Who says Christmas party games are only for kids? The magic of the holiday season is something that every adult can relish and enjoy. After all, who doesn’t harbor a bit of childlike wonder when it comes to Christmas? If you’re looking to light up your festivities with some entertaining adult-friendly activities, we’re your Christmas elves bringing you the ultimate list of Christmas party games tailored just for adults!
Forget run-of-the-mill holiday parties—these thrilling games will have you spiking the eggnog, donning your ugliest sweaters, and gearing up for some merry good times. These activities will break the ice, stoke nostalgia, and create new traditions, ensuring your Christmas party is remembered long after the last carol has been sung.
1. Ugly Sweater Contest
Embrace the quirky spirit of the season with the time-honored Ugly Sweater Contest! There’s nothing that screams festive fun quite like a room full of awfully decorated sweaters. This classic game encourages everyone to showcase their most hideous holiday attire, either store-bought or DIY. To ramp up the fun, you could set up categories like “Most Creative Sweater,” “Best DIY Sweater,” and “Best Thrifted Find.”
Start off by having your guests strut their stuff down a makeshift runway, complete with festive holiday tunes in the background. Let the crowd be the judge, or appoint a panel for an official vote to determine which sweater stands out the most. The winners of each category can walk away with amusing prizes, such as holiday-themed goodies or a commemorative trophy. Not only will it draw hearty laughs from everyone, but it’ll also set a fun, lighthearted tone for the rest of the evening.
2. Christmas Carol Duel
Put a twist on classic carolling with a Christmas Carol Duel. It’s part Name That Tune, part lip-sync battle, but all holiday magic! Divide your group into teams and hand out lyric sheets. Each team takes turns belting out snippets of Christmas songs — the catch? They must remember the lyrics and sing their parts with all the festive flair they can muster.
This game is perfect for revealing the secret Mariah Careys and Michael Bublés of your office or friend group. Add fun props and costumes to elevate the festivity. The duel can have rounds, with a judge or audience applause deciding the winning team for each round. And for ultimate amusement, you might even want to enlist the help of a karaoke machine and turn the whole event into a Christmas karaoke duel!
3. Name That Christmas Tune
Does your crew love holiday hits? Then Name That Tune is the ultimate challenge to add to your festivities. Prepare a playlist with catchy snippets from iconic Christmas songs—think everything from “Jingle Bells” to “All I Want for Christmas is You.”
The game plan is simple: divide your guests into teams and let the competition spark off as you play a few seconds of each tune. Teams buzz in to guess the name of the song first. This game will stir up nostalgia, test everyone’s holiday music knowledge, and without a doubt, bring out the festive carolers in all of you. Make it even more fun by throwing in bonus rounds with modern holiday hits and international Christmas songs.
4. Gift Wrapping Race
Get ready to unleash some festive fervor within your group with a thrilling Gift Wrapping Race. This activity is all about speed, precision, and creativity as participants are divided into teams and given a slew of oddly-shaped items along with wrapping paper, ribbons, and decorations.
The challenge isn’t just to wrap as many gifts as fast as possible, but to wrap them beautifully and creatively. You can add a charitable twist to the game by having the wrapped gifts donated. Prizes can be awarded for the most impeccable, humorous, and creatively-wrapped gifts. This event not only fosters a spirit of giving but also brings out hidden talents and invigorates the team spirit.
5. Christmas Movie Bingo: The Drinking Edition
Spice up your typical movie night with Christmas Movie Bingo: The Drinking Edition. Print out colorful bingo cards featuring iconic scenes or quotes from beloved Christmas movies. As you watch holiday classics, players mark off their cards when they spot the corresponding moments.
But here’s the twist: every bingo win comes with a festive sip of a special holiday beverage. This combination of a beloved Christmas tradition with everyone’s favorite party sipping game will have your guests glued to the screen, enthusiastically shouting “Bingo!” and celebrating their wins with a cheer. It’s the perfect recipe for a cozy, laugh-filled evening.
6. Christmas Storytime
Give your party a heartwarming twist with Christmas Storytime. Rediscover the charm of storytelling by inviting your guests to share their favorite festive tales, whether it’s a family tradition, a classic Christmas story, or an amusing Yuletide mishap.
Set up a comfortable, cozy corner of your event space complete with ambient lighting and perhaps a faux fireplace to amplify the charm. This activity provides a serene break from the high-energy festivities and allows everyone to connect on a personal level. Sharing stories can foster a sense of community, bring folks closer together, and rekindle the magic of the season.
7. Christmas Cocktail Mix-Off
Add a dash of sophisticated jollity with the Christmas Cocktail Mix-Off. This game is excellent for those who love to flex their mixology muscles. Invite your guests to concoct their signature festive beverages, using an assortment of holiday-themed ingredients—think peppermint, cranberries, and cinnamon.
At the end of the mix-off, set up a judging panel or have everyone cast their vote for the most tantalizing tipple of the night. You can also have a ready spot in mind to host the shindig if you’d rather let professional bartenders pamper you with their creative holiday drinks. This game encourages creativity and leaves everyone buzzing with merriment, raising a collective toast to a fantastic party.
8. Secret Santa with a Twist
Give the traditional Secret Santa a merry twist by incorporating personal memories or inside jokes into the gift-giving. Each participant selects a present that resonates with a shared experience or quirk of the recipient. This twist adds an extra layer of excitement and thoughtfulness to the gift exchange.
As gifts are unwrapped, they turn into a delightful journey down memory lane filled with laughter and stories, further strengthening bonds among guests. The room will be filled with chuckles and joyous memories, making it a memorable experience for all.
9. Blindfolded Tree Decorating
Dive into the festive challenge of Blindfolded Tree Decorating. Split your crowd into pairs, blindfold them, and hand them a variety of ornaments, tinsel, and ribbons. Give them a limited time to decorate a pre-lit tree.
It’s not just about going through the motions; it’s about working together to create something beautiful (or at least hilarious) despite the blindfold challenge. Capture the ‘before and after’ shots for memorable keepsakes and to share laughs long after the decorations are taken down.
10. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
A holiday twist on the classic pin the tail on the donkey, Pin the Nose on Rudolph is hilariously fun and easy to set up. Draw or print a big Rudolph the Reindeer poster and grab some red gift bows as noses. Blindfold and spin each participant to add to the challenge and see who can pin Rudy’s nose the closest.
This game is perfect for both breaking the ice and bringing back nostalgic glee. It’s simple, fun, and a delightful way to inject some playful competition into your festivities.
11. Handmade Christmas Cards
Remember the joy of handmade gifts? Rekindle that sentiment with a handmade Christmas card crafting session. Stock up on festive art supplies—think glitter, stickers, ribbons, and festive papers—and get crafting!
Whether you’re crafting for fun or creating cards to send out to loved ones, this activity brings everyone together, promoting camaraderie. Plus, seeing the creative results, like a pop-up reindeer in a tie, can be both hilarious and touching, leaving everyone in high spirits.
12. DIY Wreath Making
Transform your holiday get-together into a haven of creativity with DIY Wreath Making. Provide fresh greenery, festive baubles, and twinkling fairy lights for everyone to design their own wreath.
This hands-on activity promotes teamwork and serves as a delightful icebreaker, encouraging attendees to bond over their decorative decisions. At the end of the workshop, everyone gets to take home their unique handiwork, a tangible and beautiful memory of the festive fun shared.
13. Name That Scent
Why stick to traditional holiday games when you can engage everyone’s senses with Name That Scent? Gather a collection of holiday candles or essential oils with unique seasonal scents like sugar cookies, evergreen trees, and peppermint.
Blindfold participants and have them guess the scent. The quirkier the scent, the more challenging and humorous the guesses become. This game is an easy, minimalist way to engage everyone while adding a sensory experience to your holiday gathering.
14. Christmas Carol Lip Sync Battle
Bring the house down with a Christmas Carol Lip Sync Battle. Select your favorite holiday songs and let the theatrics begin. Participants channel their inner divas and rockstars, donning props and costumes to put on a show.
Whether someone is lip-syncing to “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” or attempting “All I Want for Christmas is You,” this game guarantees laughs and a memorable spectacle. It’s the perfect way to boost holiday spirits and get everyone smiling and singing along.
15. Gingerbread House Building Contest
Inspire some delicious creativity with a Gingerbread House Building Contest. Supply gingerbread kits, icing, and a variety of candies. Set a timer and let the competition begin as teams race to create the most stunning or outlandish gingerbread houses.
Not only can this be a fun and tasty challenge, but it also encourages teamwork and collective creativity. Once the constructions are complete, you can have a judging panel decide the winner or let everyone vote for their favorite house. It’s hands-on, festive, and utterly delightful.
These games are sure to fill your Christmas party with laughter, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments. So pick your favorites, gather your festive attire, and get ready to create a holiday party that will keep the Christmas spirit alive all season long!