For many LEGO fans at this time of year, there’s nothing quite like a classic winter village to get them in the holiday spirit. While LEGO does sell official winter village sets, some of the best builds are those created by fans who not only put various sets together to craft their own villages but also create custom LEGO buildings and environments using whatever bricks they have on hand. These custom builds are referred to as MOCs (My Own Creation) by the LEGO community, and the minds behind those creations often take to the internet to show the world what they’ve made.
When it comes to the best LEGO winter village MOCs, there are quite a few out there, but a handful of them are certainly worth pointing out. These creations showcase both the impressive building skills and unimpeded imaginations of their creators, while doubling as a unique way to welcome in the holiday season.
Christmas Village by NolphiPlays and Their Family
One of the most impressive LEGO winter village MOCs comes from builder NolphiPlays via a post on Reddit, and they even published an 8-minute video on YouTube showing off the creation in stunning detail. Built in 2022, NolphiPlays’ Christmas village utilized hundreds of lights and tens of thousands of LEGO pieces for an incredibly immersive display that leans into fantasy elements with locations like a Mages Guild, a chapel, a local tavern, a 4-man dungeon team, and a royal castle. Families can be seen stepping out of their homes to celebrate the season, a train regularly rolls through the area, and the build is even complete with “bunny and hamster cuteness” as animals play in the snow on a nearby hilltop.
According to NolphiPlays, this LEGO build was a family effort and took more than 3 years to make. The winter village is an entirely original build as well, meaning NolphiPlays and their family used no whole official LEGO sets to complete it. Finally, the family used lights from Brickstuff, which came with special effects and methods for powering the village’s locomotive.
A Bustling Winter Town by groov99’s 66-Year-Old Mother
Another excellent LEGO winter village MOC comes from Reddit user groov99’s 66-year-old mother. “She doesn’t let the grandkids play with it,” groov99 states in their Reddit post of the creation, and understandably so, considering how perfectly everything is positioned. This particular build is one of the busier LEGO winter villages amongst the most impressive creations, with many villagers standing no less than arm’s length away from one another. However, what really makes this LEGO town come alive are the various action scenes going on within it, of which there are a multitude.
Taking a closer look at the LEGO winter village posted by groov99, viewers can find everything from skiers and snowboarders sliding down a snow-covered hill to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gathering around a pizza stand. One section of the village includes a large Christmas tree, while the other includes a much smaller one. Nevertheless, in both areas, villagers gather around each tree to converse with one another or wait in line to see Santa Claus. Other villagers can be seen off to the side, shoveling snow on the sidewalk, watching the holiday parade, or taking their dog to the local dog park. Meanwhile, in the background on a tall hill, Santa prepares to deliver presents, as his reindeer begin lifting off the ground.
A Winter Village Scavenger Hunt by the_way_around
A more recent LEGO winter village build comes from the_way_around, as shown on a recent Reddit post. Like any good LEGO town, the_way_around’s looks alive, complete with smoke rising from chimneys and villagers participating in a variety of outdoor activities. The winter village MOC, which appears to be set in the late 1800s or early 1900s, features noteworthy sights like an old-fashioned vehicle driving on a cobblestone street, half-timbered buildings reminiscent of the late-Victorian or Tudor-revival era, a horse-drawn wagon, and a streetcar–style trolley that has a wooden, turn-of-the-century look.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the_way_around’s winter village MOC, however, is its attached scavenger hunt. The image shared by the creator on Reddit appears to be at a fair or convention of some kind, offering passersby an opportunity to find certain items within the village. Items in the scavenger hunt include a Blue Space Baby, Scooby-Doo, a Golden Idol, a Baby Velociraptor, and a Golden Snitch. This turns the winter village into an interactive set more than just a display, making it stand out among the best LEGO winter village MOCs.
A Winter City That Never Sleeps by Venti014
Another recent LEGO winter village MOC comes from Reddit user Venti014 via their post on the platform. Unlike the aforementioned MOCs, Venti04’s appears to be best experienced in the dark, as their use of lighting really brings the build to life. Throughout the city, light from storefront windows bathes the rain-soaked streets, which even feature crosswalks and speed bumps. In fact, most of the building interiors are brightly lit, and they can even be viewed through large, clear windows. The town also has two upper levels, the highest of which hosts Santa and his sleigh near a floating hot air balloon.
What is most impressive about Venti014’s winter village build is how realistic and alive it looks. The railroad tracks that circle the city eventually travel beneath its upper levels in a tunnel soaked in red-orange light. But Venti014 went the extra mile to not only make the streets look wet from recent rain but also feature townsfolk interacting with merchants. Finally, to really put a seasonal, holiday touch on everything, the LEGO build features a Christmas tree near the city’s center, around which the city’s inhabitants appear deeply engaged in its bustling night-life.
Christmas Eve in the Town Square by shoretee
Last but not least, a beautiful, cozy LEGO winter village MOC comes from shoretee, as pictured in their post on Reddit. Of all the MOCs mentioned, this one truly feels like a village—with a quaint, warm way about it that others fall short of. The snow on the ground isn’t merely composed of white LEGO bricks, as shoretee appears to have incorporated a white carpet material that really makes it look like snow glistening in the night light. In the center of the village stands a tall Christmas tree as well, with plenty of residents surrounding it and participating in holiday festivities.
Like Venti014’s village, shoretee’s is best viewed in the dark due to its use of lighting. Rather than limiting the lighting to lamposts and lanterns, however, the creator has embedded lights into the snow, giving it a magical feel that perfectly encapsulates the feel of the season. One of the most humorous sights in the village is the Oh-Kay Plumbing van from Home Alone, which was driven by the Wet Bandits, Harry and Marv. The van is even parked in front of a recreation of the Home Alone house, upon which rests a Santa hat. And speaking of Santa, on the other side of the town, the icon can be seen descending from his sleigh and into the chimney of a gingerbread house, adding a playful touch that rounds out the entire display.
