The holiday season is a time for family gatherings, festive cheer, and lots of fun activities. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party for adults, teens, or children, the right group games can add excitement to your event and keep everyone entertained. While traditional games like Charades, Pictionary, or Secret Santa exchanges are popular staples, you might want to try something new this year. If you’re looking for unique and easy-to-play group Christmas games that require minimal setup, you’re in the right place. From hilarious storytelling games to holiday-themed relay races, here are some creative ideas for your next holiday bash.
1. The Sticky Note Story Game
One of the simplest and most entertaining games you can play at a holiday party is the Sticky Note Story Game. Also known as the Post-It Note Story Game or Sticky Note Scramble, this hilarious activity is perfect for groups of all ages and can be done with minimal preparation.
How to Play:
To play the Sticky Note Story Game, you’ll need a pad of sticky notes (like Post-Its) and a pen. Here’s how to play:
- Set Up: Place a pad of sticky notes and pens in the center of the room.
- Start the Story: The first person writes a sentence to start a story (e.g., “Once upon a time, in a snowy village…”) and places the sticky note face down on the table.
- Continue the Story: The next player reads the sentence visible on the top sticky note, writes the next part of the story, and places their sticky note on top. The next person can only see the last sentence written, and they add a new one to continue the story.
- Unveil the Story: Once everyone has contributed, the person who started the game reads the entire story aloud, starting from the first sticky note at the bottom. The result is often a hilarious and unpredictable holiday tale.
This game works well for both kids and adults and is an excellent icebreaker. You can even adapt the game to fit your Christmas theme by incorporating holiday-specific words like “Santa,” “reindeer,” or “snowman.”
Variations:
- Christmas-Themed Story: Start the story with something like “Twas the night before Christmas…” and let the group build the story.
- Speed Challenge: Set a timer for each round to make the game more challenging and competitive.
2. Christmas Charades
Charades is a classic party game, and it’s great way to get everyone involved during your Christmas gathering. The rules are simple, and it’s easy to adapt the game to fit a Christmas theme.
How to Play:
- Prepare Your Phrases: Write down Christmas-themed phrases on slips of paper (e.g., “decorating the Christmas tree,” “sledding down a hill,” “Santa Claus on a sleigh”).
- Divide Into Teams: Split the party into two teams, with one player from each team acting out a phrase at a time.
- Act It Out: Players must act out the phrase without speaking, while the other team members try to guess what it is.
- Keep Score: Award points for each correctly guessed phrase, and the team with the most points at the end wins.
Christmas Charades is a fun way to encourage laughter and creative thinking, and it’s easy to adjust based on the age group involved. For younger children, use simpler phrases, while adults can tackle more complex or humorous scenarios.
3. Christmas Trivia
Test your guests’ knowledge of all things Christmas with a fun Christmas trivia game. This game works well for larger groups and can be tailored to suit different age groups, from kids to adults.
How to Play:
- Prepare the Questions: Write down a series of Christmas trivia questions. These can be about holiday movies, songs, traditions, or history. Some examples include:
- “What year was the movie Home Alone released?”
- “In the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, how many lords are leaping?”
- “What Christmas beverage is also known as ‘milk punch’?”
- Ask Questions: Divide the group into teams or play individually. Ask questions and award points for each correct answer.
- Bonus Round: For an added challenge, you can include a “lightning round” where players must answer as many questions as possible in one minute.
Christmas trivia is a great way to get everyone thinking, and the competition adds a fun element to the game.
4. Christmas Pictionary
Pictionary is another classic game that’s perfect for holiday parties. The rules are simple: draw a word or phrase while your team tries to guess what it is. You can easily adapt this game with a Christmas twist.
How to Play:
- Prepare Your Words: Write down Christmas-related phrases or objects on slips of paper (e.g., “Christmas tree,” “frosty the snowman,” “wrapping gifts”).
- Divide Into Teams: Split your group into teams, and one player from each team will draw while the others guess.
- Draw and Guess: Set a timer (e.g., 60 seconds) for each round. The player must draw the word or phrase without using letters or numbers, and their team has to guess within the time limit.
- Keep Score: Award points for each correct guess, and the team with the most points wins.
Christmas Pictionary brings out creativity and laughter, and it’s a fantastic way to break the ice and get everyone engaged in the holiday fun.
5. Christmas Bingo
Christmas Bingo is a fun, low-effort game that can be played in large groups. It’s easy to set up and requires minimal materials, making it a great option for any holiday party.
How to Play:
- Prepare the Cards: Create Bingo cards with Christmas-themed pictures or words (e.g., “Santa Claus,” “snowman,” “gift,” “candy cane”). You can find printable Bingo templates online or make your own.
- Call Out the Items: As the caller, announce the pictures or words at random, and the players mark them on their cards.
- Win with Bingo: The first player to complete a row, column, or diagonal shouts “Bingo!” and wins a prize.
This game works well for all ages, and you can give small holiday-themed prizes for winners, such as candy canes, mini ornaments, or hot cocoa packets.
6. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
If you have a large space or even just a few rooms, a Christmas scavenger hunt can be an exciting activity for your guests. This game is perfect for kids but can be adapted for adults as well.
How to Play:
- Prepare the Clues: Write clues or riddles related to Christmas (e.g., “Find something with a jolly red suit” for Santa, or “Look for something that smells like a winter forest” for a pine-scented candle).
- Hide the Items: Place the items or clues around your home or party space.
- Start the Hunt: Divide the group into teams, and give each team the first clue. The teams must solve the clues to find the hidden items or locations.
- Race to the Finish: The first team to complete the scavenger hunt wins a prize.
A Christmas scavenger hunt is a great way to get everyone moving and thinking creatively, while also adding an element of holiday cheer.
7. Christmas Relay Races
For those with more active guests, a Christmas relay race is a fun way to get everyone moving. This can be played inside or outside, depending on the weather and space available.
How to Play:
- Set Up the Relay: Create a series of holiday-themed challenges, such as carrying a “snowball” (cotton ball) on a spoon, dressing up as Santa, or stacking gift boxes.
- Divide into Teams: Split the group into teams of 2-4 players, depending on the size of your group.
- Complete the Relay: Each team must complete the tasks in order. The team that finishes first wins.
Christmas relay races are a great way to burn off some holiday energy and have a lot of fun in the process.
Conclusion
The holiday season is all about spending time with loved ones and creating joyful memories, and the right games can help make your Christmas party unforgettable. Whether you’re hosting a family gathering, a holiday sleepover, or an office Christmas party, these easy and entertaining group games are sure to add excitement and laughter to your event. From the creative Sticky Note Story Game to the competitive Christmas Trivia, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So, gather your friends and family, pick a game, and let the holiday fun begin!
