The December Curiosity Calendar: 24 Tiny UK Fandoms to Try Before the Turkey

Advent is usually a countdown to chocolate. At The Devoted, we would rather count down to curiosity. So we have made a December calendar for people who want a new passion under the tree: 24 small but mighty UK fandoms, one for each day before Christmas Eve. None of them require a massive budget or a wardrobe full of merch. Most require only a bit of nerve and a willingness to message a stranger who loves the same odd thing you do.

This is not a ranking. It is a nudge. The point is not to become an expert by Boxing Day. The point is to try one thing offline before 25 December, whether that is a practice night, a volunteer shift, a taster session or a walk with people who know more than you do.

How to use the calendar

Each entry gives you the scene, the entry point and the etiquette. Pick a day. Send the email. Turn up. If you hate it, you have lost an evening and gained a story. If you love it, you have found a new community just as the fairy lights go up.

Week one: 1-7 December

1 Dec — Competitive brass bands. Village halls and contest stages, from hymn tunes to tightly drilled test pieces. Entry point: Brass Bands England's band finder and local learner nights. Etiquette: ask before recording rehearsals, and do not treat the band room like a concert hall.

2 Dec — Sea-glass collectors. Beachcombers who hunt frosted shards, compare tide tables and trade stories about the one that got away. Entry point: local beachcombing groups and coastal museum walks. Etiquette: take only loose glass, never clear a beach, and check protected sites.

3 Dec — Narrowboat vloggers. The canal network has its own rolling soap opera of lock flights, paintwork and towpath tea. Entry point: watch a few channels, then join a Canal & River Trust volunteering day. Etiquette: ask before filming, do not untie someone else's ropes, and never assume a boater wants a chat while working a lock.

4 Dec — Church bell-ringing. Tower captains, practice nights and the strange joy of method ringing. Entry point: your local parish tower's practice night. Etiquette: listen first, keep noise down, and never grab a rope without instruction.

5 Dec — Morris dancing. Sides meet in pubs, practise in halls and perform at frosty festivals. Entry point: watch a local side, then ask about their practice night. Etiquette: no mocking, no uninvited photos, and bring soft shoes.

6 Dec — Pub quiz leagues. Not just a Tuesday night: proper leagues, tie-breakers and themed rounds. Entry point: local league noticeboards and team-wanted posts. Etiquette: phones away, no arguing with the quizmaster, and buy a round.

7 Dec — Moth recorders. Garden naturalists who run light traps, log species and get unreasonably excited about a modest pug. Entry point: county moth recorder groups and local wildlife trust events. Etiquette: release moths unharmed, record sightings properly, and never handle wings.

Week two: 8-14 December

8 Dec — Amateur radio. Local clubs, call signs and the quiet thrill of making contact across the country. Entry point: your nearest radio society and the RSGB. Etiquette: listen before transmitting, get your licence first, and keep frequencies clear.

9 Dec — Parkrun tourists. Runners and walkers who collect courses, volunteer roles and post-run cafés. Entry point: volunteer at a local parkrun. Etiquette: do not take finish tokens home, follow the marshals, and cheer the tail walker.

10 Dec — Zine swappers. Photocopied passions, postal swaps and small-press fairs. Entry point: local zine fairs and online swap lists. Etiquette: credit people, trade fairly, and never photocopy someone's zine without permission.

11 Dec — Local history societies. Archive rooms, guided walks and arguments about old maps. Entry point: attend a talk. Etiquette: ask before photographing documents, share credit for finds, and do not monopolise the speaker.

12 Dec — Railway modellers. Clubs, exhibitions and layouts that take up a whole garage. Entry point: model railway club open days. Etiquette: look with eyes not hands, do not lean on layouts, and ask before taking close-ups.

13 Dec — Bird ringers. Licensed volunteers who record birds, weigh them and release them carefully. Entry point: local ringing group open days. Etiquette: never handle birds without a licence, keep quiet, and follow the trainer.

14 Dec — Open-mic poetry. Pub back rooms, wobbly microphones and startlingly good verse. Entry point: local poetry nights. Etiquette: listen to every slot, no heckling, and buy the pamphlet if you can.

Week three: 15-21 December

15 Dec — Ceilidh bands. Fiddle, accordion and dance calls that get everyone moving. Entry point: beginner ceilidh nights. Etiquette: ask before partnering, dance within your ability, and wear soft shoes.

16 Dec — Board-game cafés. Shelves of strategy, party games and patient teachers. Entry point: meetup nights at your local café. Etiquette: learn the teach, do not flip the table, and help pack away.

17 Dec — Roller derby. Fast, loud and deeply community-minded, with fresh-meat courses for beginners. Entry point: your nearest league's intake night. Etiquette: respect names and pronouns, no unsolicited coaching, and wear the kit.

18 Dec — Sea shanty choirs. Pubs, harbours and choruses built for joining in. Entry point: local singarounds. Etiquette: learn the chorus, do not record without consent, and leave your ego at the door.

19 Dec — Community radio. Small stations run by volunteers who care about local voices. Entry point: volunteer open days. Etiquette: do not turn up unannounced, respect scheduling, and learn the desk before going live.

20 Dec — Foraging walks. Guided walks that turn hedgerows into a lesson in patience. Entry point: booked walks with local experts. Etiquette: never eat an unknown, leave roots, and get permission before picking.

21 Dec — Dry stone walling. Conservation volunteers rebuilding walls by feel and balance. Entry point: local conservation volunteer days. Etiquette: do not dismantle without permission, lift with your legs, and follow the lead waller.

Week four: 22-24 December

22 Dec — Letterboxing. Dartmoor's clue-following, stamp-collecting treasure hunt. Entry point: local clue lists and letterboxing groups. Etiquette: rehide carefully, do not spoil clues, and respect land and wildlife.

23 Dec — Wassailing. Orchard singing, toast and noise to wake the trees. Entry point: local orchard groups and community events. Etiquette: bring a voice, do not pick fruit without permission, and respect the orchard.

24 Dec — Handbell teams. Small church and community groups making a very specific, very lovely racket. Entry point: ask your local church or community hall about handbell practice. Etiquette: gloves on, no swinging, and follow the conductor.

The one-thing pledge

Before 25 December, do one offline thing. Send the email. Book the taster. Turn up to the practice night. You do not have to become a brass bander or a moth recorder for life. You just have to find out whether the door is open. In our experience, it usually is — and someone will probably put the kettle on.