cold hand is where I feel at home.
2. Give me a shake and hear me ring. I am a small, musical metal thing.
3. Five points spread out from my middle. Find my shape to solve this riddle.
4. I wrap around your neck, long and snug. I am a strip of cloth, not a hug.
5. I have a handle, but I am not a door. Cocoa fills me, then you ask for more.
6. I am a striped sweet with a hook at the top. Find my picture; no tasting at this stop.

Make it work: Use pictures instead of breakable decorations, hot drinks, or food. For younger children, show two possible pictures for each clue and let them choose.

Christmas scavenger hunt for adults with clues

Best for: adults or teens in teams of 2–4
Time: 20 minutes, including the answer reveal
Materials: Ten supplied objects or pictures, clue sheets, pens, and a timer.

These Christmas scavenger hunt clues and answers use wordplay instead of holiday trivia. Place one example of each answer around a shared room; teams solve the clues and record where they found the matching object.

1. Use the answer key to supply all ten objects or pictures. Tell teams which room is in bounds and that the objects stay where they are.
2. Give every team the ten riddles. Allow 12 minutes to write each answer and its location. A correct guess without a location earns no point.
3. Reveal the answers, award one point for each correct answer-and-location pair, and share the win if teams tie.

Clues to copy

1. I have a heel and a toe, but my December job is holding surprises rather than a foot.
2. My branches keep their place while little lights and ornaments move in for the season.
3. I am a circle of greenery that hangs up to welcome visitors; nobody wears me as a ring.
4. I hide a gift in plain sight until someone tears me away.
5. I tell a present where it is going, though I never drive or walk.
6. My loops sit on top of the package, but I cannot tie anyone’s shoelaces by myself.
7. I look like a house, but my walls are baked and my mortar is icing.
8. Shake my tiny world and the snow falls indoors, without making your hands wet.
9. I am a very long decoration made to drape along a railing, mantel, or wall.
10. I carry a seasonal greeting, open like a book, and usually have only a few pages.

Make it work: For a harder round, provide the riddles without an answer word bank. For a mixed-experience group, list all ten object names in a shuffled word bank.

Christmas scavenger hunt for teens

Use the ten adult riddles with teams of two or three. One teammate solves, one records, and one checks locations; switch roles after every three clues. For an extra puzzle, ask each team to write one new riddle for an unused object and exchange it with another team after the scored round. Keep the creative round unscored so a hard-to-solve clue does not cost anyone the game.

Christmas scavenger hunt for kids

Best for: young children with an adult, or a family party
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: The checklist and ten objects or drawings placed in one room.

This find-and-point Christmas hunt needs no reading beyond the adult’s instructions. Supply the items first so no child has to own holiday decorations.

1. Arrange the ten objects or drawings where children can see and reach them. Tell everyone the room boundary.
2. Read each item or hand out the whole list. Children point to a find and tick it off the list; decorations stay in place.
3. Complete the hunt together. Each child can choose one find to describe at the end.

Clues to copy

1. A paper snowflake with at least one hole in it.
2. A red-and-white Santa hat or a drawing of one.
3. An ornament shaped like an animal.
4. A toy train or a picture of a train.
5. A gift wrapped in paper with a repeating pattern.
6. A cookie-shaped decoration or drawing.
7. A pair of mittens that match.
8. A holiday book with a character on the cover.
9. A paper chain with three or more loops.
10. A reindeer toy or drawing with antlers.

Make it work: Skip speed prizes. If a child cannot reach or see an item easily, move it or let the child direct an adult helper.

Outdoor winter scavenger hunt

Best for: coworkers, friends, or families on an agreed walking route
Time: 20–25 minutes
Materials: One checklist per team, a pencil, and optional phone cameras.

This outdoor holiday hunt works without snowfall. Choose a public route with seasonal decorations and check which list items are available before the group sets out.

1. Walk the route first and remove or replace unavailable items. Tell players the meeting point and return time.
2. Work in pairs or small teams. Tick each sighting and write its location; photographs are optional. Leave everything in place.
3. At the meeting point, award one point per checked item with a location. Most points wins, with shared wins for ties.

Clues to copy

1. An evergreen tree or shrub.
2. A pinecone visible from the path.
3. A seasonal decoration on a door.
4. An outdoor display with three colors.
5. A bird perched above the ground.
6. A storefront window decorated for a holiday.
7. A tree reflected in a window or puddle.
8. A bench beside a decorated public space.
9. A leaf with more than one color.
10. A winter hat being worn by someone in your own group.

Make it work: Stay on public paths and away from traffic; do not enter yards or photograph people without their permission. Swap to an indoor route if conditions make the walk impractical.

Holiday scavenger hunt for the office

Best for: coworkers in teams of 2–4
Time: 15–20 minutes
Materials: A checklist, timer, pens, and supplied decorations or paper substitutes.

For a holiday scavenger hunt at work, use shared spaces and ordinary supplies. The host can add a few paper decorations before the party; nobody needs to reveal private messages, purchases, or family photos.

1. Place or confirm all twelve items in the agreed shared spaces. Leave desks, lockers, and private offices out of bounds.
2. Give teams ten minutes to note each item and its location. Use a different object for each line, and leave the items in place.
3. Check the lists together. Award one point per valid find, up to twelve; tied teams share the win.

Clues to copy

1. A paper snowflake on a shared noticeboard.
2. A mug with a winter or celebration design.
3. An invitation to this team’s holiday gathering.
4. A reusable ribbon decorating a shared area.
5. A blank thank-you card ready for someone to write.
6. A bowl or tray intended for party snacks.
7. A calendar showing December.
8. A folded paper decoration made from office supplies.
9. A gift bag large enough to hold a notebook.
10. A sign with a seasonal greeting chosen for this gathering.
11. A sealed hot-drink packet, such as tea or cocoa.
12. A string of paper pennants or bunting.

Make it work: For a company Christmas party, use a Christmas greeting on the sign. For a mixed group, choose a year-end or celebration greeting. Match the room to the list before starting.

Virtual holiday scavenger hunt

Best for: remote coworkers or friends, individually or in equal-size teams
Time: 10–12 minutes
Materials: A video call or group chat, the ten prompts, and a timer.

This virtual Christmas scavenger hunt also works as a general holiday game. Players may show an object, draw it on paper, or describe a real object nearby; choose these options for everyone before the first round.

1. Read one prompt at a time. Give 30 seconds to find, draw, or describe a match without leaving the immediate area.
2. Ask everyone to show or type the answer together. Award one point for each valid response; there is no bonus for being fastest.
3. Use a different object for each prompt. For teams, collect one answer per team per round. Ten rounds means a maximum of ten points for each player or team.

Clues to copy

1. Something you could use to decorate a gift.
2. An object that could become a tiny snowman’s hat.
3. Something striped that is not clothing.
4. An item that makes a gentle jingling or rattling sound.
5. Something shiny enough to catch the light.
6. An object you could use as a pretend microphone for a holiday song.
7. Something that could hold a small surprise.
8. A soft item that makes a work break more comfortable.
9. Something shaped like a circle that could inspire a wreath.
10. An everyday object you could turn into a miniature party centerpiece.

Make it work: Camera-off players can type descriptions. Keep searching within reach and accept a simple sketch; the game should not depend on who has the largest decorated home.

Christmas photo scavenger hunt

Best for: 4–16 adults in teams of 2–4 at an office or party
Time: 20 minutes
Materials: Per team: a phone camera, paper, pens, tape, scissors, a small box, an ornament, and assorted desk supplies.

Create fresh photos during the game. These prompts give teams something to stage, so nobody needs a personal photo archive or pictures of strangers.

1. Set one shared play area and a 15-minute photo limit. Teams submit one new photo per prompt; each photo can score for only one line.
2. Use objects, paper props, or willing teammates. Ask before including someone, and keep screens and private documents out of the frame.
3. Award one point when the requested elements are clearly visible. Teams exchange phones with another team to check photos against the prompts; the host settles unclear matches. Most valid photos wins; ties share the win. Invite two teams to explain a favorite shot in 30 seconds each.

Clues to copy

1. A tiny paper tree photographed from below so it appears taller than an everyday object behind it.
2. A gift wrapped only in scrap paper, with a handmade bow.
3. Three everyday objects arranged as a snowman.
4. A team-made star built from pens, pencils, or paper strips.
5. An ornament reflected in something shiny.
6. Two objects posed as if they are exchanging presents.
7. A holiday film title acted out using only objects and a handwritten title card.
8. A paper reindeer appearing to pull a desk-supply sleigh.
9. A patterned decoration against a plain background, with its design clearly visible.
10. A miniature party scene with a table, seats, and decorations made from available supplies.

Make it work: No points for elaborate equipment or editing. Agree that the photos stay in the game’s private space unless everyone pictured approves wider sharing.

Naughty & nice list scavenger hunt

Best for: adults or families who enjoy silly object stories
Time: 12–15 minutes
Materials: The eight prompts and harmless everyday props or drawings.

Keep “naughty and nice” fictional: each object belongs to a helpful or mischievous imaginary elf. Players invent a harmless explanation rather than confessing to anything.

1. Read one prompt at a time and give players 30 seconds to choose or draw a prop.
2. Everyone shows their prop or drawing together. Invite up to two players to explain it in 15 seconds each. Award one point for each clear match; both categories score equally.
3. Use one new prop per round. Most points after eight prompts wins, with shared wins for ties. Do not label people or teams naughty.

Clues to copy

1. Nice elf: a tool that could repair a paper decoration.
2. Mischievous elf: a prop for pretending to eat the last cookie.
3. Nice elf: something that could help carry several gifts at once.
4. Mischievous elf: something to give a toy a ridiculous disguise.
5. Nice elf: an object that could keep a stack of greeting cards tidy.
6. Mischievous elf: something to make a tiny pretend snowdrift on a desk.
7. Nice elf: a prop for cleaning up after a craft party.
8. Mischievous elf: an object that could stand in for a completely impractical present.

Make it work: Use pretend mishaps only. Skip prompts about drinking, spending, personal IDs, charity, or whether someone’s food choices are “good.”

Holiday color scavenger hunt

Best for: mixed groups, seated teams, or a five-minute meeting opener
Time: 5–8 minutes
Materials: The six prompts and objects already in reach; paper and pens are optional.

This quick holiday scavenger hunt needs no Christmas decorations or shared religious tradition. Players find a color-and-purpose combination, then explain how it could fit a celebration.

1. Give everyone three minutes to find or draw matches for the six prompts. Label the intended color if drawing without colored pens. Keep searches to items in reach, or let a seated player direct a teammate.
2. Use a different object for each line. Award one point for each match that fits both the color and the purpose.
3. Invite up to four people or teams to share one surprising find in 20 seconds each. Highest score wins, or combine everyone’s answers into one shared celebration display.

Clues to copy

1. Something red that could hold a message.
2. Something green that could decorate a table.
3. Something blue that could be part of a party game.
4. Something yellow or gold that could mark a winner.
5. Something white that could become a paper decoration.
6. Something with at least three colors that could inspire an invitation.

Make it work: The purpose can be imaginative: a red notebook could hold a greeting, and a yellow sticky note could become a winner’s badge.

How to plan a holiday scavenger hunt

For a 30-minute office activity, allow five minutes for teams and rules, ten for the office hunt, five to check answers, and ten for teams to share favorite finds and make a small display. For a short meeting, use the six-prompt color hunt instead.

Before starting, walk through the exact list yourself. Supply missing props, decide whether sketches count, and mark the boundaries. For a large checklist hunt, give teams separate copies and stagger which item they look for first. A sequential gift trail needs a separate set of colored cards and a final gift or note for each team; each team still starts with clue 1. Let people pass or take the scorekeeper role.

Choose a Christmas theme when it fits the gathering, and use the color or general office list when people observe different traditions. Prizes can be a small shared treat, a paper certificate, or simply choosing the next game.

For another activity, try Christmas icebreakers, add Christmas trivia questions, or browse printable team building activities.