How to Host an Insanely Fun Christmas Party!

Written By: Bec
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Whether it be Christmas in July, a gathering in December, or even a work breakup party, you can have heaps of fun with this festive theme. And a bonus? You already have all of the decorations, cookie cutters, etc. from Christmas' gone by - meaning it's the perfect opportunity to host an event on a budget (without compromising on style)!

Ready to plan the most merry party of the year​? See the inspiration below.

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STEP ONE
Pick a Theme

Characters of Christmas
This option has one simple request – your outfit MUST be a character of Christmas. Prepare for elves, scrooge, Santa, reindeer, Mrs. Clause, presents, Christmas trees, Candy canes, and everything in-between!


Colour Block Christmas
After a simple Christmas party theme? Ask that all guests arrive wearing a colour associated with the festive season (such as red or green).


Funny Slogans
Add a bit of fun to the costume department by requesting that funny Christmas slogans are somehow included in each outfit. This could be anything from a T-shirt with embroidered words 'I'm dreaming of a wine Christmas' to a dress with paper sticky taped to the front (displaying a hilarious slogan for all to see). Let guests get creative with this one, you'll be surprised (and impressed) with what people come up with!


Christmas in July/Winter Wonderland
This theme is all about guests wearing their favourite wintery gear. And with such a vague description, you can expect people to come decked out in anything from their warmest party outfits to hilariously ugly Christmas sweaters. Pair with activities such as a hot cocoa bar for extra wintery feels.


PJ Party
When Christmas rolls around, there are always some fun, cute or downright weird festive PJs to choose from... and not just in the kids section! So why not host the most comfortable event around and encourage party-goers to arrive in their favourite Christmassy pyjamas (slippers and dressing gowns also encouraged)? Onesies, nighties, shorts & singlets, funny slogans, terrible slogans –  you really can’t go wrong. And the best part? Guests can keep their cosy outfits for years to come; being reminded of that epic party every time they don their Christmas sleepwear.


Santa Hats
Another low-key option is that of Santa hats. These will bring your group together whilst still allowing guests to choose an outfit they'd actually like to wear. Pair with the colour-block theme idea mentioned above if you'd like everyone to be a bit more 'matchy-matchy'.


Ugly Sweaters
​And who can go past the good old 'ugly sweater' (or 'creative Christmas sweater') option?! This will not only be funny for guests when choosing their outfit but will also guarantee plenty of laughs on the actual night.

JUST FOR THE ADULTS:

​A Very Sexy Christmas
After an outrageous party theme? Why not host a 'very sexy Christmas'? At this party, anything goes - from red bathers and Christmas themed lingerie to mini dresses in the theme of Mrs. Clause/elves, it's all about being daring and cheeky! Pair with some activities that would only ever be found on Santa's 'naughty list' and you're good to go.

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Ho Ho Ho Down
It might be Christmas time, but that certainly doesn’t mean you have to stick to the theme completely. Bring out your inner country-side by donning some flannies, denim, boots and wide-brimmed hats. You can also add a touch of festive fun to your outfits with Santa hats, Christmas themed earrings or even tinsel inspired accessories if you wish.

STEP TWO
Delight Guests with Christmas Inspired Food

Love a good Christmas lunch/dinner? Why not treat party-goers to a delicious, festive feast! You could either prepare this yourself, organise a pot luck lunch or dinner (where each guest brings a plate), or get the professionals in so that you can all sit back, relax and enjoy the meal (without any stress).

Prefer a ‘snack-on-the-go’ option? Perhaps you could bring the fun to your food table with cute, funny or distasteful labels instead? For instance, a ‘Treats for Santa’ sign could be placed next to a cart that serves milk and cookies (or, if you’d prefer, cocktails with a milky appearance). You could also use labels such as ‘Reindeer Poop’ (chocolate bits), ‘Christmas Cupcakes’, ‘Reindeer Noses’ (bowl of malteasers with one red jaffa for Rudolph) or ‘Baubles’/’Mini Baubles’ (anything round and colourful – such as M&Ms).

​​Alternatively, serve up some Christmas party food that looks festive! For example, cutting the bottom of a strawberry off and putting a dollop of white chocolate on the tip – instant ‘Santa Hat’. Cookies shaped like Christmas characters are also a win, as are Christmas puddings, biscuits stacked to look like Christmas trees, Pavlovas (for an Aussie Christmas), candy canes, snowman pancakes and watermelon cut to look like Christmas trees.

STEP THREE
Add Some Festive Drinks

A few simple touches will make your drink table feel magical.

One cute idea for the kids is a 'Snowman Milkshake Station'. That is, vanilla shakes topped with whipped cream, chocolate buttons, and a tiny candy carrot 'nose'. Adorable, easy and a surefire way to get the littlest guests into the holiday spirit!

A hot cocoa bar is another great option (for kids and adults alike!). Set out a selection of marshmallows, candy canes, crushed peppermint, sprinkles and chocolate shavings so that everyone can build their own festive mug of goodness.

For the grown-ups, make things fun by serving colourful beverages. If you're hosting a 'red and green' themed party, for example, serve drinks to match. Cosmopolitans and Grasshopper cocktails would be ideal for this, as would jelly shots made from green or red jelly (bonus points if you display the shots like a Christmas tree!).

Alternatively, you may like to stick to classic favourites such as eggnog, mulled wine, Christmas punch, or boozy hot chocolate.

And finally, don't forget the labels! Place a few 'punny' signs across the table (think 'Naughty Nectar, 'Jolly Juice' or 'Let's Get Elfed Up!') for instant festive fun... and a good laugh!

STEP FOUR
Decorate for the Holidays

The beauty of this theme is that EVERYONE has Christmas decorations stashed away in the cupboard, just WAITING to make their appearance at that magical time of year. So rather than purchasing decor for the celebration, see what you (and friends/family) have in storage that can bring your theme together. From Christmas trees and fairy lights to festive table runners, you'll have an absolute ball 'decking the halls'. 

For those who want to keep it in a particular colour scheme, the above still applies. Simply check your cupboards (and ask around) for decorations that suit the look you're going for. Some inspiration includes 'Green and Red Christmas', 'Rustic Christmas', 'Red and White Christmas', and 'Christmas Lights'.

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STEP FIVE
Play Some Festive Games

Below are our top 5 best-selling Christmas party games. To view our entire festive range, click here.

Christmas Ever or Never

Both fun and revealing, this 'ever or never' game is sure to bring the unique questions, hilarious answers, and SO many giggles!​

DOWNLOAD THIS PRINT

GET THE GAME HERE

Christmas Themed Plate on Head Game

This hilarious game involves players placing paper plates on their heads and following the festive drawing prompts (without peeking!). When the game finishes, everyone reveals their masterpieces to the group, before tallying up points to see who wins!

GRAB IT HERE

DOWNLOAD THIS GAME

What's Your Christmas Name?

A great, family-friendly way to kick your holiday celebration. I mean... who can't get into the festive spirit with a name like 'Cheerful Snowman from Blizzard Beach'?!

GET THE PRINTABLE

How Merry Are You?!

The ultimate icebreaker that gets everyone learning festive facts/stories about each other! Perfect for any Christmas party or event - who will be the merriest of all?

GET THE PRINTABLE

DOWNLOAD HERE

Jingle & Mingle Bingo

It's mingle bingo with a festive twist... who will get 5 in a row first? Find out with this wonderful game!

CLICK TO VIEW

GRAB THIS PRINTABLE

Other Game Ideas

Best Dressed Competition
Encourage everyone to arrive in fun outfits by hosting a competition. Play Christmas carols whilst they all strut around the room. Everyone can vote for their favourite costume, with the winner be awarded a special prize! Want the fun to continue? Rather than just having a 'best dressed' category, add some alternative prizes as well. Think 'most creative outfit', 'weirdest getup', 'funniest costume', and so on.


Dress Santa
You may have played (or heard of) the bridal shower game 'DIY Wedding Dress'; in which teams use toilet paper to create their own designer wedding gowns. In a similar fashion, 'Dress Santa' involves small groups (of 3-4 people) turning one of their team members (i.e. the 'model') into Santa! The suit, the beard, the hat, the shoes... all within a time limit - the results will be hilarious.


How Many Ornaments?
Make sure you keep count of those ornaments whilst decorating the tree! Guests can then make educated guesses as to how many there are, with the person who guesses closest being the winner. Simple, fun AND pretty to look at, this game is perfect if you're after low-key activities that guests can participate in if/when they wish.


Siamese Gift Wrapping Game
The aim of the game is for guests to wrap a present as fast as they can. Sounds simple, right? Well... the catch is that they must do so in pairs. And each person is only allowed to use ONE hand!

Tip: Use cereal boxes, tissue boxes, etc. as 'presents' and old newspapers as 'wrapping paper'.

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STEP SIX
Sprinkle in Some Christmas Activities

​Candy Cane Scavenger Hunt

This scavenger hunt is going to put your code cracking skills to the test! With clues, secret words that need deciphering AND a candy cane theme, it's fabulously festive and the PERFECT way to entertain the kids!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Torn Paper Craft

Featuring Christmas shapes ready to be decorated, these adorable activities are sure to be a hit at your event! Perfect for craft corners, kids can tear, cut and glue colourful pieces of paper to create their festive pictures/cards. Hands-on, screen-free fun that ends with a beautiful piece of take-home art!

DOWNLOAD THIS ACTIVITY

CLICK TO VIEW

Other Activity Ideas

​Crafty Christmas
Pull out your scrap paper, paint, pencils, pens and more - it's time for a craft off. Set everything on a table and let guests go to town creating their very own 'Christmas Cards'.

But... it's not ALL about looks. Oh no, it's much more than that.

As you know, Christmas cards are famous for the messages they hold inside. Which means individuals/teams have to think about spreading festive cheer with words as well. The person or team with the most creative, unique, hilarious or even sweetest card and message combo wins.

Other ways to bring the creative juices to your event include decorating baubles, making stockings, personalising Santa hats, making ugly sweaters and more!


Christmas Carol-oke
Get those vocal cords working overtime by belting out your favourite Christmas carol classics. With songs ranging from 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' to 'Santa Clause is Comin' to Town', you're guaranteed to get your monies worth with these epic performances!


Gingerbread House Contest
Who made it best? Or, turn the tables, who made it worst?! Bring out your creative side with this fun activity, whereby guests can not only make their very own masterpiece, but they can also eat it! Ask everyone to vote for their favourites, with the most votes being awarded as the winner. You may also like to give a prize to the most hilarious attempt.

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STEP SEVEN
Spread Joy with Small Gifts

If you're after a party favour or prize that ties in with the Christmas theme, think along the lines of baubles and other tree decorations, festive mugs, mini Christmas puddings, mini pavlovas, candy canes, Christmas cookie cutter sets (plus cookies!), festive candles, tiny (real) Christmas trees, holiday cupcakes, hot cocoa mix, cosy socks/gloves, or even some delish Christmas punch served in cute little jars.

Rather than the typical favour bags, you could go for presents instead. Neatly wrap and label each gift (one per guest) and place them under the Christmas tree (ready to be collected at the end of the event). You could also hang stockings filled with little gifts (and for those with extra cash to splash, personalised stockings go down a treat!).

​FUN TIP:
Turn the gift delivery into a game! Pick one person to be 'Santa' - it will be their job to set out the favours at some point during the celebration (whether this be placing presents under the tree or filling stockings). The first person to notice that Santa has visited gets a prize!

It's Time to Get Merry!

As you can see, hosting the ultimate Christmas party doesn't have to be hard. After all, the goal isn't perfection - it's connection! And with a bit of planning, a little creativity, and a whole lot of Christmas spirit, you'll soon have a celebration that guests will talk about for MANY years to come.

So turn up the carols, pour the punch, and get ready to host an event to remember!

Have Christmas party ideas you'd like to share? Or perhaps you've put some of our ideas to the test? We'd love to see how you celebrate! Tag us on Instagram @becspartyprints so that we can join in the festive fun :)

Merry Christmas!
​Bec x