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Ho ho ho, fellow holiday enthusiasts!
It’s your friendly neighborhood party planner here, ready to sprinkle some extra magic on your Christmas celebrations.
Let’s face it – we’ve all been to those yawn-inducing holiday parties where Aunt Edna’s fruitcake is the most exciting thing on offer. But fear not! I’m about to unleash a sleigh-full of Christmas party games to keep everyone entertained that’ll have everyone from little Timmy to Grandpa Joe ho-ho-hoing with delight.
Whether you’re hosting an intimate family gathering, a neighborhood bash, or the annual office shindig, these games are guaranteed to break the ice, spark laughter, and create memories that last well beyond the final slice of pie. Think of me as your festive guide, steering you away from awkward small talk and toward nonstop cheer. So grab a mug of cocoa, put on your favorite ugly Christmas sweater, and get ready to transform your holiday party from “meh” to merry and magical!
Deck the Halls with Boughs of Fun with these Christmas Party Games
1. Merry Bow Match
Picture this: 12 festive bows playing hide-and-seek under cups. It’s like a Christmas-themed memory game on steroids!
- Gather 12 bows in 6 different colors
- Hide them under cups
- Players flip two cups at a time, hunting for matches
- The bow-hunting champion with the most pairs wins!
2. Sleigh Ride Cup Slide
Who knew plastic cups could be so thrilling? This game turns your dining table into a winter wonderland racetrack.
- Mark a “landing zone” on your table with tape
- Give each player or team different colored cups
- Slide those cups like they’re Santa’s sleigh on ice
- Land in the zone? Score a point!
- Most points wins – simple as figgy pudding!
3. Christmas Word Scramble
Time to put those noggins to work! This game separates the wordsmiths from the, well, not-so-wordsmiths.
- Create a list of scrambled Christmas words (e.g., “Roudlph” for “Rudolph”)
- Set a timer for 5-10 minutes
- Players race to unscramble as many words as possible
- The one with the most correct answers gets bragging rights (and maybe an extra cookie)
4. Face the Gingerbread Man
Warning: This game may induce uncontrollable giggles and potential snorting.
- Give each player a small gingerbread cookie
- Place said cookie on forehead
- Using only facial muscles, wiggle that cookie into your mouth
- First to succeed without using hands wins!
5. Ugly Sweater Contest
Time to dust off that monstrosity Aunt Mildred knitted you last year – it’s finally getting its moment to shine!
- Encourage guests to wear their most outrageous Christmas sweaters
- Host a mini runway show (bonus points for dramatic poses)
- Let the crowd vote on the ugliest/funniest sweater
- Winner gets a trophy (may I suggest a tiny sweater-shaped one?)
6. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Turn your home into a festive treasure trove with this classic game.
- Hide Christmas-themed items around your space (candy canes, ornaments, etc.)
- Create a list of items to find
- Divide into teams or go solo
- First to find everything on the list wins!
7. Saran Wrap Ball Game
This game is like a Christmas present and a party game had a baby – and it’s glorious.
- Create a giant ball of saran wrap, layering in small prizes and challenge cards
- Players take turns unwrapping while others roll dice
- Roll the right number? You get to unwrap!
- Keep going until the ball is gone and prizes are won
8. Christmas Name That Tune
Time to put those years of blasting Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” to good use.
- Play short clips of Christmas songs
- First to shout the correct title gets a point
- Mix it up with humming or singing challenges
- Highest score wins – and gets to be DJ for the rest of the night!
9. Snowman Stack
Who knew marshmallows could be so challenging? This game will test your dexterity and patience.
- Give each player 6 large marshmallows
- Race to stack 3 on top of each other (creating two “snowmen”)
- Here’s the catch: You can only use one hand!
- First to build their marshmallow army wins
10. Rudolph’s Nose
It’s like Pin the Tail on the Donkey got a Christmas makeover.
- Create a large reindeer poster (minus the nose)
- Blindfold players and give them a red circle “nose”
- Spin ’em around and watch the hilarity ensue
- Closest nose placement wins!
11. Candy Cane Hook
Time to put those candy canes to work! This game requires a steady hand and nerves of steel.
- Scatter a pile of candy canes on a table
- Players use one candy cane to hook others
- Only the curved end allowed!
- Most candy canes hooked in 30 seconds wins
