Have yourself a merry little Christmas by inviting friends, old and new, over to celebrate the holiday season with these fun and festive Christmas party ideas! We’ve rounded up some of our favourite ideas to make prepping for parties as fun as throwing them. So, settle in for a day of holiday primping and prepping or movie marathoning. Just don’t forget your favourite winter drink recipe and a slice of fruitcake.
Throw It Back
Remember how fun it was to go to a winter wonderland dance as a kid? Relive that magic -minus the awkward phase and curfew- with this themed party. Ask your friends to wear ‘80s or ‘90s-style formalwear and create a photo booth that mimics the one in your high school gym. Then clear the way for a dance floor and play some throwback hits.
What to serve: Since this party is reminiscent of a school dance, set up a buffet table of easy finger foods. Popcorn chicken in cheesy waffle cups should speak to your teenage self.
Plan a Pajama Party
Ask your guests to put the least amount of effort into their wardrobes as possible- by showing up in their pajamas. As long as their PJs are holiday-themed, they’ll fit right into a cozy setting of fuzzy blankets, floor pillows and maybe even a small fort. Then, turn on classic holiday films like White Christmas or The Holiday and have everyone gather around.
What to serve: Keep the menu limited to things that can be easily shared during a movie marathon. Popcorn and candy are must-haves!
Try a Tropical Escape
Perfect for the Malaysian weather, pull out your bathing suits! Make sure your guests know to show up in vacation-ready outfits – think frayed denim, tank tops, and sunglasses- and deck your halls with island-inspired decor. You can also make a photo booth using raffia and fake palms, too.
What to serve: As part of your tropical theme, your dishes should be colourful, flavourful and perfect for a day at the beach.
Host a Holiday Happy Hour
If you want to gather your friends for a lighthearted party that won’t take up a full night, open your home for happy hour. Serve holiday-themed big batch cocktails and appetisers and stick to a set time in the early evening. You can also put a football game on in the background or set up a place for darts.
What to serve: Since this party is all about cocktails, make sure guests have a few to choose from. Don’t forget the non-alcoholic options for variety!
Host a Classic Dinner Party
This party idea is all about the cosy feeling of good friends and an even better meal. Keep the guest list intimate since you’ll be designing a full menu. Be sure to include an appetiser and dessert and have some conversation topics picked out for the main course, too.
What to serve: Stick to comforting dishes.
Opt for a Movie-Themed Costume Party
Everyone has a favourite holiday movie and this party idea asks guests to show up dressed as their favourite characters. For instance, a group can come dressed as the gang from A Christmas Story, another can personify the Grinch and someone else can recreate the scream of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone. If your friends enjoy Halloween, this gives them another opportunity to make the most of their costume ideas. Be sure to play some movies in the background as well.
What to serve: Try to keep the menu specific to various foods from these movies. Kevin McCallister loves cheese pizza, so you can have a pizza party as well!
Get Crafty with a Holiday Card-Decorating Party
Calling all crafters! Set up a photo booth and a table of supplies- like cardstock, glitter, stencils, and stickers- and ask your friends over to make different holiday cards from the images. Be sure to remind your friends to have addresses ready, too, since you’ll also hand out envelopes and stamps for the finishing touches. In fact, end the party by walking over to the nearest post office and depositing your creations together.
What to serve: Keep the menu light for this party since most of the time will be spent working on the cards.
Break Out the Ugly Sweaters
Sometimes, the best time for a get-together is during the day- especially if mimosas are involved. Put a twist on the ugly sweater party trend and make it attire for an at-home brunch. Serve up various classic dishes, like waffles and cinnamon rolls, and then offer multiple types of mimosas, too. In addition to orange juice, consider offering grapefruit juice and pomegranate juice.
What to serve: Brunch classics are the name of the game, like coffee cinnamon rolls with maple cream cheese icing.
Decorate-the-Tree Party
Instead of decorating your tree on your own, invite your friends over to help you string lights and place ornaments. As a thank you for their help, have snacks handy. You can’t go wrong with charcuterie.
What to serve: Beyond the cheeseboard, set out other snack-worthy items like popcorn and trail mix, and sparkling water or iced tea to wash it all down.
Make a Hot Chocolate Bar
Warm everyone up with homemade hot chocolate. Go artisanal with a selection of gourmet hot cocoa mixes or Milo for a dose of nostalgia and homemade marshmallows.
What to serve: Balance out sweet beverages with opposite flavours and interesting textures, like chips and pretzels.