20 Christmas Party Theme Ideas for the Best Celebration Yet
Let the festivities begin.
The holidays are exciting for a handful of reasons — the lights! the presents! the cookies! — but there's one thing in particular that everyone looks forward to: all the epic parties. It's never too early to start planning a festive get-together, and these themes will leave your guests wishing the celebration lasted all year long.
Holiday Talent Show
From belting out holiday hits to showing off candy cane-twirling abilities, your guests will have a laugh-filled night at your very own holiday talent show.
Holiday Movie Marathon
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.
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Worst Present Party
Instead of spending money trying to outdo your friends on the best present in the gift exchange, aim to have the worst. There's nothing funnier than opening up a bunch of horrible presents — then trying to figure out what to do with them after.
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Scrooge Party
Sick of all the holiday music playing 24/7? Take a break for a night with a holiday party fit for a Scrooge with Chinese takeout, top 40 songs, and no sparkling lights in sight.
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Holiday Potluck Party
Tell each friend to bring a dish and settle in for a get-together fit for foodies. But, this isn't just another Thanksgiving: See who can make the sweetest sugar-loaded Christmas dessert. (Extra bonus for red and green sprinkles.)
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White Christmas Party
Throw on your best snow-colored attire for a true White Christmas party. There's only one rule: Don't spill the red wine.
Christmas in Vegas
Bring Sin City to your home with a festive game-filled get-together. And remember: What happens at a Vegas-themed party stays at a Vegas-themed party.
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Ugly Sweater Party
Is it even the holidays without an ugly sweater party? Have your guests take things up a notch this year and turn it into a contest. The winner gets dibs on dessert.
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Bad Santa Party
Have your guests come to your party dressed up in Santa garb and get your celebration on in the most adult way possible: lots of drinks, lots of dancing, and lots of kissing under the mistletoe.
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Petmas Party
If all your friends have dog children, let them bring their pups along for a pet-themed party. Bonus points for any pair that wears matching sweaters.
Christmas Costume Party
All holiday-themed costumes are allowed at this theme party. The more creative, the better — and anyone who just sticks a bow on their head gets an automatic "boo!" from the crowd.
Reverse Christmas in July
Unlike celebrating Christmas in the middle of the summer, this time you're taking the heat to the holidays. Have your guests wear their best beach attire, and fire up the hot tub.
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Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
Who doesn't love a little friendly competition? Find out which of your friends has been hiding some gingerbread house architecture skills — and who should stick to their day job.
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Christmas Karaoke
Grab a karaoke machine and get your friends together for a holiday song throwdown. With the help of a few Christmas-themed cocktails, your friends won't be able to tell the difference between you and Mariah Carey — promise.
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Holiday Trivia Night
Break your friends up into teams and go head-to-head with some holiday-themed trivia, from the best Christmas flicks to naming all of Santa's reindeer.
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Christmas Cookie Swap
Christmas cookies are undeniably one of the best parts of the holidays, so why not have an entire party based around them? Tell your guests to bring a plate of their favorite recipe — then spend the evening trying every single one.
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Ornament Decorating Party
Sometimes it's fun to get some craft time in — with a little wine, of course. Buy a few packs of plain ornaments and art supplies (paint, glitter — you name it!) and have your friends decorate something they can take home and cherish forever.
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Christmas Cocktail Party
An entire party for the purpose of drinking multiple holiday-themed cocktails? Yeah, sounds like a hit. Get creative with your menu — whether it's cranberry Moscow Mules or peppermint martinis — and encourage guests to invent their own drinks. Then host a taste-testing competition to see whose festive beverage beats the rest.
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Ladies' Night Christmas Party
Leave your boyfriends and husbands at home and dress up super fancy for nobody but yourselves. Make a super nice Christmas (or holiday) dinner, drink champagne, and celebrate your BFFs. Then, do a quirky white elephant gift exchange. Make a day of it by getting blowouts and manis beforehand.
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