Christmas Party Decorations and Ideas
Have yourself a merry little Christmas by inviting friends and family over to celebrate the holiday season with these festive Christmas party ideas! We've rounded up some of our best ideas to make prepping for parties just as fun as throwing them. So, settle in for a holiday decoration derby or Christmas movie marathon. Just don't forget your favorite winter drink recipe and a slice of fruitcake.
For those with a crafty holiday spirit, you'll love our crafter-noon parties. From making Christmas wreaths to hosting a fun (and helpful) gift-wrapping party, we have enough ideas to last you the entire season—and then some! Relax and make ornaments with your friends (with our favorite DIY Christmas ornament ideas and tutorials to get you started, no less) or kick it old school with a salt dough crafting extravaganza. You can even throw a cookie swap party where guests are invited to bring their favorites and share Christmas cookie recipes.
If your friends aren't the crafty type, which we can totally understand in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we've got ideas for you too. Throw a fun holiday soiree inspired by your favorite Christmas movie, or go for a classic holiday dinner party. Start the evening by serving your guests some delicious and Country Living-approved Christmas appetizers. You can even throw together a hot chocolate bar if you've got a slow cooker to keep things warm and toasty. If you're in the mood for something savory, fondue can feed a crowd and keep everyone entertained all evening long. All your friends will need to do is bring their Christmas cheer!
2 Movie Marathon Christmas Party
Build a fire, curl up with your family and friends, and get in the spirit of Christmas with your favorite holiday classics, like The Polar Express, Home Alone, and Miracle on 34th Street. Serve fresh popcorn with optional popcorn seasonings like parmesan black pepper, cinnamon sugar, or everything bagel for a holiday treat. Don't forget the toasted marshmallow hot cocoa and the theatre candy brownies. To make things extra fun, ask guests to play Binge-Watch Bingo using buttons or popcorn to mark the squares.
3 Candy Cane Crafting Christmas Party
4 Holiday Snack Exchange Christmas Party
Similar to a cookie exchange, invite your pals to come over with a their favorite savory holiday snack like these sweet and spicy coated nuts. Turn on your favorite holiday playlist, sip on some hot cocoa, and send everyone home with a cute container of treats like these hexagon jars adorned with a cinnamon stick and striped ribbon.
5 Gift Wrapping Christmas Party
Make gift wrapping more fun this year by inviting your friends over for a gift-wrapping party! Set up a table with wrapping paper, ribbons, stamps and gift tags galore and go to town. Afterwards, everyone can decompress with a cup of apple cider a few holiday cookies.
SHOP WRAPPING PAPER
6 Minimalist Christmas Party
Take a cue from Scandinavian style and give your party an understated feel! Here, white branches sit pretty in a spool of natural twine, and the muted colors of Christmas cookies and eggnog more than make up for the lack of bright reds and greens.
SHOP WOODEN BEADS
7 Holly-Inspired Christmas Party
The classic holly berry just might be one of the most recognizable signs of the season. In this party idea, it's highlighted in nearly every part of the table, from the straws to the vintage plates and even the white chocolate truffles.
SHOP HOLLY BERRY SPRINKLES
9 Wreath Making Christmas Party
Help your friends decorate for the season with a simple wreath-crafting party! You can provide round wreath forms, yards of burlap, ribbons, dried citrus, and more to help them get in the spirit.
SHOP WREATH FORMS
10 Brunch Christmas Party
You don't have to wait until Christmas morning to celebrate with friends over your favorite meal of the day! Bake up a few of your favorite breakfast treats or encourage guests to bring their own favorite recipe.
SHOP VINTAGE SANTA MUGS
11 Ornament Crafting Party
Crafter-noon? Yes, please! Even beginners can learn to cross-stitch quickly—and with our easy tutorials, you can guide the way. Of course, you don't just have to stick to cross-stitch designs. There are so many DIY ornament possibilities out there!
SHOP RIBBON
12 Hot Chocolate Party
Set up a hot chocolate bar and let your friends and family have at it! You can include toppings like cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg, chocolate chips, whipped cream, and more. Let the cocoa brew in a slow cooker; it'll stay warm all afternoon.
SHOP INSTANT POTS
13 A Very Country Christmas Party
14 Christmas Dinner Party
15 Fondue Party
What better way to warm up than with a pot of fondue—and a circle of smiling friends around it? We love this idea for a Christmas party theme! Add our cable-knit breadsticks for an extra-special, extra-wintery element.
SHOP FONDUE SETS
16 Salt Dough Crafting Party
Salt dough is one of the easiest materials to work with, whether you use it to make ornaments or other figurines. Kids and adults alike will get a kick out of a party that celebrates the fun material. To make it, simply combine 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup salt, and 1 1/2 cups of warm water in a mixing bowl. Knead until the dough is firm and smooth. Roll out the dough and allow your guests to cut and design desired shapes (use a straw to poke a hole for hanging if you're going for ornaments), then bake at 300°F until dry, approximately 1 hour; cool completely. They can even paint the finished products too!
SHOP TWINE
17 Christmas Card Writing Party
Give your guests a few pre-made cards to write in or let them craft their very own at this cute party. Better yet, hand out postcards that can be sent to the men and women serving our country overseas, or handed out to first responders at your local fire department. We've got tips for crafting your own cards and some thoughts on sweet messages to put inside them.
SHOP CHRISTMAS CARDS
19 Christmas Tree Decorating Parties
Why decorate your tree alone? Invite friends from near and far to join you in the fun. Set out popcorn, cranberries, and thread for an old-fashioned look, or simply let your guests take turns adding ornaments to the branches. You can also ask that they bring one to share—that way, the party's personal too!
SHOP GINGERBREAD TREE ORNAMENTS
20 Eggnog Party
You drink the stuff all season long. Why not celebrate eggnog with a party that's entirely centered around it? Serve up a batch of fresh gingerbread cookies and create a serve-yourself eggnog bar complete with cinnamon and nutmeg toppings and even different "flavors." We've got tons of creative eggnog recipes to help you get started.
SHOP INSTANT POTS
21 Christmas Candy Making
Nothing says Christmastime like a batch of toffee, truffles, or fudge. Have your friends bring their kids along for an afternoon whipping up some easy-to-make holiday favorites—such as these chocolate-filled candy cane hearts from Dinner at the Zoo.
22 Pampering Party
The most wonderful time of the year can also be one of the most stressful. Take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle and invite the girls over for an afternoon of pampering. Treat yourself to professional services or get inspired to do your own nails, hair, makeup. You could even recreate this stunning manicure from So Nailicious.
23 White Elephant Gift Exchange
White elephant exchanges always lead to an evening filled with laughter. Be sure to invite a group of at least six or more people and set a cap for how much each present should cost, so no one is going over their budget. Need some affordable gift ideas? We have just what you need with our favorite Christmas presents that cost $50 or less.
24 Holiday Bake-Off
Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the smells in the kitchen are so delightful! Whip up your own crowd-pleasing treat—like these unbelievably good gingerbread bars—and have each guest bring their favorite Christmas dessert for a delicious December get-together.
25 Christmas Cocktail Party
26 Ice Skating Adventure
Lace up the skates and get ready to hit the ice! Skaters of all levels will have a blast gliding around and around. If you live in a winter wonderland, you can build your own rink or go out to a pond or lake—just make sure it's safe beforehand. If your winter months are on the warmer side, book some time at a local rink.
27 Toy Drive
'Tis the season of giving back. Spread the holiday cheer by donating unwrapped toys to children in need through charities such as Toys for Tots. Nothing will fill you will more joy than ensuring others have a very merry Christmas.
28 Christmas Caroling
Go Christmas caroling! Your neighbors will be delighted to hear classic holiday hymns, and you'll have so much fun singing with your friends. After all, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!
29 Après Ski Party
If you don't make it out to the slopes this season, bring the warmth of a ski lodge to your own home by hosting an après ski-themed party. Make sure your guests can cuddle up with a faux fur blanket, and decorate with vintage ski decor and anything wood-finished. Don't forget to have that fireplace burning!
SHOP FAUX FUR BLANKETS
30 Reverse Christmas In July Party
You've heard about Christmas in July parties, but now it's time to bring the tropical temperatures to December. Tell your guests to wear their best beach-themed attire (Hawaiian shirts and flip flops required) while they sip on piña coladas and eat these adorable cookies.
Get the tutorial at The Bearfoot Baker.
SHOP COOKIE CUTTERS
31 Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
Add a nostalgic element to your party by setting out supplies to make gingerbread houses and hosting an all-in-good-fun competition to see who can construct the sweetest abode. (Award an oven mitt to the winner!) Keep it simple by stocking up on affordable gingerbread kits that come ready to assemble—and be sure to choose an official judge!
32 Cookie Exchange
Invite your pals to swing by with a dozen cookies in tow. Crank up the holiday tunes, nosh on cookies, and then send everyone packing with a bag full of treats. Set out cute recipe cards so guests can share how-tos for their new favorite desserts.
33 Crafternoon Bash
Corral your most Pinterest-obsessed friends for an afternoon of crafting holiday cards, wreaths, and more. Ask each guest to bring her favorite craft supplies so you can draw from a large collection. Don't forget to set out snacks and cocktails—crafting can really work up an appetite!
34 Holiday Game Night
Kick off the holiday season right with some friendly competition. Create a lineup of classic games with fun holiday twists like Christmas Bingo. A fun idea: Instead of the usual place-markers, blogger Amber from Crazy Little Projects uses popcorn to cover her board. If Bingo isn't up your alley, gather everyone for a round of Christmas movie trivia. The winner takes home a basket full of Christmas DVDs!
35 Christmas Carol Karaoke Night
Invest in a home karaoke system, and load it up with your favorite holiday tunes. Have your guests sign a holiday record as a guest book before they take their turn at the microphone. As a token of your appreciation to the brave singers who volunteer, make trophies out of small, wooden instruments.
36 Photo Booth Party
Encourage guests to dress up in their holiday finest, turn up the festive music, have some holiday punch and holiday hors d'oeuvres at the ready, and set up a cute photo backdrop for you and your friends to ham it up in front of. Have a few Christmas props and holiday face masks on hand—put your DIY skills to good use and make your own masks or go on Etsy to purchase printable ones.
37 Winter Sledding Party
Gather up your pals and their kiddos for a rollicking sledding party. After everyone's done running around in the snow, they can warm up inside with warm mugs of cocoa. Set out a garnish table with an assortment of cherries, caramel syrup, whipped cream, crushed candy canes, and sprinkles. It's the perfect way to toast to the season!
38 Pancakes and Pajamas Party
Put on your favorite holiday onesie and sink your teeth into soft, fluffy pancakes for one of the most laid-back parties you'll ever host. Encourage your family and friends to wear their wackiest Christmas pajamas and see who can outdo each other. The winner gets a fresh stack of pancakes with their favorite toppings (okay, fine, everyone's a winner at this party!).
Julia Ludlam Associate Art Director Julia Ludlam is the Associate Art Director at _Country Living.
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Christmas Party Decorations and Ideas
Source: https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/how-to/g2218/christmas-party-ideas/