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50 Best Christmas Party Themes for the Merriest Holiday Ever
Get inspired by these funny, unique and elegant ideas, whether you're hosting at your home or the office.
Hosting a party for your family, friend or coworkers is always fun, especially when it has a unique theme — and there's no better excuse to host an epic event than Christmas! This year, in addition to indulging in all the fun holiday activities that come along with Santa's favorite time of year — like decorating your Christmas tree, crafting homemade holiday decorations and watching your favorite Christmas movies — take the time to plan a holiday-themed gathering that your nearest and dearest won't forget anytime soon.
We've rounded up dozens of of the best Christmas party themes that are guaranteed to get everyone in the holiday spirit. While an ugly Christmas sweater party is always a classic — and funny! — way to go, there are lots of other creative and elegant options you can try. From making homemade Christmas ornaments to baking Christmas cookies and gingerbread houses, there are so many activities to choose from that will entertain your guests — not to mention tons of hilarious Christmas party games for adults that you can bust out to keep people laughing all night long. So whether you're looking to host an epic event at home, your church or in the office, look to these merry Christmas party themes for inspiration.
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Party Theme: Stocking Stuffer Party
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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!
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.
It's not Christmas until you've watched TheGrinch. 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!
Halloween's not the only time of the year for treats! Scatter holiday-themed candy throughout the party space, including candy canes and chocolates. You can use candy as decor, too — try hanging some from the ceiling for easy picking!
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!
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Party Theme: Holiday Scavenger Hunt
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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!
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Party Theme: Wine and Charcuterie Party
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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.
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!
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Party Theme: Elf on the Shelf Party
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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.
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.
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Party Theme: Holiday Card Party
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It's pretty easy to buy creative cards online these days, but it's so much more meaningful to receive one that's handmade, don't you think? Invite your besties to make their own set of holiday cards with an assortment of festive embellishments — washi tape, colorful yarn, buttons, you name it.
Remember how much fun you had as a kid shopping for toys during the holiday season? Tap into that same level of excitement to organize a toy-shopping day with friends. Then, decide on a local charity to gift your haul to.
There's nothing like opening a handwritten letter from someone you love, especially during the holidays. You and a few friends can set aside time to write letters to special people in your lives.
Ask your closest friends to whip up their favorite dinner recipe for everyone in the group to try. Vote on the best dish and give the winner a special gift to remember the fun night.
Gather your candle-obsessed friends to take part in a holiday candle-making lesson. Be sure to have holiday-appropriate essential oils, like peppermint and cinnamon, on hand.
A dinner party isn't the only way to celebrate the holiday season. A holiday tea gathering with loved ones can be just as fun. Invite guests to come in their favorite holiday ensembles to enjoy cups of seasonal tea and small bites.
S'mores aren't just for summer campfires! Get a nice toasty fire in your fireplace, and enjoy some indoor s'mores.
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Party Theme: Fondue for a Few
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Is there any better way to warm up on a cold day than by enjoying dipping your favorite foods in hot cheese and chocolate? We think not. Have a little DIY fondue action by using a top-tested fondue pot (you can also do mini individual fondue pots if you don't want to share).
Every year you're bound to be given a gift that, well, you wouldn't have bought for yourself. However, one person's trash is another person's treasure! Set up a White Elephant exchange where everyone proudly re-gifts one present they received this year (just make sure the original gifter doesn't know anyone in the group!).
The holiday can be stressful. Gather your closest friends for a night to drink wine, listen to music and unwind with some homemade face masks.
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Party Theme: Reverse Christmas in July
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The beachgoers among us are familiar with Christmas in July, a midsummer excuse to celebrate with some yuletide cheer. Bring that summer vacation vibe to the holiday vacation by firing up the hot tub and playing The Beach Boys' Christmas album. Party guests should bring their most festive swimsuits!
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Party Theme: Characters of Christmas
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Costume parties aren't just for Halloween. There are plenty of recognizable and easy-to-recreate characters to choose from, like Santa, Santa's elves, Scrooge or even a busy working woman who winds up falling in love with a town obsessed with Christmas (hello, Hallmark Christmas movies!).
You don't need to wear high heels and Spanx for a successful Christmas party. Have your girls over for a night of wine and Christmas flicks in your comfiest holiday PJs.
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Party Theme: Ho Ho Ho-down
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Who says cowgirl boots and Santa hats don't match? For a country twist on your traditional Christmas party, play country Christmas classics that will have your friends line dancing all night.
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Party Theme: Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
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If Nat King Cole was right about one thing, it's that there is something magical about roasted chestnuts on Christmas. Try roasting your own at home with friends this holiday season (though they're equally delicious pre-roasted).
There's a reason you get invited to these every year. Have everyone bake their favorite kind of holiday cookie the night before, then meet up to exchange. It's the perfect way to try out new Christmas cookie recipes.
Show off your gum drop decorating skills with a friendly gingerbread house-making competition. If you're looking for inspiration, some of these gingerbread houses take it to the next level.
Why should our furry friends miss out on all of the fun? You and your pet-parent friends can dress up your pooch for what might be the most adorable party of all time.
All the fun of caroling without annoying your neighbors. Rent a room at your local karaoke bar, and sing along to Christmas songs all night.
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Party Theme: Worst Present Party
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You won't be jealous of anyone's presents at this gift swap. Make your friends laugh with a hilariously bad gift exchange. Who can come up with the weirdest pick?
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Party Theme: Cocktails for Christmas
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Mix martinis and mistletoes with this light and fun cocktail hour party. You serve guests seasonal drinks like a Dirty Snowman, a Cranberry Mimosa or another festive drink. Because who really likes eggnog?
Everyone makes hot chocolate a little differently, so try out your friends' recipes with a hot chocolate potluck. Besides the traditional just "add water" kind, there are plenty of fun flavors that might surprise you.
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Party Theme: A Christmas Story
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After all, Christmas is a time for giving back. Invite guests to bring their favorite Christmas-themed storybook, and then donate them to a local school, daycare or library.
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Party Theme: Christmas Movie Marathon
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There's nothing better than snuggling up in front of some Christmas classics. Tell your guests to come over in their comfiest clothes for a holiday movie marathon filled with Christmas flicks and an endless amount of sweet goodies.
Wrapping Christmas presents is one of those annoying but unavoidable seasonal chores. Make it fun by inviting some friends over so you can hang out and chat while you all wrap together.
If your friends like to try their luck, host a Las Vegas-themed party with card games and prizes. Just don't bet any Christmas presents.
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Party Theme: Holiday Trivia
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Test your pals' Christmas knowledge by breaking them up into teams and seeing who can name all of Santa's reindeers (or determine what "Jingle Bells" was first written about).
If you don't have the space to host, or you just don't want to clean up afterwards, try organizing a local bar crawl for your friend group.
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Party Theme: Favorite Things
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Ask your friends to figure out what a few of their favorite things are, and then get together to have a pollyanna swap. You'll walk away with something amazing and learn more about your friends' interests in the process.
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Party Theme: Après-Ski Party
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So you couldn't make it to the Alps this year. That's okay — with a couple of touches like faux-fur rugs and blankets, rustic wooden serving dishes and a roaring fireplace, you and your Fair Isle sweater-wearing guests will feel like you've just gotten off the slopes.
There's always that neighbor who puts everyone else's Christmas lights to shame. Take your friends on a tour of your area's most magnificently over-the-top Christmas lights. If you really want to make it special, consider renting a car or a limo.
