38 Best Christmas Party Ideas for the Merriest Celebration

Are kids coming over? Throw a casual party but add the best surprise ever: Santa! Have someone dress up as Ol' Saint Nick. He can hand out small stocking stuffers and ask them what else they want for Christmas. Don't forget to have a camera ready for some candid snaps, too.

SHOP SANTA SUITS

Invite friends and family over to go caroling around your neighborhood. It will fill everyone with cheer, and then they can head back to your house for a cocktail party or nice dinner to relax after the event.

Christmas trivia, old fashioned card games, all those board games you played as kids―any and all games are welcome! It allows everyone to just have a relaxed day of fun. All you have to do is add some snacks and drinks for a merry ol' time.

Another kid friendly idea is to have them all create cookie plates for Santa. They could decorate the plates themselves as a craft or simply assemble platters from pre-made cookies. You can make some reindeer snacks, too.

Edible gifts are low cost, but high reward. Have everyone make their favorite Christmas snacks and package them up as gifts. Bonus if they last longer, like cookie mixes or candies, so everyone can enjoy them all month long.

SHOP MASON JARS

What's a party without something sweet and warm to sip? Mulled wine is so festive with classic holiday flavors: allspice berries, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and fresh ginger slices. You can even gift everyone spices and the recipe to bring home with them!

Get the Mulled Wine recipe.

There are so many ways to show your loved ones you care during Christmas time, but cards are arguably the best. Set up a holiday card crafting station. It's great for kids and adults alike! And if you don’t know what to write, check out our Christmas card messages.

The Christmas traditions of yesteryear are so nostalgic and joyful. Make classics like Jell-O desserts and decorate your home with vintage ornaments and bottlebrush trees. Classic tunes are a must!

Give everyone an activity that they can take home or gift to someone else. There are tons of DIY wreaths that look gorgeous hung on your door or over your mantel.

Gather your closest friends and secretly assign everyone a person to buy a gift for. Then, host them at your home for a surprising gift exchange! Set a price limit, so there are reasonable budget parameters.

SHOP WRAPPING PAPER

You may have heard of SantaCon in New York, where everyone dresses up as different versions of Santa. Host a hyperlocal SantaCon at your house!

Whether you cook a big brunch on Christmas Day like Ree does, or you host one at your house the weekend before, gathering your loved ones for the most delicious meal of all will be so much fun. Add Ree's eggs Benedict strata or her famous cinnamon rolls to the menu.

If you don't look forward to wrapping presents every year, then make things a little bit more fun by turning the task into a party! Have friends over and offer a wide array of wrapping paper, gift tags, and cute bows and ribbons. A glass of bubbly or two wouldn't hurt either!

When the weather outside is frightful, a crackling bonfire is just so delightful. Bundle up with friends, make batches of hot chocolate, and get cozy!

Round up your friends and family and make a night of putting up your Christmas tree decorations. (You can thank them with small bites and Christmas cocktails!) Those string lights will be untangled in no time.

SHOP ORNAMENTS

If Christmas elegance is your cup of tea, then this is the theme for you! Invite your loved ones over for a chic afternoon tea party filled with seasonal teas, Christmas snacks, and holiday desserts.

The spooky stuff isn't just for Halloween. Host a Christmas-themed murder mystery dinner with one of these fun game kits that take their inspiration from office holiday parties and ugly Christmas sweaters.

Who says you have to hit the slopes to enjoy après ski-themed activities? Decorate your space with faux fur blankets, plaid pillows, and other rustic touches and ask your guests to dress in their favorite cozy staples. You can serve mulled cider, bourbon hot chocolate, and other winter cocktails.

Go all out with your Christmas menu this year by serving a show-stopping main course like this traditional Beef Wellington. Ask your guests to dress up and turn it into a fancy occasion.

For a themed Christmas crafting party, set up a DIY ornament station that kids and adults can enjoy. You can select a specific design like this wood slice ornament from Lemon & Thistle, or you could just put out supplies and let them get creative.

SHOP CRAFT SUPPLIES