By metronews 
The holiday season is a time for joy, togetherness, and celebration, and one of the best ways to create lasting memories is by hosting a family-friendly Christmas party. Whether you’re hosting a large gathering or a cozy get-together, having a few fun games can add a lot of cheer and excitement to the festivities. But, with so many different age groups and personalities in the mix, it can be challenging to find games that are enjoyable for everyone.
In this blog, we’ll explore some of the best family-friendly Christmas party games that will bring out the laughter, competition, and holiday spirit. From classic party games with a Christmas twist to creative new activities, you’ll find something for everyone to enjoy. So, gather your loved ones, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and get ready for some holiday fun!
1. Christmas Charades
Charades is a timeless game that’s always a hit at family gatherings. The great thing about Christmas Charades is that you can easily tailor the game to fit the holiday theme.
How to Play:
- Split your group into two teams.
- Write down holiday-related words or phrases on small pieces of paper. These can include Christmas songs, movie titles, or common holiday activities (e.g., decorating the tree, baking cookies, etc.).
- One player from each team will take turns acting out the word or phrase while their team guesses. No talking allowed!
- The team that guesses the most correctly wins the game.
Christmas Charades is an excellent way for family members of all ages to interact and have fun, especially since it encourages creativity and plenty of laughs.
2. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
This classic game is a holiday spin on the well-known “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” and is perfect for younger children, although adults can join in too for some added fun!
How to Play:
- Create a large poster of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (or buy a ready-made one).
- Blindfold the players, and have them try to pin a red nose (using a sticker or velcro dot) onto Rudolph’s face while being spun around.
- The player who gets the nose closest to the right spot wins.
This game is simple, entertaining, and ideal for both kids and adults, making it a great choice for family-friendly holiday fun.
3. Holiday Bingo
Bingo is a game that everyone can play, and you can easily give it a festive twist by using Christmas-themed cards.
How to Play:
- Prepare bingo cards with images or words related to Christmas (e.g., Santa, snowman, Christmas tree, presents, etc.).
- Use Christmas-themed markers, such as candy canes, buttons, or colored tokens, to cover the cards.
- Call out the items (or use a bingo machine for added excitement), and the first person to fill in a complete row or column wins!
You can offer small prizes for the winners, such as candy, holiday trinkets, or Christmas ornaments. Holiday Bingo is a perfect game for all ages to enjoy together.
4. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is always a fun and active way to get people moving around and thinking. For a Christmas-themed scavenger hunt, you can hide small holiday-related items around the house or yard and give players clues to find them.
How to Play:
- Create a list of Christmas-themed items to hide, such as a candy cane, a small stocking, a Santa hat, or an ornament.
- Write clues or riddles to lead the participants to each hidden item.
- Set a time limit for how long players have to complete the hunt. The player or team that finds the most items by the end of the time limit wins.
This game is great for children, but adults will also enjoy the challenge of trying to solve the clues and find the hidden treasures.
5. Christmas Carol Pictionary
If you love drawing and singing, Christmas Carol Pictionary is the perfect game for your family Christmas party. It’s a great way to combine the fun of Pictionary with some holiday cheer.
How to Play:
- Write down the names of Christmas carols (or holiday songs) on slips of paper.
- Players take turns drawing their assigned Christmas carol while their team guesses the song.
- No words or letters are allowed – just drawings!
This game is sure to spark plenty of holiday spirit and get everyone involved, from children to grandparents, as they try to guess their favorite carols.
6. Christmas Wrapping Relay
This is a fun and fast-paced game that’s perfect for team competition.
How to Play:
- Divide your guests into teams.
- Provide each team with a roll of wrapping paper, tape, scissors, and a few small items to wrap (like a box or a toy).
- Each team has to wrap their items as quickly as possible, but they must follow the steps of wrapping: first, measure the paper, cut it, tape it, and finish the wrapping.
- The team that wraps their items neatly and quickly wins.
This game is a fun challenge and a perfect way to get everyone involved in some friendly competition.
7. Christmas Trivia
Test everyone’s knowledge of Christmas traditions, movies, and songs with a fun and competitive trivia game. This is perfect for adults, but can easily be adapted for kids by focusing on simpler questions.
How to Play:
- Create a list of trivia questions related to Christmas. Some examples include:
- What is the name of the reindeer with a red nose?
- In what city was Jesus born?
- What year was the movie “Home Alone” released?
- Take turns asking questions, and award points for correct answers.
- The person or team with the most points at the end of the game wins a prize!
This game is a great way to keep everyone entertained while testing their Christmas knowledge.
8. Christmas Stocking Toss
This game is simple to set up and a hit with both kids and adults alike.
How to Play:
- Hang several Christmas stockings or small bags on a wall or from a clothesline.
- Players take turns tossing small, soft items (such as bean bags, stuffed toys, or rolled-up socks) into the stockings.
- Each stocking can be worth a different point value, depending on its difficulty level or distance from the toss line.
- The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
This game is perfect for working off some of that holiday energy and provides a lot of fun for all ages.
9. Holiday Freeze Dance
Perfect for kids (but fun for adults too), Holiday Freeze Dance is an energetic and silly game that gets everyone moving to festive tunes.
How to Play:
- Play some classic Christmas music, like “Jingle Bell Rock” or “Frosty the Snowman.”
- When the music plays, everyone dances.
- When the music stops, everyone must freeze in place.
- Anyone caught moving during the freeze gets out.
- The last person left standing wins the game.
This game is especially great for younger children and helps them burn off extra energy.
10. Christmas Bingo: Gift Edition
Add a fun twist to the classic Bingo game by turning it into a gift exchange.
How to Play:
- Instead of regular Bingo cards, use gift-themed cards, where each space is a different item (e.g., a pair of mittens, a holiday mug, etc.).
- As you call out items, players can mark them off their card.
- At the end of the game, each player wins a holiday-themed prize for completing their card.
This is an excellent way to make Bingo even more festive while spreading some holiday cheer.
Conclusion
No matter how big or small your family Christmas party may be, incorporating a few family-friendly Christmas party games can make the day even more memorable. From competitive scavenger hunts and trivia challenges to creative games like Christmas Charades and Pictionary, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
These games aren’t just about winning—they’re about creating shared memories, sharing laughter, and embracing the holiday spirit. So this holiday season, don’t just focus on the presents; focus on the experience, the connection, and the fun that family-friendly Christmas games bring to the table. Happy holidays and may your celebrations be filled with joy and laughter!