95+ Festive Ideas to Throw the Best Christmas Party Ever
Are you planning to host a Christmas party or Friendsmas gathering and are looking alllll the ideas? I’ve got you covered! I’ve done the hard work for you and am sharing the BEST ideas for party decorations, Christmas themed food and treats, Christmas party themes, activities, games, and favors! Keep reading to get all you need to throw a Christmas party to remember! And, grab a FREE Christmas party planner at the end of the post!
Epic Christmas Party Ideas – EVERYTHING You Need
If you are feeling a little bit of stress about throwing a Christmas party, I get it! I’ve thrown a few parties myself, and I know that feeling of angst, just wanting every detail to be perfect.
Will I have enough food?
Will everyone have fun?
How can I make this a special night?
If you can relate to any of those feelings, I hope this post will alleviate some of that stress.
It can feel overwhelming to try to plan allll of the details. Today, I hope to simplify that for you.
I’ve gathered the BEST ideas for you, in all 4 essential categories:
1| Party Decorations
2| Christmas Themed Party Food
3| Christmas Party Entertainment: Themes, Games & Activities
4| Christmas Party Favors
And if you’re looking for just one specific aspect of Christmas party planning, I’ve actually separated these categories into individual posts! So, if you prefer, just follow these links!
15+ Festive Christmas Party Decorations for that Little Extra
60+ Amazing Christmas Themed Party Appetizers and Desserts
25+ Super Fun Christmas Party Themes, Games, & Activities
15+ Creative Christmas Party Favors Your Guests Will Adore
However, if you want to see alllll the Christmas party ideas, read on!
I hope you’ll find ALL you need right here, to save you precious time and energy searching for it all yourself.
So let’s get to it!
Gorgeous Christmas Party DECORATION Ideas
More than any time of year, Christmas itself makes party decorating pretty easy. If your house is at all decorated for Christmas, you’ve won most of the decoration battle! Even if you don’t decorate a lot, a pretty Christmas tiered tray can be just what your party space needs!
(If you need some help with Christmas decorating, take a look here! And look here if you’re decorating for Christmas on a budget!)
However, if you want to add a little extra to your Christmas bash or Friendmas party, check out these fabulous Christmas party decorating ideas below!
16 Festive Christmas Party Decorations
These are absolutely stunning! What an elegant addition to party decor for the holidays!
This is a super sweet idea if you're looking to decorate a table or create personalized place settings for your party!
These bead ornaments would look so fun on a Christmas table next to a place setting or used to decorate doorways or windows!
If you love a cozy, rustic feel for your party, you can create these simple candle displays with a few items inside a mason jar or garden bowl (from Dollar Tree!). Gorgeous ambiance for just a few dollars.
This is such a fun and festive idea! I can see these hanging from the ceiling or over a window pane or doorway! Easily customizable to your Christmas party color scheme!
If you love all the white paper decorations for your own winter wonderland, you'll love this one! All of these gorgeous decorations - paper chains, lanterns, snowflakes and more were made from just ONE ream of paper! Love, love, love this idea! It's absolutely magical!
One of my favorite DIYs! If you want a classy, minimalist feel for your party, these decorations are cozy and classy!
If you like the idea of snowflakes but paper isn't your thing, how about trying this DIY made with craft sticks? Yup - just popsicle sticks alone created this gorgeous piece of Christmas party decor! What a stunning effect!
Hanging ornaments from the ceiling over a food or dining table is so fun and festive! A coordinated set of ornaments are super-inexpensive and the result is absolutely stunning! Ornaments also look fun and festive hanging from a chandelier (pic of that inside this post as well!).
Can you believe these are balloons! Such a festive idea that is sure to bring a 'wow!' from every guest!
Dress up a plain wall and make a gorgeous festive backdrop! This works wonderfully using some curtains, sheer panels or even tablecloths along with a banner and ornaments or even balloons! Let the creative juices flow!
This is such a simple DIY but gives that little extra touch! Use these candy cane holders at place settings or for identifying snacks and treats at your food tables!
Now isn't this just gorgeous!!! This is an absolutely stunning and functional decor piece for your party that shows you went just a little bit extra!
Here's an idea that you can use for a sit down dinner or a buffet style party - change up a traditional table cloth or runner with a festive winter scarf! This adds just a little bit extra cozy to your party decor!
Hanging white lights always make a dramatic effect! Include Christmas wreaths or hanging ornaments for a truly dramatic and cozy effect.
This is such a cozy winter decoration idea for a Christmas party! Simple to create with a few pairs of winter mittens, greens, and pine cones! But it' creates such a warm and inviting atmosphere!
I've used dried orange slices in a number of ways - as part of table garland, in a decorative bowl with greens, hanging from a mantel or a window, in a wreath, as table scatter... there are endless ways to use dried oranges, and they ALWAYS get a fantastic reaction from people who see them!
Delicious Christmas-Themed PARTY TREATS and FINGER FOODS
There’s a whole range of food for a Christmas party. You might be planning a sit-down dinner, a buffet style dinner, or maybe just a lot of grazing on appetizers, finger foods, and desserts.
Any way you plan it is great – whatever maximizes your time with your guests!
Below, I’ve linked up 25 ideas for finger foods and sweets (plus a drink or two – for 30+ non-alcoholic Christmas mocktails and hot drinks, click here!). All of these selections are Christmas-themed – so they will contribute to the overall Christmas-y feel of the party!
(For non-Christmas specific appetizers, take a look at these slow cooker party foods or delicious individually served appetizers!)
25+ Delicious Christmas Party Treats & Finger Foods
I rarely drink but I love a good Christmas sangria around the holidays! This one is made with spicy red wine, orange juice, soda water, and Christmas spices.
This is a light and fruity drink that's made with just 5 ingredients and perfect for your drink table! Delete the champagne if you're looking to make a kid-friendly (and pregnant mama!) version!
Simple, 2-ingredient (more if you want!) cookie cutter quesadillas! These are so easy to make wand a great last-minute appetizer idea! Perfect for a festive kids' snack - a finger food they'll actually eat! Fun, festive, and a cinch!
I'm all about the cute Christmas themed appetizers! You can never go wrong with bread, and this idea in the shape of a Christmas tree is fun and festive!
If you want to level up a little, try a Christmas tree bread appetizer made with pizza dough and spinach dip! Delicious!
This is one of my favorite appetizers to bring to a Christmas party! It's so simple to put together and perfect for last-minute! No cooking involved!
Here's another version of a caprese appetizer that is even easier! You don't even need to slice! It's super-festive as wreath-shaped appetizer!
Charcuterie boards are a hit for any party - but this is especially festive - and beautiful - when it is create in the shape of a Christmas wreath!
Here's another way you can do a charcuterie board for a Christmas party! Try them both if you're feeling a little extra Christmas spirit!
As an Italian, antipasto was a regular item at all of our gatherings! This is such a fun way to serve all the antipasto goodies in a creative and gorgeous way!
All it takes is a little green food coloring and some chopped peppers to create a deviled egg appetizer that is just a bit extra!
Cookie cutters are for more than just cookies! Use your favorite Christmas cookie cutter to serve yummy finger sandwiches to your guests.
How adorable is this?!? If you have mini-star cookie cutters, you can assemble a Christmas tree appetizer using star-shaped ingredients. Love it!
There's something about cranberry finger foods around the holiday season! This is a delectable treat that every person will just swoon over.
What a fun way to create a puff pastry! Make these sweet or savory - either way, they are just a delightful addition to the party food table.
Fruit is always a welcome addition to a food table - a little burst of healthiness among all the rich treats. Serve refreshing fruit using Christmas colors in the shape of a wreath! What a fun idea!
This is such an easy dessert to put together, using Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes with cream cheese and Cool Whip! It is served in an individual mini-tray with dippers, for a quick, grab-and-go treat at the dessert table!
Outrageously Festive (& Easy!) S’mores Christmas Charcuterie Board
This is such a fun and festive idea! And best of all - it's so easy! No baking required! This Christmas version of a S'mores charcuterie board will dazzle your guests with a tabletop firepit and adorable Christmas Peeps! Great for kids and adults!
This little sweet treat is easy to make and perfect for a little sweet nibble when you don't want to overindulge.
For all the party-attenders who are snackers, this is a great idea to grab a handful of Christmas popcorn that is just right for noshing.
Nothing says the Christmas season like hot cocoa! A hot cocoa bar is always a fun addition to a Christmas party!
I've made this one myself for several parties and it's always a hit! Who doesn't love Little Debbie Christmas snack cakes? Even better in a yummy dip!
These festive little treats are easy to make and great for a little sweet finger food!
Peppermint bark is always a hit and a quintessential Christmas treat! One batch goes such a long way, too!
How cute are these? Bake the donuts yourself or take a shortcut, grab some storebought and decorate yourself!
What a fun treat for the snack table! Create these adorable milk bottles with Christmas cookies for a festive dessert! And it's not only kids who will love these!
This is such an easy recipe - these delicious cookies are made with cake mix! Adorable to the eye, delicious in the tummy!
This is such a good idea! A very creative way to present delicious Christmas chocolate!
Fun and Festive Christmas Party THEMES, GAMES, & ACTIVITIES
This is probably the part of party-planning that stresses me out the most.
What are we going to do the whole time?!?
Is everyone going to have fun?
Will this be totally lame and boring?
If you need help in that department, I’ve got you covered!
You’ll find:
1| Themes (e.g. Ugly Christmas Sweaters)
2| Activities (e.g. making an ornament)
3| Games (you know what those are!)
I’ve also included some game ideas that you can all play as a group, as well as some printable activities that you can leave on the table for guests to busy themselves or to play together as a group game. These ideas work for small groups and Bible studies, work holiday parties, and Friendmas with your best people.
I’m positive you’ll find more than a few ideas to keep your guest entertained and happy!
Most of these ideas are suited for adults and kids, or can be slightly modified to suit either!
25+ Super Fun Christmas Party Themes, Games, and Activities
If you have a favorite color scheme for Christmas, go all out! This adorable Chrismas party had food, decor, and favors all in the red, black, white buffalo check theme! Adorable!
Here's another gorgeous spin from Jessica on a color themed Christmas party - this time, in all white! A spectacular winter wonderland!
If you've never been to a 'Favorite Things' party, don't miss out! This is a super-fun way to include a gift exchange - such a fun idea for a Christmas party!
Lots of fun ideas in this post for a Christmas movie party - ideas to go along with lots of different Christmas movie and tips to make this a night to remember!
When I lived in New York, a Christmas Cookie exchange was an annual tradition! Check out this post for details on how to make this happen!
This is another fun Christmas party activity involving cookies - especially if it feels like too much for your people to bake ahead of time! So many great tips in this post to make this party a success! Good for kids and grownups too!
Ugly sweater Christmas parties have become a modern tradition! This post includes everything you need to throw your own fun version of this trendy theme!
A photo booth at a party is always a hit! Here, you can download and print all kinds of cute Christmas photo booth props and let the fun take care of itself!
This is a super-fun activity you can do at your Christmas party - and each guest will have a memento to take home with her!
Making DIY Christmas ornaments is a fun way to bring your people together at a Christmas party (this particular one is an easy Christmas craft made from an upcycled sweater!) You'll find all kinds of fun ideas for DIY Christmas ornaments in this post!
A gingerbread house decorating is a great way to entertain guests a Christmas party! Nothing brings out the kid in all of us like recreating this favorite childhood Christmas activity!
This is such a fun (and free) game idea for a Christmas party! Think of it as a mini intro to a true escape room game, with puzzles to solve in order to unlock a gift. Just love it!
If you're looking for the whole Escape Room experience with more props (and prep), here are 7 puzzles that need to be solved to 'escape!'
This is a great idea for a Christmas party! I actually did something very similar at my church's ladies Christmas party (minus the sip, lol). Super fun for all skill levels, even beginners!
If you love creating new essential oil blends, why not bring the girls together to create some for Christmas? You can use this time together to also create essential oil DIY gifts These can be roller balls, room sprays, or other essential oil simple gift ideas!
There's nothing wrong with your standard White Elephant Gift Exchange. However, if you want to put a fun spin on it, try these printable cards to mix things up a little!
I've played this game at several parties, and it's a hit every time! Wrap little gifts in a huge ball of Saran Wrap and frenzied unwrapping begin! This particular version adds a fun twist!
This came can be adapted for kids or grown-ups, depending on what prizes are inside the cups! My sons played this at a Halloween party and it's so much fun!
This is another game that is fun both for kids and grownsup! There's no time like Christmas to bring out the kid in all of us with silly Christmas games!
If Minute-to-Win-It games are your jam, here are 25 options for Christmas version games!
I have so many memories playing Scattergories when I was in high school and college! This free printable Christmas version can help your guest make new memories playing this old favorite.
Free Printable Christmas Charades: Family-Friendly Songs & Movies
If you love Charades, this has a fun Christmas spin! In this free printable version, you'll find titles of your favorite Christmas movies and songs! All items are family-friendly choices. You also get a blank page to create your own. This can also be played as a fun game of Pictionary!
Another cross between two childhood favorites - Telephone and Pictionary! Keep it Christmas-themed for even more holiday fun.
Bingo is a fun and easy game, no matter who, no matter what time of year! This is a simple and stress free way to add a little entertainment to your Christmas party!
Think of this game as a mix of Christmas trivia and Bingo! Super fun!
Fun Christmas categories include traditions, food, entertainment and more! Use these questions as a stand alone activity (printables included) or as a fun, interactive game!
Would You Rather games never get old! Grab this free printable set for loads of laughter at your Christmas party.
Classy and Tasteful Christmas PARTY FAVORS
I definitely don’t think Christmas party favors are a necessity. You’ve definitely done enough in hosting!
However, if you want to do a little extra and make your guests feel extra-special, I’ve got ideas for you! These are all DIY type favors or ones you can put together easily and inexpensively.
Favors really put your hospitality over the top, and I know that if you choose to go this route, you’ll guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness so much.
***Many of these mason jar DIY Christmas gifts would be cute options for favors as well! Christmas candy and Christmas ornaments also make great party favors as well!
17 Creative Christmas Party Favors
These are elegant and classy chocolate covered Oreo pops made with gold star sprinkles, sanding sugar, and edible gold dust. It comes with a Bible verse tag highlight the Star of Bethlehem, making it especially perfect for a Christian gathering!
These chocolate spoons are always a hit. It's a simple but gorgeous and impressive way to thank your guest for coming.
You can create these favors for guests, even if you're not having a Grinch-themed Christmas party!
Hot cocoa bombs have been a trendy DIY gift idea for several years now - your guests will absolutely love going home with one (or more!) of these tasty beauties.
DIY Christmas Stovetop Potpourri (& Mason Jar Gift) + Free Printable Gift Tag
This is one my personal favorite gifts to give at Christmas. It is an incredibly thoughtful favor to send guests home with - and they are so easy to put together!
Nativity Christmas Story Trail Mix (Mason Jar Gift+ Free Printable Tag)
Another easy treat to send home with guests! It's super-easy to assemble and keeps the focus in the right place for Christmas!
A homemade ornament is such a sweet idea for a Christmas party favor. Create this one or another of your choosing!
A super adorable (and witty) way to say thank you to your guests for joining you!
I'd never say no to edible cookie dough, but this gingerbread version? How adorable!
A Christmas scented sachet is a super-thoughtful gift! This post includes 3 different recipes (all using brown rice! Genius!) as well as the free printables you need.
I love this idea so much! Not only is it beautiful for a place setting decoration, but it makes a lovely gift for guests take home (and use in their own Christmas decor!).
This has been one of my favorite crafts for years! This version of a salt dough ornament is not only festive but elegant and classy as well!
Chocolate covered pretzel rods, Christmas edition, always make wonderful favors! That mix of salty and sweet... sooo good! You can grab these free printable toppers and cards to make the gift extra special!
This is a favor where a little goes a long way! Make this sweet treat in bulk and give out in adorable Christmas bags. This one is always loved and appreciated!
What a clever way to give out Christmas cookies as a gift! The younger generation might not know what a CD is, but Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials will appreciate the nostalgia!
I love this idea for a Christmas party favor! It's gorgeous, useful, and something that guests will love to go home with.
This is a simple gift to create but looks amazing! Create your own decorated mason jar and fill with fairy lights! A gorgeous Christmas luminary!
Everyone loves a Christmas treat to take home! These 2-ingredient coconut snowballs are not only delicious but are adorably presented as 'snowcones!' Yummy and festive!
I hope you found some useful ideas here! It can be very stressful to host a Christmas party, but I hope I took some of that off your shoulders today!
I’m sure that no matter what direction you go, your guests will love you for your thoughtfulness, kindness, and generosity.
More Christmas-y Ideas for Holiday Season
If you need more ideas or inspiration for the Christmas or celebrating, check out these posts below!
30+ Classy But Cheap Neighbor Christmas Gifts +Free Printable Tags
100+ DIY Gifts for Friends (So Good You Want to Keep)
35 Easy Christmas Gifts to Make in Bulk
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