From merry classics to unique new traditions, these holiday party ideas ensure you and your guests will ring in the season with plenty of laughter, joy, and lasting memories. Happy planning!
White Elephant Extravaganza
Legend has it the white elephant party dates back to ancient kings of Siam, who would gift rare, sacred white elephants to courtiers who displeased them. The elephants were costly to maintain, so the gift was both a burden and a symbol of the recipient’s fall from favor. However, in Elephants of Thailand in Myth, Art, and Reality, Rita Ringis argues that no Siamese monarch would do this since owning a white elephant was considered a tremendous honor. In any case, white elephant parties today involve humorous or unconventional gifts and taking turns either picking an unopened gift or “stealing” one that someone else has already opened.
Elevate the fun by picking a theme for the presents, such as “As seen on TV” products, retro gadgets, or nostalgic childhood toys.
Encourage guests to bring homemade gifts, like quirky art pieces, a personalized jar of cookie mix, or a funny poem.
Keep things interesting with special rules, such as allowing guests to steal a gift only once per round or make them sing a holiday carol to trade presents.
Secret Santa with a Twist
Sneaky Secret Santa: Turn your party into an espionage adventure by having participants covertly give their gifts without getting caught. If they’re spotted, they must swap gifts with the one who catches them.
Reverse Secret Santa: Everyone writes down a silly or outrageous gift wish on a piece of paper like “dinosaur egg” or “a magic wand that works only on Mondays.” Santas then have to bring a creative interpretation of their assigned wish.
Gift scavenger hunt: Hide all the gifts around the venue, or have each person’s present hidden by someone else, and give each participant a set of riddles or clues to find their specific gift.
DECKING THE HALLS
Ugly Sweater Contest: Invite everyone to pull out their most hideous holiday gear and take the traditional ugly sweater party to the next level.
Craft station: Set up a table with sequins, pom-poms, and fabric glue for guests to DIY their ugly sweaters.
Fashion show: Organize a runway where guests can strut their tacky attire, complete with judges and funny awards like “Most Bedazzled” or “Worst Color Clash.”
Photo booth fun: Make memories with a themed photo booth decorated with props like reindeer antlers, Santa hats, and oversized candy canes.
Holiday Charades: Act out fun Christmas-themed prompts, such as building a snowman, wrapping a gift in a rush, unraveling a tangled mess of Christmas lights, embodying a cheerful caroler, and taking a chaotic family holiday photo.
Holiday Murder Mystery
For a party full of intrigue, host a Christmas whodunit.
Custom characters: Assign guests characters like a grumpy elf, suspicious gingerbread baker, or a mischievous Santa Claus impersonator. Send character descriptions in advance so they can dress the part.
Festive setting: Set the scene with moody lighting, mistletoe, and cozy fireplaces. Incorporate “clues” into the decor, like a toppled Christmas tree or broken ornaments.
Storyline prizes: Reward guests who solve the mystery with themed gifts like mini bottles of holiday spirits or personalized ornaments.
Charity Gift Drive Bash
Celebrate the season of giving by turning your party into a charity gift drive.
Wish list wall: Collaborate with a local charity to display a wish list on your wall and encourage guests to pick items to donate in place of gifts for one another.
Gift wrapping competition: Provide wrapping supplies and have guests wrap the donated gifts in creative ways, awarding prizes for the most elaborate or eco-friendly design.
Winter Movie Marathon
When the temperatures drop, cozy up with a holiday movie marathon:
Snuggle stations: Arrange blankets and pillows for the ultimate comfort and provide themed popcorn buckets for each guest.
Hot chocolate bar: Set up a DIY hot chocolate station with toppings like whipped cream, peppermint bits, and caramel drizzle.
Interactive movies: Choose films where guests can participate. For example, have everyone take a sip of cocoa whenever Kevin outsmarts the burglars in Home Alone or shout “Bah humbug!” whenever Scrooge appears on screen.
SWEETEN THE SEASON
Cookie Decorating Fiesta: Perfect for families or anyone with a sweet tooth, a cookie decorating party spreads cheer (and icing) all around:
Stations for all ages: Set up different decorating stations, like one for piping and one for sprinkles. Have kid-friendly tables and more advanced areas for adults who want to get fancy.
Taste test: Host a “Best Decorated” contest or a blind taste test if you have guests baking cookies from scratch.