The story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a wonderful reminder about what really makes the Christmas season magical—not the presents and stockings but the spirit of Christmas that is in our hearts. And in a year when our traditional Christmas experience may not be the same as most years, this DIY Christmas escape room based on How the Grinch Stole Christmas! helps us focus on how to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
This Christmas party escape room invites participants to solve six clue-based puzzles that will help the Grinch’s heart to “grow three sizes [this] day.” It is designed for older children, teens, and adults, but some clues have notes on how to easily involve younger children. While some of our previous escape rooms have had six clues to open one lockable box, this DIY escape room features six clues that each go into their own box. And several clues invite the participants to dig into the actual book of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
NOTE: If you are unable to find a DIRECTIONAL lock (they sometimes go out of stock), you can simply ignore that last clue; instead, simply cut the final heart piece into many smaller shapes, hide the shapes around the room, and then have guests find them and form the piece together like a puzzle into the heart shape.
Supplies:
• "Saving Christmas—a Grinch-Inspired Escape Room" printable PDF
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas book
• 6 lockable wooden treasure chests or boxes
• 5 changeable coded locks with three digits each
• Wreath (you can usually find one at the Dollar Tree)
• 6 green candy canes (the Dollar Tree sells a green-and-white striped option from Now and Later)
• Stockings (again, try the Dollar Tree for these)
• A directional lock; NOTE: If you are unable to find a DIRECTIONAL lock (they sometimes go out of stock), you can simply ignore that last clue; instead, simply cut the final heart piece into many smaller shapes, hide the shapes around the room, and then have guests find them and form the piece together like a puzzle into the heart shape.
• A hair elastic or rubber band
• LED color-changing light strip (optional)
• Grinch countdown calendar (optional) (The chocolate ones are no longer for sale online, but I did find this alternate.)
• Additional Grinch-themed party supplies simply for decor (optional)
Note: We got most of our party supplies from Oriental Trading, but most of them are sold out! Here are some other fun options I found on Amazon since I can't link to our originals.
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Hi I am interested in your grinch escape room. I was wondering though what type of paper do you recommend printing this out on, and wanted to double check… the last puzzle with the directional lock just leads to the last piece of the heart for the escape? I was trying to think of a way to have the last puzzle lead to a gift.
Thank you