Early Black Friday sale? Aldi releases more Advent calendars Wednesday including one with scented candles

Kelly Tyko, USA TODAY
·2 min read

Think of this as another early Black Friday sale.

Aldi is releasing four more holiday countdown and Advent calendars, weeks after selling out of its popular wine, cheese and beer calendars.

This year, the discount grocer has 20 calendars, the most it has ever had, including calendars filled with toys, books, candy, pet treats and more.

"Our Advent calendars are some of the most highly sought after and talked about items we offer each year, so we knew shoppers would welcome even more options," Joan Kavanaugh, Aldi U.S. vice president national buying, told USA TODAY.

Kavanaugh said Aldi has sold Advent calendars for many years but their popularity skyrocketed in 2018 when the first U.S. wine calendar went on sale.

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"Based on the overwhelmingly positive shopper interest, we realized there was a real market for unique holiday countdown calendars," Kavanaugh said.

This year, Aldi added a Vista Bay Hard Seltzer Advent Calendar and O’Donnells 12 Days of Irish Country Cream Calendar to its line of alcohol calendars.

And for those that missed out on the wine calendar, the 24 small bottles it contained represent everyday store labels, Kavanaugh said, some of which might be available to purchase in full-size bottles.

Traditionally, the calendars have been simple with fold-back flaps revealing treats such as chocolates, but they evolved to include options ranging from spirits to beauty items. Last year, Tiffany's had a jewelry-filled Advent calendar with a price tag of $112,000.

But amid the coronavirus pandemic, Aldi has "plans in place in the event that crowds form," Kavanaugh said. Select products are available for delivery and curbside pickup at https://shop.aldi.us, which is powered by Instacart.

Aldi Advent calendars 2020

The four calendars going on sale Wednesday while supplies last are:

  • Huntington Home Scents Of The Season Candle Set for $19.99

  • My Beauty Spot 12 Days of Glowing Skin for $14.99

  • My Beauty Spot 12 Days of Bath Fizzers for $12.99

  • Moser Roth 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar for $4.99

Wine Countdown to New Year

The Sparkling Wine Countdown to the New Year calendar will go on sale Dec. 2 for $24.99 at participating stores. It includes seven mini-bottles of sparkling wine to drink starting Christmas through New Year's Eve.

Aldi Advent calendars will not be restocked, and supplies are limited. Use the store finder at www.aldi.us/stores to see what stores sell alcohol.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aldi Advent calendars 2020: Candle set, chocolate calendars go on sale