Free Printable Candy Cane Hunt: Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Plan a fun holiday activity for the whole family with this free bundle of printables for a Candy Cane Hunt. Have so much fun with invitations, a tracker, clue cards, and flags.

Looking for a fun and festive holiday activity that everyone will love? A candy cane hunt is the perfect way to spread Christmas cheer and keep kids entertained during the holiday season. With our free printable candy cane hunt set, you’ll have everything you need to host your very own candy cane scavenger hunt. This printable includes invitations to send out, clue cards for hiding the candy canes, a tracker for coloring in each candy cane you find, and even four decorative flags to add some extra holiday flair.

Whether you’re planning a family gathering, a classroom party, or a holiday event with friends, this candy cane hunt will bring excitement and joy to the holiday season. It’s easy to set up, fun for all ages, and a great way to celebrate Christmas!

Why You’ll Love This Candy Cane Hunt Idea

There’s something magical about turning a simple holiday treat into a fun game, and that’s exactly what the candy cane hunt offers. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the thrill of searching for hidden candy canes while following clues. The excitement builds with each discovery, and it’s the perfect way to burn off some of that holiday energy.

Not only is it a fun activity, but it also adds a creative touch to your holiday celebrations. The printable set includes everything you need to make the hunt feel special and organized. The invitations are a great way to get everyone excited about the event, and the clue cards make it feel like a real treasure hunt. Plus, with the candy cane tracker, kids can color in a candy cane each time they find one, making the game last longer and adding an extra layer of fun with a visual of all the candy canes they find.

What’s more, the holiday scavenger hunt is a versatile activity. It can be done indoors or outdoors, making it perfect for any weather. Whether you’re hunting around the living room or in the backyard, the excitement of the chase is guaranteed to make everyone smile.

How to Use the Candy Cane Hunt Printables

Using the candy cane hunt printable is simple and straightforward. Here’s how you can get started:

Download and Print: 

First, download the printable from our website and print it out. Enter your email address in the download box a the end of the post. You’ll get a full set of materials, including invitations, clue cards, a candy cane tracker, and decorative flags delivered directly to your inbox.

Prepare the Invitations: 

If you’re hosting a party or inviting others to join in on the fun, fill out the invitations and send them to your guests. These are a fun way to set the tone for the event and get everyone excited about the candy cane hunt.

Hide the Candy Canes: 

Using the clue cards provided, hide candy canes around your house, yard, or wherever you plan to have the hunt. The clue cards are designed to give hints about where the candy canes are hidden, so participants can follow the clues to find them. There is even a blank set of clue cards so you can write your own.

Set Up the Flags: 

The decorative flags can be used to mark special spots around the hunt area. These can serve as fun visuals that guide participants or mark areas where extra candy canes or special prizes might be hidden.

Use the Tracker: 

Give each participant a candy cane tracker. Every time they find a candy cane, they can color in one of the candy canes on the tracker. This helps them keep track of how many they’ve found and adds a fun, creative element to the game.

Enjoy the Fun: 

Once everything is set up, let the first candy cane hunt begin! Participants will follow the clues, find the candy canes, and color in their trackers as they go. You can even add extra surprises or prizes for those who find the most candy canes. 

There are two different ways to go about the candy cane hunt, you can leave the candy canes so all guests have a chance to find each one, or participants can hang onto the candy canes they have found as their prize, kind of like an Easter Egg Hunt.

Ideas for Ways to Use the Candy Cane Hunt Printable

The candy cane hunt printable is a versatile holiday activity that can be adapted in many ways. Here are a few ideas for how to use it:

1. Holiday Party Activity: Hosting a Christmas party? This game is a great way to entertain kids while the adults mingle. Set up the hunt indoors or in an outdoor space, depending on the weather, and let the kids search for candy canes while you enjoy some holiday relaxation. Be sure to enjoy some hot chocolate or hot cocoa around the Christmas tree after the hunt has ended.
2. Classroom Fun: Teachers can use the candy hunt as a fun classroom activity in their lesson plans during the weeks leading up to the holiday break. It’s an interactive way to bring some Christmas cheer into the classroom, and students will love working together to follow the clues and find the candy canes. Great for younger kids by hiding in easier spots, or more difficult for middle school age and holder with hard to find clues.
3. Christmas Morning Surprise: You can even set up a fun activity on Christmas morning! While the kids wait to open presents, keep them entertained by hiding candy canes around the house for them to find.
4. Neighborhood Event: Organize a neighborhood candy cane hunt where families can join in the fun. Hide candy canes in different yards or around a local park and let kids from different houses participate in the hunt. It’s a great way to build community spirit during the holidays.
5. Date Night: Invite a group of couples or family members for a Christmas scavenger Hunt Date night. This is one of the great ways to enjoy the holiday and increase camaraderie among couples.

Variations for Using the Printables

Want to change things up? Here are some fun variations to make the candy cane scavenger hunt even more exciting:

1. Add Riddles or Puzzles: For older kids or adults, you can add an extra layer of challenge by turning the clue cards into riddles or puzzles. Each clue could require solving a simple puzzle before revealing the next hiding spot.
2. Use Different Treats: If you want to mix things up, you don’t have to limit the hunt to candy canes. You can hide other holiday treats you find this time of year like chocolate coins, mini ornaments, or small toys along with or instead of the candy canes.
3. Timed Hunt: Make it a timed activity! Give participants a set amount of time to find as many candy canes as they can. This adds a sense of urgency and excitement, especially for competitive kids (or adults!).
4. Themed Hunts: Add a theme to your hunt! For example, you could have a “Santa’s Workshop” theme where the clues and decorations are all related to Santa’s elves and toy-making.
5. Prize for the Most Candy Canes: While the hunt itself is fun, you can add an extra incentive by offering a prize to whoever finds the most candy canes. This could be a small gift, extra candy, or a holiday-themed reward.
6. Candy Cane Craft: Feel free to make a Candy Cane craft by stringing beads onto white pipe cleaners to create a festive craft to go along with the hunt. You can also make some Candy Cane inspired puff pastry for a sweet treat at the end of the hunt.

Common Questions About the Candy Cane Hunt

1. How do I download the candy cane hunt printable?

You can download the candy cane hunt printable for free from our website. Look for the green download box below to enter your email address and then receive the free digital download file directly to your inbox. Once you’ve downloaded the file, you can print it out as many times as you need.

2. What supplies do I need to set up the candy cane hunt?

All you need is the candy cane hunt printable, some candy canes (or other small treats), and something to color with for the candy cane tracker. You might also want some tape or string to hang the decorative flags. A clipboard or book might be helpful to have something hard to put under the tracker when coloring in and finding the candy canes.

3. Can I use the candy cane hunt indoors?

Yes! The great thing about the candy cane hunt is that it works indoors or outdoors. If the weather is cold or rainy, you can easily set up the hunt inside your house.

4. Is the candy cane hunt suitable for all ages?

Absolutely. The candy cane hunt is designed to be fun for kids, but adults can join in too. You can adjust the difficulty of the clues depending on the ages of the participants.

5. How many candy canes should I hide?

The number of candy canes you hide is up to you. You can hide a few for a quick game or hide a large number to make the hunt last longer. Just make sure you have enough for everyone playing!

My Favorite Printable Supplies:

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• Printer: I love my HP Home Printer, it prints beautifully everytime no matter what projects I am working on.
• Paper: Depending on the durability you want with your printables, consider printing on white card stock or high quality paper.
• Laminator: For printables you are planning to use over and over again, simply laminate and use dry erase markers to mark up the printables.
• Paper Cutter: I love my CARL Paper Cutter. It makes trimming and cutting out printables a breeze.
• Sticker Paper: When printing tags or other free printables, sticker paper can make it easy to attach to gifts, boxes, or to make your own stickers.
• Cutting Supplies: You’ll want a great pair of paper cutting scissors and I love using an Xacto Knife for intricate details.

Download the Candy Cane Hunt Printables Here

Please remember my printables are free for classroom use or personal use only. You may not sell or distribute the printable or digital file. If you wish to share the digital files, please refer friends to the link of this blog post where they can sign up to receive the free printable directly in their inbox.

Conclusion

The candy cane hunt is a wonderful way to bring joy and excitement to the holiday season. With our free printable, you’ll have everything you need to set up a festive, fun-filled hunt that everyone will enjoy. Whether you’re using it for a holiday party, a classroom activity, or just for fun at home, this candy cane hunt is guaranteed to be a hit.

So why wait? Download your free candy cane hunt printable today, and get ready to spread some holiday cheer. Be sure to share it with friends and family, and don’t forget to check out our other Christmas printables for even more festive activities!

Happy hunting and Merry Christmas!

More Free Printables for Christmas and recipes for treats to go with this fun Candy Cane Scavenger Hunt:

• Candy Cane Cupcakes
• Candy Cane Cookies
• Christmas Scavenger Hunt
• Christmas Decoration Scavenger Hunt

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