Could Do November: Family Activities, Festivals & Craft Ideas

November often feels like a bridge between the golden autumn days of October and the festive sparkle of December. School is in full swing, nights draw in earlier and there’s a chill in the air.  This could‑do list isn’t about pressure – it’s about giving your family a handful of ideas to choose from. Pick one, pick none, or pick them all… they’re here to inspire you to make memories this month and to slow down and savour the season.

Key Festivals & Special Days in November

• Day of the Dead (Oct 31 – Nov 2) – A vibrant Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of departed loved ones with altars, food and sugar skulls. Make your own sugar skull decorations or set up a family memory shelf.
• Movember (Nov 1 – 30) – The month‑long campaign encouraging men to grow moustaches and raise awareness of prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. Start clean‑shaven, grow a ‘Mo’ and host a moustache‑themed photo booth.
• Guy Fawkes Night / Bonfire Night (Nov 5) – Marking the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, this night is celebrated with fireworks, bonfires and treats like parkin and toffee apples. Build a “Guy” from old clothes or craft firework pictures with paint and straws.
• Remembrance Day (Nov 11) – At 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month, people across the UK observe a two‑minute silence to remember those who gave their lives as the First World War armistice began. Make your own paper poppy and talk about family stories.
• World Kindness Day (Nov 13) – A day that celebrates and encourages acts of kindness, reminding us that kindness and positivity improve our wellbeing and strengthen communities. Challenge your family to complete five random acts of kindness.
• Children in Need (Nov 14) – The BBC’s annual fundraising appeal raises money for charities supporting children and young people across the UK. Organise a bake sale, fancy‑dress day or pyjama party to raise funds.
• Steve Irwin Day (Nov 15) – Celebrated internationally to honour the life of the “Crocodile Hunter” and inspire people to prioritise wildlife conservation. Wear your best khaki, watch a wildlife documentary and craft a monkey puppet.
• World Philosophy Day (Third Thursday – 20 Nov 2025) – UNESCO’s day underlines the enduring value of philosophy for human thought and culture and encourages reasoned debate and intercultural dialogue. Fill a jar with “big questions” and pick one to discuss at the dinner table.
• World Children’s Day (Nov 20) – Established in 1954, this day promotes international togetherness and children’s rights; 20 November marks the adoption of the Declaration and Convention on the Rights of the Child. Write to your MP about children’s rights or let your kids design their own “bill of rights”.
• World Hello Day (Nov 21) – Begun in 1973 to promote peace, participants greet ten people to show that communication can resolve conflict. See how many different languages you can say “hello” in.
• National Tree Week (Nov 22 – 30) – The UK’s largest tree celebration marks the start of the tree‑planting season and encourages people to plant and care for trees. Plant a sapling, gather leaves for art or join a community tree‑planting event.
• St Andrew’s Day (Nov 30) – Scotland’s national day celebrates its patron saint with Scottish food, music and traditions. Bake shortbread, learn a ceilidh dance or create a saltire flag craft.
• Thanksgiving (Nov 27) – In the United States, families gather on the fourth Thursday of November to share a meal and give thanks; the holiday stems from an early 17th‑century harvest celebration. Start a gratitude jar or host a harvest‑themed dinner.

Festivals, Events & Adventures

• Lumiere Festival, Durham (20 – 23 Nov) – The UK’s largest light art festival transforms Durham’s historic streets and buildings into an open‑air gallery with illuminated artworks, projection sculptures and interactive installations. Wrap up warm and wander the city after dark to enjoy the magic.
• Kendal Mountain Festival (20 – 23 Nov, Cumbria) – A celebration of mountain culture with films, guided walks, cooking demonstrations and a free family session featuring short films and special guests. Perfect for adventurous families.
• Good Food Show Winter, NEC Birmingham (27 – 30 Nov) – Packed with festive flavour, the show features top chefs, hundreds of artisan producers and big‑brand stalls, along with live demos, workshops and tasting sessions. A foodie’s dream and great for Christmas gift inspiration.
• Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London (14 Nov – 1 Jan) – This huge festive attraction boasts over 150 rides and attractions, a revamped Santa Land with an interactive Elves Workshop, Luminarie Lane light installation, festive markets, the Magical Ice Kingdom and the UK’s largest open‑air ice rink. Pre‑book tickets for popular sessions to avoid disappointment.
• National Tree Week (22 – 30 Nov) – Beyond planting at home, the Tree Council’s campaign brings together volunteers and conservation organisations to plant thousands of trees and hedgerows and celebrate the start of tree‑planting season. Join a local planting event or tree walk.

Things to Try This November

Here are some gentle ideas to help you make the most of darker evenings and crisp days:

• Sugar skull crafts – Paint sugar skull rocks or make edible calaveras to celebrate Day of the Dead.
• Moustache fun – Grow your own ‘Mo’, cut felt moustaches or bake moustache‑shaped cookies to support Movember.
• Make a Guy or firework art – Stuff old clothes to make a friendly “Guy” for Bonfire Night or create splatter‑paint fireworks with toilet‑roll stamps.
• Bonfire bakes – Try our sticky parkin recipe, make your own bonfire toffee or dip apples in melted toffee and sprinkles.
• Poppy crafts – Create paper, felt or pom‑pom poppies for Remembrance Day; younger children might enjoy finger‑painted poppies.
• Kindness challenge – Write simple acts of kindness on slips of paper and pick one each day leading up to World Kindness Day.
• Children in Need fundraiser – Host a teddy bear picnic, a sponsored dance‑a‑thon or a pyjama‑day breakfast to raise money.
• Wildlife crafts – Make a crocodile or koala mask, draw your favourite animal and watch a Steve Irwin documentary in his honour.
• Philosophical questions jar – Fill a jar with big questions (“What makes you happy?”, “What does friendship mean?”) and discuss one over dinner.
• Planting and nature art – Plant bulbs or a tree sapling during National Tree Week and make leaf rubbings or a nature collage.
• St Andrew’s crafts – Decorate a saltire bunting, bake Scottish shortbread or try a simple ceilidh dance at home.
• Gratitude jar – Start a November gratitude journal or jar; each night, jot down something you’re thankful for and read them aloud at the end of the month.

Download Your Free November Could-Do List

If you love having these ideas all in one place, I’ve pulled everything together into a free November Could-Do List printable. Pop it on the fridge, slip it into your family planner, or let the kids pick an activity each weekend. It’s designed to make seasonal fun simple and stress-free. 🍂✨

These printables are offered for your non-commercial personal use only. Mass-production of this printable is not permitted, even for non-profit purposes. Please do not upload the November Could-DO List to other sites – instead, if you want to let people know about these freebies, post a link to this page. Pinning is okay as long as the pin links back to this page. Thanks!

All you need to do is add click on add to cart and the free printable November Could-Do List will be added to your shopping cart. When you are finished click on the orange cart menu at the top right of your page and follow the instructions on the screen. You will not be charged and the free pdf file will be available for you to download immediately and will also be emailed to your inbox.

Whatever you choose to do this November, may it bring light, warmth and connection to your home. Enjoy the moment, embrace the cosy evenings and savour the simple joys of the season.