Should You Get Lego Advent Calendars?

If you know anything about the holidays, you know its all about that gift giving and holiday cheer. We all know what holiday that is right... Christmas! Well, it is just around the corner and Lego does not disappoint with its holiday spirit. Lego is known for a great many holiday themed items, from exclusive sets, to cool little in-store events, to today's topic: advent calendars!

The Countdown to Christmas

Every year, Lego releases a new lineup of advent calendars, and they’ve quietly become one of the most beloved holiday traditions for both kids and AFOLs. Whether you celebrate Christmas or just enjoy seasonal and exclusive Lego sets, these calendars pack a lot of fun (and often exclusive pieces) into their 24 little builds for each day leading up to the holiday.

Now for many people, micro-builds are a sore spot. Sure, they are cool, but they really aren't much in terms of building or display. Or even play for that matter. The problem with that is advent calendars are pretty much entirely micro-builds. So are they actually worth picking up each year? What do they even offer than makes fans go nuts? Let’s take a closer look at this unique Lego line and why you should get yourself some of these awesome Lego sets.

What's The Offer?

At their core, Lego advent calendars are 24-day build experiences, one mini-build or figure (focus on those) for each day leading up to Christmas.

Inside, you’ll find:

• 4-5 Minifigures (if not more!)
• Micro-builds of vehicles, scenery, or accessories to go with said minifigures
• Holiday-themed versions of familiar sets or characters

Some calendars even hide clever references for longtime fans, think Star Wars characters wearing festive sweaters with Death Stars on them or Harry Potter minifigs in Christmas robes. It is exclusive and awesome. Maybe not for everyone, but loved by many!

Genuinely, these are great ways to add lots of new minifigures to your collection and collect some unique pieces and builds that can be displayed or used in your future MOCs. Me personally, I love getting little vegetation pieces to use in my forest MOCs, but there is something for everyone here.

Themes You Can Choose From

LEGO usually releases five Advent Calendars every year across its most popular lines:

• Lego Star Wars — a massive fan favorite, often with festive variants like Darth Vader in a Christmas sweater or a holiday Gonk Droid. Amazing for exclusive builds and minifigures, some that go for the double and even triple digits.

• Lego City — full of small winter builds like snowmobiles, toys, and cozy mini-scenes. Great for kids and collectors building their very own Lego cities!

• Lego Friends — bright, colorful builds perfect for younger builders, focusing on holiday crafts and mini-dolls. Not my personal favorite, but you have to admit, the colors are fantabulous.

• Lego Harry Potter — themed around specific scenes from the movies (the Yule Ball, Hogsmeade, etc.), plus a handful of exclusive prints. My personal favorites are the crazy sweater prints here.

• Lego Marvel — usually Avengers-focused but sometimes having alternate themes like Guardians of the Galaxy, featuring characters like Spider-Man or Iron Man in fun seasonal gear. Lots of cool micro-builds that reference fan-favorite scenes in the movies.

Occasionally, Lego releases special one-off calendars for other themes, but these five are the annual staples. As I noted, there really is something for everyone, no matter what you really enjoy.

A Look Inside: Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025

Let’s use the Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar (set 75418) as an example. Let's give you the chance to see if these are truly worth it. This year’s version features builds from all over Star Wars, focusing heavily on droids, along with a few holiday twists like the Christmas Jawa.

Inside you’ll find:

• A Jawa (Christmas sweaters)
• B1 and B2 Battle Droids, C-3PO, Astromech, Probe Droid, B2EMO, Security Droid, Buzz Droid, Mouse Droid, BD Droid, BB Unit Droid, Gonk Droid, Pit Droid, and a highly sought after Anzellan.
• Mini-builds: Little Christmas tree, a table for drinks, a chair, and a junk box for your extra droid parts.

It’s a great mix of nostalgia, Star Wars charm, and holiday cheer, exactly what you’d want for December mornings. Now sure, this is not everyone's fever dream, but it is cool to have and the price is definitely not outrageous for what you get.

While this is exclusive to Star Wars, it is a great mirror into what you would find in other sets and themes. Just imagine this but with whatever theme rocks your boat.

Where to Get Them

The best place to grab Lego advent calendars early is straight from the source: LEGO.com or your local Lego Store. They often sell out fast as December approaches, so get them while you can. Sales are great, but waiting for one might mean missing out on some awesome figs and builds. Buying early also lets you earn Insider Points if you’re part of the program which can be used at max value during holiday sales.

If you’re after past-year calendars, your best bets are:

• eBay – huge variety, but prices can spike on sought-after editions (especially Star Wars).
• Mercari – often has unopened boxes at decent prices.
• Whatnot – Lego streamers sometimes auction full calendars or specific minifigs. This is the place for steals of deals.
• Facebook Marketplace – good for local pickups (just watch for resealed boxes).
• Amazon – great for early deals and discounts as well as fast shipping.

Pro tip: sealed older calendars tend to rise in value, so even if you don’t open them, they’re a fun collectible investment.

Holiday Lego in General

Even if advent calendars aren’t your thing, Lego’s holiday lineup has been growing. From sets like the Winter Village Collection to festive one-offs like the Gingerbread AT-AT, there’s plenty of seasonal charm on the shelves.

For many AFOLs, these sets are just as much about tradition as they are about building, something cozy, fun, and a little bit collectible to mark the end of the year.

Should You Get One?

Pros:
✅ Daily builds make December exciting
✅ Often includes exclusive minifigs
✅ Affordable way to get themed pieces
✅ Great family or solo activity

Cons:
❌ Can feel repetitive if you buy every year
❌ Some days are filler builds (tiny props, micro builds)
❌ Value varies by theme, Star Wars and Harry Potter usually lead the pack on value

If you love surprises, exclusive figs, or just want a reason to build something small each day, yes, absolutely. If you’re more of a one-and-done builder or don’t like micro builds, you might prefer a full holiday display set instead that Lego makes or you might end up with your very own MOC like the one below!

Either way, Lego advent calendars are a fun reminder that even the smallest builds can bring a bit of seasonal joy, one door at a time. There is fun for everyone, you just have to find it!