No Christmas party is truly complete without games to entertain guests, spark laughter, and bring everyone closer together. Whether you’re hosting a cozy holiday gathering or a large festive bash, adding some fun games can break the ice, create memorable moments, and ensure that everyone has a blast. While many of us may have dreaded wedding or bridal shower games in the past, Christmas parties are a perfect opportunity to embrace the joy of games with both kids and adults alike. These holiday games provide a fun way to mix socializing with some friendly competition, so everyone can have a good time!
Here’s a list of 20 fantastic Christmas party games for adults and kids that will keep your holiday festivities filled with joy, laughter, and a bit of friendly rivalry. You can enjoy these games during your Christmas Cookie Exchange or any other holiday get-together!
1. Christmas Carol Pictionary
A classic game with a festive twist, Christmas Carol Pictionary is an excellent icebreaker for both kids and adults. Break your guests into teams and provide each team with a pad of paper and a pen. One player from each team picks a Christmas carol written by the host, then tries to draw clues that represent the song. The first team to guess the carol correctly wins a point. The team with the most points after several rounds wins the game!
Supplies Needed:
- Paper and pens
- List of Christmas carols
2. What’s in the Box?
This guessing game is simple, yet effective at creating suspense and excitement. Place small items inside a jewelry-sized box, and wrap it up securely. Each player takes turns feeling the box and guessing what’s inside based on the shape and texture. This game can be adapted with various themes, such as Christmas-themed objects like ornaments or candy. The person who guesses the most correctly wins the game.
Supplies Needed:
- Small items from around the house
- A small gift box
- Blindfolds (optional)
3. Christmas Bingo
Create Bingo cards featuring holiday-themed items like Christmas trees, snowflakes, and Santa. As the host calls out items, players mark them on their cards. The first person to complete a row (or any set pattern) yells “Bingo!” and wins a prize. This game can be easily adapted for kids by using simpler images and for adults by including holiday phrases or movies.
Supplies Needed:
- Printable Bingo cards
- Markers or chips
4. Christmas Charades
Christmas Charades is a timeless game that everyone loves. Write down various Christmas-related actions, movies, or songs on pieces of paper and place them in a bowl. Players take turns picking a slip and acting out the prompt without speaking, while the other guests guess. You can add specific challenges for older players, like acting out Christmas movie scenes or doing a quick Santa impersonation!
Supplies Needed:
- Christmas-themed prompts written on paper
5. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
This holiday variation of the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” game is perfect for kids and adults alike. Blindfolded players must try to pin a red nose onto a large picture of Rudolph the reindeer. The person who gets the nose closest to the correct spot wins the game. For added fun, you can time each turn to see who can do it fastest!
Supplies Needed:
- Large picture of Rudolph
- Red noses (sticky notes or construction paper)
- Blindfolds
6. Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Set up a Christmas-themed scavenger hunt in your home or yard. Create a list of items for players to find, such as a snow globe, a candy cane, or a Christmas ornament. Players race against each other to find all the items on the list within a set time frame. This game can be adapted for both kids and adults by adjusting the difficulty of the items.
Supplies Needed:
- List of Christmas-themed items
- Prizes for winners
7. Christmas Tree Relay Race
This fun and active game involves teams of players racing to decorate a Christmas tree. Set up a mini tree and divide players into teams. Each player must take turns running to the tree, hanging a decoration, and running back to tag the next teammate. The first team to completely decorate their tree wins!
Supplies Needed:
- Mini Christmas trees
- Decorations (baubles, tinsel, etc.)
8. Guess the Christmas Scent
Blindfold the players and have them smell various Christmas-themed scents, such as cinnamon, pine, peppermint, and gingerbread. Players must guess the scent. The person with the most correct guesses wins a festive prize!
Supplies Needed:
- Different Christmas scents (candles, essential oils, spices)
- Blindfolds
9. Christmas Carol Lip Sync Battle
Encourage your guests to let their inner performer shine with a lip-sync battle to classic Christmas carols. Players choose their favorite holiday song and perform it without singing, while others try to guess the carol being “sung.” The most entertaining performance wins the competition.
Supplies Needed:
- A playlist of Christmas carols
- Music equipment (optional)
10. Holiday Movie Trivia
Host a Christmas movie trivia game to test your guests’ knowledge of holiday films. Prepare a list of questions about popular Christmas movies, such as Home Alone, Elf, or The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Players take turns answering, and the person with the most correct answers wins a holiday-themed prize.
Supplies Needed:
- Christmas movie trivia questions
- Prizes for winners
11. Christmas Sock Toss
Set up a basket or bucket and have players try to toss Christmas socks or small bean bags into it from a distance. Each successful toss counts as a point, and the person with the most points at the end wins. This is a simple but enjoyable game for guests of all ages.
Supplies Needed:
- Christmas socks or bean bags
- Basket or bucket
12. Holiday Pictionary
Similar to Christmas Carol Pictionary, this game involves drawing various Christmas-themed objects or activities (like decorating a tree or building a snowman) while others guess. You can make the game more challenging by adding specific holiday-related phrases or movies.
Supplies Needed:
- Paper and pens
- Christmas-themed prompts
13. Snowball Toss
Create a snowball toss game using cotton balls as snowballs. Set up targets (such as cups or buckets) and have players take turns tossing the snowballs into the targets. For added difficulty, try placing the targets at varying distances. This game can be played indoors or outdoors.
Supplies Needed:
- Cotton balls (snowballs)
- Targets (cups, baskets, or buckets)
14. Christmas Bingo with a Twist
Make Christmas Bingo even more exciting by adding a twist: instead of calling out the items on the card, create clues for each one. For example, “This item is used to decorate the tree” (for a star). The first player to fill their card wins!
Supplies Needed:
- Printable Bingo cards
- Clue cards
15. Reindeer Antler Ring Toss
Create antlers out of construction paper or pool noodles and place them on a person’s head. Then, players must toss rings or hoops onto the antlers. The person who lands the most rings on the antlers wins the game.
Supplies Needed:
- Antler headband (paper or foam)
- Rings or hoops
16. Jingle Bell Shake
For this game, tie a jingle bell to each player’s waist or ankle using a ribbon or string. The goal is for players to shake and move in such a way that their jingle bell makes noise. Players with the loudest jingle bell shakes win a prize.
Supplies Needed:
- Jingle bells
- Ribbon or string
17. Christmas Bingo with Candies
Instead of using traditional bingo markers, use small pieces of candy, such as M&Ms or gumdrops, to mark the cards. This adds a sweet twist to the game and is a great way to treat your guests!
Supplies Needed:
- Printable Bingo cards
- Candy pieces to mark the cards
18. Christmas Tree Decorating Contest
Split your guests into teams and provide each with a mini Christmas tree and a variety of decorations. Set a time limit, and let the teams decorate their trees. The best-decorated tree wins a prize!
Supplies Needed:
- Mini Christmas trees
- Decorations (baubles, tinsel, garlands)
19. Holiday Word Scramble
Create a list of scrambled Christmas-related words and have your guests unscramble them. The person who can unscramble the most words in a set time frame wins the game.
Supplies Needed:
- List of scrambled Christmas words
20. Pass the Present
Wrap a small gift in multiple layers of wrapping paper. Guests sit in a circle and pass the gift around while music plays. When the music stops, the person holding the gift removes one layer of paper. The person who unwraps the final layer gets to keep the gift!
Supplies Needed:
- A small gift
- Wrapping paper
Conclusion
These 20 Christmas party games for adults and kids are sure to add excitement and joy to your holiday celebrations. Whether you’re playing traditional games with a Christmas twist or trying out something new and creative, there’s something for everyone. Add a little friendly competition, throw in some fun prizes, and watch your guests bond, laugh, and make lasting memories. So go ahead—bring out those games and let the holiday fun begin!
