Nov. 2, 2021

Here’s how much some people want to count down the days until Christmas with small bottles of wine: Aldi is preparing for crowd control when its annual Advent calendars go on sale Wednesday.

And now, they’re about much more than wine.

You can still get that, of course. This year’s calendar features two dozen 187-ml plastic bottles featuring everything from a brut rose to the Oh Reindeer Series Winter White Chardonnay and the Shimmering Lights Series Pinot Noir.

But that’s just the start. Aldi’s Advent calendar collection now includes varieties featuring beer, Irish cream, coffee, chocolate and cheese. There’s a shorter one counting down to the New Year with sparking wine.

And for kids, the calendars counting down to Christmas offer Legos, Mattel Toys and Nickelodeon Paw Patrol themes. There even are Advent calendars for your dog and cat with treats.

One particularly popular calendar called My Friend Gnome Kit produces a different accessory for a holiday-themed gnome each day.

If you want one, though, wake up early and be prepared to wait in line. Aldi will be handing out tickets to customers interested in purchasing alcohol-themed calendars beginning at 8 a.m., one hour before the store opens.

Quantities will be limited, and customers will redeem tickets for calendars near the stockroom entrance and not the register.