Fireplace Activities for the Holiday Season: 8 Ideas for your Family
Last reviewed: July 22, 2026
The holiday season is a great time to spend more time with loved ones. With busy daily lives, it can be hard to create intentional family time, but the holidays offer all sorts of opportunities to gather, relax, and create new memories. One of the most comfortable winter experiences is gathering around the fireplace and diving into family activities. In this blog post, we’ll share fireplace activities that work especially well around an electric fireplace.
8 Family Fireplace Activities for the Holiday Season
Whether you have a modern electric fireplace or a traditional fireplace, you cannot deny the comfort it brings to the house. Gathering around the fireplace makes everything more enjoyable. If you are still choosing a fireplace for your home, compare wall-mounted electric fireplaces, built-in electric fireplaces, and electric fireplace suites.
1. Family Game Night
The first fireplace activity for the holiday season is family game night. If you are into board games, this activity is perfect. Games such as Ticket to Ride, Catan, or Monopoly can be a great way to have fun with the whole family. Any fireplace can create a cozy mood for a fun family activity.
2. Indoor Campout by the Fireplace
Camping by the fireplace is one of those activities people remember. If camping outdoors feels like too much work, create an indoor campout instead. Use blankets, pillows, and an actual tent if you have one, or build a blanket fort with the kids.
This fireplace activity is especially nice if you have a spacious living room. If you have an electric fireplace, you do not need to manage smoke, ash, or wood. Still, you should always follow basic safety practices and review our Electric Fireplace Safety Guide.
3. Crafts Time
Another holiday season activity that can help you bond with your family is doing crafts. If there are kids in your family, this can be a great way to help them express their creativity. Here are some Christmas crafts you could try:- Santa advent calendar
- Christmas tree ornaments
- Paper snowflakes
- Christmas cards
- 3D paper snowman
You could also create holiday gifts for each other and exchange them. Crafts by the fireplace are an easy way to start a family tradition.
4. Movie Night
Family movie night is a classic activity that can bring the whole family together. Everything gets even better if you have the TV above your electric fireplace. Prepare popcorn, hot chocolate, and a holiday movie in the warmth of the fireplace.
5. Ghost Story Night
Even though the spooky season is technically over, you can always revive it with the right fireplace activities. If younger members of your family are old enough to enjoy ghost stories, this can be a fun family activity. The light of the fireplace makes storytelling more mysterious and compelling.
6. Holiday Photoshoot
If you are looking for an energetic fireplace activity, consider having a holiday photoshoot. The fireplace itself is an excellent background for family photos. Add holiday sweaters, decorations, and a few happy faces, and you will have photos you can enjoy for years.
7. Fireplace Sing-Along
Music brings people together. Sitting by the fireplace and singing holiday songs is one of the simplest family activities for the season. You do not need to be a good singer—just relax and enjoy the moment.
8. Decorating the Hearth
A fireplace is often the heart of the home. Whether you have a wall-mounted electric fireplace, a built-in electric fireplace, or a fireplace suite, you can decorate it with your family and make it the center of your holiday celebration.For more styling inspiration, read 10 Creative Ways to Style Your Electric Fireplace Mantel by Season.
Some More Fireplace Activities
If you own a traditional wood-burning fireplace, you can also enjoy more traditional fireplace activities such as:
- Roasting marshmallows
- Making s’mores
- Roasting chestnuts
However, keep in mind that safety is the priority when it comes to fire. Traditional fireplaces do not offer the same clean, low-maintenance operation provided by modern electric fireplaces.
Ready to create a safer, cleaner gathering space? Browse our electric fireplace collection or compare wall-mounted, built-in, and mantel-style fireplace suites.
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