60 Fun Christmas Party Ideas for a Memorable Celebration
Host a festive gathering with family, friends and coworkers with any of these creative themes.
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Christmas is a holiday that's worthy of an epic celebration. Imagine all the fun you can have with family, friends and coworkers if you settle on the right mix of Christmas party ideas and themes.
Here, we share dozens of creative ideas to get into the holiday spirit and keep party guests entertained. Gather for a day of Christmas tree decorating or tap into your love of crafts with traditional and trendy DIYs. Go ahead and host an ugly sweater party, where everything from glitter and pom-poms to garland and eye-catching ornaments are up for grabs. Get your bake on with a Christmas cookie swap (decorating donuts and gingerbread houses is on the list, too!), and then consider playing a few festive games, such as reindeer toss and Christmas Heads Up. If you're looking for something a bit more laid-back, throw a pajama party filled with wine, Christmas movies and comfortable PJs (with the option of dressing as beloved Christmas characters like Santa, Rudolph and Mrs. Claus).
Even though Christmas is a few months away, it's never too early to decide which Christmas party ideas work for you. Then, after choosing your favorite ones, check out our list of the best gifts of 2023 for everyone in your life.
Go Christmas Caroling
Here's an easy way to get into the holiday spirit! Invite friends over to sing new and traditional Christmas carols in your neighborhood. Plan your route before everyone arrives and go door-to-door, spreading cheer to neighbors and passersby.
Play Christmas Heads Up
Easily bring a Christmas twist to this classic game by writing the names of your favorite Christmas characters on Post-Its. Every player will stick a note to their forehead without looking before helping each other guess the name on their head! It's a game that never fails to bring on the laughs, especially for the kids in your circle.
Make Christmas Pillows
Guests with basic sewing skills can easily make their own holiday pillows. Or, have them bring their own to decorate! Spruce up any basic cushions with glitter, pom-poms, felt, feathers and more!
Host a Snow Globe DIY Party
Party favors are the best! For your holiday bash, help guests make their very own snow globe to take home. Choose a glass or plastic container as the globe. Spray paint the lid a festive color, then fill the inside with bottle brush trees, small animal figures and fake snow. Water and glitter are the final touches.
Throw a Trash to Treasure Party
Encourage everyone to bring their "trash" to transform into treasure! One example: taking old lightbulbs and turning them into elegant decor pieces for the mantel or dining room table. All they'll need is twine to wrap around the bulbs and gold paper to turn into leaves.
DIY Advent Calendars
Before Christmas day, gather your pals to make advent calendars. Use cardboard or a corkboard as the base, then cover it with colorful red or green felt to make it pop. Use push pins to secure your items, and make sure everyone brings small trinkets to attach for each day, like a heart-shaped necklace, a small jingle bell garland or a snowman ornament.
Brainstorm a Christmas Hashtag
Let's be honest: By the night's end, there will be tons of selfies and photos for everyone to share. Make the process easier by creating a hashtag specifically for your party. Guests can post their favorite flicks to their social accounts using the hashtag so photos and videos turn up in one place.
Host a Nutcracker Party
Nutcrackers are popular figurines to use as holiday ornaments or table decor. So, it's only natural you'd bring them to your Christmas party. If your guests have their own, let their nutcrackers tag along, too! Swap with others or show off your collection!
Go Retro
Throw a fun Christmas party with all things retro! Deck out your place with with vintage tablecloths and shiny bright ornaments. Find old-school aluminum Christmas trees and play classic Christmas tunes, like "Frosty the Snowman" by Jimmy Durante.
Bring SantaCon to Your Home
SantaCon is a New York City-based event where everyone dresses as — you guessed right — Santa Claus! This one is for the adults, where you parade around the city while stopping by different pubs for a boozy drink. For a creative at-home version, turn rooms into different "pubs" and have guests check out each one for a new Christmas-inspired cocktail.
Fill Christmas Stockings
Everyone loves a good stocking stuffer — especially when the gift is cute and practical. Get each guest a holiday stocking to fill with small treats and presents, and ask everyone to bring a few gifts under $10 to exchange during the party. Your guests will all leave with their very own goodie bag!
Host a Christmas Luau Party
Mele Kalikimaka! Bring a tropical vibe to your gathering with fresh fruits and luau-style foods like pineapple, rice, roast pork and other tasty eats. Ask guests to wear Hawaiian shirts so they're perfectly dressed for the occasion.
Throw a Grinch-mas Party
It's not Christmas until you've watched The Grinch. Guests can dress as the Christmas-hating character or their favorite Whoville resident, then spend the evening binging every version of the classic holiday tale. By the end of the night, your heart will have grown three sizes!
Use Christmas Treats as Decor
Halloween's not the only time of the year for treats! Scatter holiday-themed candy — candy canes, chocolates, you name it — throughout the party space. You can use candy as decor, too. Try hanging some from the ceiling for easy picking.
RELATED: Best Christmas Candy Recipes
Wear Ugly Sweaters
Ugly Christmas sweater parties are a holiday classic — and they're even more fun when everyone can decorate them together. Ask everyone to bring an old sweater to the party, then offer pom-poms, sparkles, buttons, felt and more so they can spend the evening making their own holiday creations to wear. Don't forget to host a competition for best sweater at the end of the night!
Start a Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Hide Christmas items inspired by "The 12 Days of Christmas" song throughout your home (think golden rings and turtle doves). The person who finds the most "gifts" wins the prize!
Arrange a Wine and Charcuterie Party
Focus on the conversation and keep the food simple with light appetizers. Put together an easy grazing table filled with cheese, meats, crackers, grapes and other tasty fruits.
RELATED: Best Christmas Party Appetizers
Organize a Winter Wonderland Party
Enjoy the beauty of the outdoors with a day full of sledding and building snow people. After playing outside, offer guests warm cups of cocoa with marshmallows!
Host an Elf on the Shelf Party
Elf on the Shelf is a popular Christmas activity. This year, hide elves all around your home, placing them in every nook, cranny and unexpected spot for guests to find throughout the night.
Pack for a Christmas Give-Back Party
Offer some cheer to those in need by having your friends over for a care package party. Pack up toiletries and other essential items, along with cute and practical gadgets.
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
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