53 Family Christmas Party Ideas For a Fun 2024

Create new memories and holiday traditions with exciting and fun family Christmas party ideas. Spending time with friends and family, the pretty decorations and fun activities are only a few reasons why the season is most people’s favorite. And one of the activities that many people look forward to every year is a Christmas party.

A gathering of friends and family with holiday music and good food is the best way to celebrate the season. During the holiday season, about 66% of Americans attend Christmas parties, according to a survey by OnePoll and reported by SWNS Digital. With the majority of Americans attending Christmas parties, you may want to find a way to make yours stand out from the crowd.

So, what makes a great Christmas party? A fun theme can make a Christmas party more unique and set it apart from other Christmas parties guests might be attending. Of course, having delicious food and fun music will also make a Christmas party great. Finally, having engaging activities is an easy way to make a Christmas party more exciting. There are plenty of family Christmas party ideas you can use when planning an event with friends, family or coworkers. We’ve rounded up the best Christmas party ideas to make your holiday season more memorable.

 Jump to Section

• Family Christmas Party Ideas
• Unusual Christmas Party Ideas
• Christmas Party Outfit Themes
• Christmas Party Ideas For Adults
• Work Christmas Party Ideas

Family Christmas Party Ideas

1. Gingerbread Cookie Decorating

Gingerbread cookie decorating is a classic family Christmas party idea that will be fun for all ages. This activity can be fun from start to finish. Have the family whip up the dough and bake the cookies together. Once the cookies are fresh from the oven and cooled, your family can decorate them together. Use icing, candies and sprinkles to add fun details to your holiday treats.

2. Christmas Movie Marathon

For a laid-back family Christmas party idea at home, host a Christmas movie marathon. Choose from a list of the best Christmas movies for kids or adults or have each member pick their favorite for the screening. Don’t forget to have plenty of snacks like popcorn, cookies and drinks to enjoy during your festive movie marathon! Or you can have a quiz with Christmas movie trivia questions.

3. Christmas Crafts

Are you wondering how to host a fun family Christmas party? Have an engaging activity that will get everyone involved! Doing Christmas crafts together can be one of the most fun family Christmas party ideas. There are plenty of crafts you can make with simple supplies you either have at your home or can easily purchase. Make snowmen, reindeer, elves and more, then use them as decor for your family celebration.

4. Candyland Christmas

A Candyland Christmas will surely be a kid’s favorite family Christmas party idea. Who wouldn’t love a Christmas wonderland that puts candy at the forefront? Pick out classic Christmas candy like candy canes, peppermints and themed chocolates. You can use these candies in crafts or bake holiday treats to enjoy together.

5. Christmas Pajama Party

Get cozy this holiday season with a Christmas pajama party. This family Christmas party idea will allow you to be cozy and comfortable while the snow falls outside. Get fun or matching Christmas-themed pajamas to wear for the evening. While wearing your cozy pajamas, bake Christmas treats, watch movies and take cute pictures to remember the moment.

6. S’mores and Hot Chocolate

Winters are made for comfort foods and with this family Christmas party idea, you can enjoy your favorite comfort sweets throughout the night. Roast marshmallows over the stove or in the oven and add graham crackers, chocolate and other Christmas candies. Plus, whip up hot chocolate with whipped cream and holiday-themed sprinkles so you can enjoy these two treats together with movies and games.

7. Write Letters to Santa

Wondering how to celebrate a Christmas party at home? This family Christmas party idea will allow kids to express creativity and reflect on their year when writing letters to Santa. Have kids write all the good things they’ve done throughout the year before asking for what they want. Then, they can decorate the letters and envelopes before sending them to the North Pole.

8. Make Ornaments Together

This family Christmas party idea will have everyone getting creative together. Make ornaments to hang on the tree so you can remember this family fun event year after year. Paint wood ornaments, make them out of air-dry clay or use a variety of other crafting supplies to make these DIY Christmas decorations.

9. Craft Christmas Cards

Spend a day making Christmas cards for this family Christmas party idea. Use card paper, shaped-hole punches, paint, sparkles and other supplies to make festive cards to send to family and friends during the holiday season.

10. Tree Decorating Party

Make decorating your Christmas tree a fun family affair. For this family Christmas party idea, you can invite your extended family and friends over or have a small gathering to help decorate the tree. Listen to music, serve good food and enjoy each other’s company as you string lights and hang ornaments.

Unusual Christmas Party Ideas

11. July at Christmas

Some people like to celebrate Christmas in July but you can flip the theme around for this family Christmas party idea. Celebrate July at Christmastime with sunglasses, Hawaiian shirts and palm trees. It’s a fun and unusual spin on the classic holiday party.

12. Candle Making Party

A creative family Christmas party idea is making candles for the season. You can buy candle-making supplies, such as wax, wax dye, molds and scents, at most craft stores. Spend the party mixing scents like evergreen, cinnamon, gingerbread and cranberry to make holiday candles to burn during the season. Candle-making is also one of the most romantic Christmas date ideas if you're looking for ways to impress your date this winter. 

13. Fondue Christmas Party

Host a fondue Christmas party for your friends and family for a tasty holiday treat. Set up cheese and chocolate fondue pots with a variety of dipping options. Pretzels, meats and potatoes work as something savory and marshmallows, apples and shortbread cookies are great for a sweet option.

14. Christmas Carol-oke

This friends and family Christmas party idea will put everyone in a holiday mood. Have everyone sing karaoke to their favorite Christmas carols and songs. The fun activity will have everyone laughing and singing along.

15. Christmas Murder Mystery Party 

If you’re looking for unusual Christmas party ideas that adults will love, a Christmas murder mystery is sure to be a fun option. Assign roles to guests and see if everyone can solve the mystery by the end of the night.

16. Sparkle Christmas

For those who like to go over the top, a sparkle Christmas might be the best option. You can have a sparkly backdrop for photos, light a few sparklers and ask everyone to come in sparkly metallic outfits!

17. Make Christmas Candy

Making Christmas candy is easier than you may realize. This family Christmas party idea will allow everyone to enjoy a handmade sweet treat. You can make hard candy, Christmas bark and chocolate-dipped sweets together for a Christmas treat.

18. Christmas Campfire

What’s better than sitting warm by a fire? For this family Christmas party idea, set up the fireplace for a cozy night spent together. You can roast marshmallows and hot dogs and tell spooky Christmas stories. If you’re a fan of winter camping, you can invite friends and family to spend an evening around a campfire with you.

19. Christmas Scavenger Hunt

An engaging family Christmas party idea that guests of all ages will love is a scavenger hunt. Hide Christmas-themed items around your home and give guests a list to search for. Whoever finds the most items wins the game!

20. Christmas at the Beach

Many people think of the beach as a summer activity, but with this unusual Christmas party idea, you can host a beach-themed gathering! Bundle up well and have a bonfire while listening to Christmas music and enjoying Christmas treats. This family Christmas party idea is sure to be one of the most memorable ones.

21. Ugly Christmas Sweater Craft Party

Ugly Christmas sweaters are a staple of the season. Add a creative twist for this friend and family Christmas party idea and make it a craft party. Have everyone decorate their own Christmas sweaters with paint, pompoms, felt and other supplies. At the end of the night, display your creative designs with a festive fashion show.

Christmas Party Outfit Themes

22. Santa Claus

For this friends and family Christmas party idea, have everyone come dressed as some version of Santa. Guests can come as a Santa from around the world or their own creative take on Saint Nick.

23. Christmas Movie Character Costume

If you’re looking for Christmas party outfit themes, this one will be a crowd favorite. Host a party where everyone comes dressed as their favorite Christmas movie character. There are plenty of movies and characters to choose from, so everyone can stand out and admire the other costumes.

24. All-White Christmas

A fun friends and family Christmas party idea is an all-white party. Have everyone come to the party in creative all-white outfits to celebrate the snowy season. You can choose a casual or formal dress code depending on the kind of party you want.

25. Apres-Ski

If you can’t be on the slopes for Christmas, an apres-ski theme may be the next best thing. Have guests come dressed like they just came from skiing or snowboarding or like they’re hanging out at a chalet.

26. Christmas Tree Costumes

This is one of the most creative Christmas party outfit themes for a holiday party. Have guests come dressed in green and wrap evergreen garlands around them. With this family Christmas party idea, guests can decorate themselves and each other with handmade ornaments and turn themselves into Christmas trees.

27. Christmas Around the World

Celebrate Christmas around the world with this family Christmas party idea. Serve traditional holiday food from different countries and come dressed in outfits that can represent different countries to celebrate all the different holiday traditions.

28. Christmas Color Scheme

A simple family Christmas party idea is to have everyone come dressed in a Christmas color scheme. Set a color scheme of red, white, green and blue and have guests create outfits that feature these colors. Guests can get creative with their outfit details to make a standout look. 

29. Festive Costume Contest

Costume contests aren’t only for Halloween. For this family Christmas party idea, host a festive costume contest where guests come dressed in their most festive holiday attire. You can even get your pets involved by buying or making mini versions of the costumes. Everyone can then vote on their favorite look and win a festive-themed prize!

30. Host a Christmas Masquerade

For a more formal holiday party, host a Christmas masquerade. Have everyone come dressed in suits, dresses and masks that match their outfits. It’s a unique holiday party theme that is sure to be remembered by guests.

31. North Pole Expedition

For this fun family Christmas party idea, you can host your own North Pole expedition. Guests can come dressed as explorers or as animals you’d find in the North Pole, like polar bears, arctic foxes and snowy owls.

Christmas Party Ideas For Adults

32. Vintage Gift Swap

If you’re looking for unique holiday party ideas, consider adding a vintage touch. Instead of giving a typical holiday gift, do a vintage gift exchange. Have guests pick out gifts from a thrift or antique store for a gift swap.

33. Wine and Cheese Christmas Party

Adults will love to get together during the holiday season for a festive wine and cheese Christmas party. Set up a charcuterie board in the shape of a wreath or tree and feature festive flavors like cinnamon apples and cranberries and enjoy wine pairings while spending the evening talking.

34. Gift Wrapping Party

Christmas can be a busy time for grown-ups. With this Christmas party idea for adults, you can spend time with friends and get some of your holiday list completed. Host a gift-wrapping party with friends where you get together and wrap your families’ gifts. You can share supplies, listen to music and enjoy good food (and wine!) together.

35. Elegant Holiday Dinner Party

How do you throw a fun adult Christmas party? An elegant dinner party can be a fun way for adults to socialize during the holiday season. Craft a menu of holiday-themed dishes, have everyone come dressed up and enjoy a good meal together.

36. Wreath Making Party

Allow your creativity to flow with this friends and family Christmas party idea. Gather wreath-making supplies like garland, pinecones and ribbon and make customized wreaths you can use as decor during the holiday season.

37. Craft Christmas Cocktails

For this Christmas party idea, sip on festive drinks as you and your guests craft Christmas-themed cocktails. For a family Christmas party idea, you can make mocktails that kids can also whip up and drink.

38. Retro Throwback Christmas

This Christmas party idea for adults can take everyone down memory lane. Have a Christmas party that features movies, decor and details from Christmases past. This is a great family Christmas party idea to share childhood holiday traditions with kids as well.

39. Weekend Holiday Brunch

There’s nothing better than a weekend brunch with friends, so why not host a holiday version with festive-themed foods? Have friends over to enjoy a Christmas-themed brunch during the holiday season. A weekend brunch is also a fun family Christmas party idea for a Saturday morning with the kids.

40. Host a Holiday Game Night

Game night will always be an engaging party theme. Have your friends over for a game night and play a variety of Christmas games together. This party will have everyone laughing while competing. A themed game night will also be a great family Christmas party idea to enjoy for a little family bonding.

41. Do a Dessert Swap

One of the best parts of the holiday season is the sweets and treats. So, for this family Christmas party idea, you and your guests can make a variety of desserts. Then, do a dessert swap so everyone can try each other’s holiday treats.

Work Christmas Party Ideas

42. Host a Toy Drive

This work Christmas party idea will have you giving back to the community. During your holiday party, have everyone bring a toy to donate to a community center or a toy drive organization.

43. Black Tie Gala

Celebrate the holidays with coworkers by hosting a black tie gala. Everyone can get dressed up and spend the evening dancing and chatting. Make this a charity gala to give back to your community during the holiday season.

44. My Favorite Things

This holiday work party idea is a great way to get to know your coworkers. Every person will bring one of their favorite things associated with the holidays or simply a much-loved item. Then, everyone can share their favorite things with everyone else, so everyone gets a little treat, trinket or item. This also makes for a fun friend or family Christmas party idea.

45. Cookie Exchange

Christmas cookies are a classic part of the holiday season. Have participants bring in a few dozen Christmas cookies, then allow people to choose a few of each to take home with them. A cookie exchange also makes a fun family Christmas party idea.

46. Host a Coat Drive

Many organizations collect coats during the holiday season, so those less fortunate can be protected during the cold weather. You and your coworkers can participate in your own coat drive by having everyone bring a new or gently used coat to donate during the holiday office party. Individuals can also host a coat drive for a family Christmas party idea.

47. Do a Snack Exchange

Similar to a cookie exchange, this work family Christmas party idea has everyone bringing in a holiday-themed snack. Then, everyone can put scoops of each snack into a plastic bag to nibble on during the workday.

48. Gift Bow Backdrop

If you’re looking for decor options for your office holiday party, a gift bow backdrop will provide something fun and dynamic. You can DIY this by attaching gift bows onto a piece of plywood and setting it up against a wall to take pictures in front of. This simple backdrop also makes a great family Christmas party idea.

48. A Potluck Christmas

A potluck is a classic option for a work Christmas party. Everyone who participates will bring Christmas party food to share with coworkers in the workplace. Take a break during lunch and fill up your plate with the food coworkers made.

50. International Christmas Food Stations

Christmas is celebrated differently around the world, so why not acknowledge and celebrate that? This work Christmas party idea will be delicious and fun. Make or order international traditional Christmas foods and set them up for everyone to enjoy.

51. Desk Decorating Contest

Make your office more festive during the holiday season with a desk decorating contest. Employees can decorate their desks or cubicles to be the most festive design in the office. Everyone can then vote on their favorite designs and the winners can get prizes for the best holiday desk decorations.

52. Christmas Trivia Night

Trivia night is one of the best team bonding activities for employees. So, why not give it a fun festive twist? Host a Christmas-themed trivia night with categories like traditions from around the world, holiday movies and Christmas songs. Break into teams and compete to answer the most questions correctly. This festive trivia night also makes a family Christmas party idea.

53. Gingerbread House Building Competition

Looking for work Christmas party ideas that bring out a little friendly competition? A gingerbread house building and decorating competition is the way to go. Break into teams and build a gingerbread house, then decorate it. Once everything is built, everyone can vote on a winner. This fun competition also makes for a fun family Christmas party idea.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, it’s time to start thinking up some Christmas party ideas to make your gathering the most festive it can be. The holiday season is many people’s favorite time of the year and holiday parties are a big reason for that.

Unique friends and family Christmas party ideas can make a holiday gathering more engaging, create comforting memories and even start new holiday traditions. Try using some of these Christmas party ideas at your next gathering!

For even more fun Christmas ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!