Sometimes, planning a holiday party can be a hassle, but it doesn't have to be! If you're looking for some simple ideas for a memorable get-together, check out our list of 7 easy holiday party ideas!
1 - White elephant party
This is a classic and often a favorite. While there are a variety of ways to play White Elephant, it usually involves everyone bringing a wrapped gift, drawing for the picking order, and taking turns picking your favorite. The catch, however, is that each person gets an opportunity to steal a gift from someone else. Just make sure to agree on a price range so you don't have that one person who brings an iPad when everyone else brings socks.
2 - Ornament exchange party
An ornament exchange is basically a fun twist on the Secret Santa or White Elephant theme. Instead of random items, everyone tries to find a unique ornament to use as their gift. You can even make your own if you're feeling up to it.
3 - Ornament decorating party
Speaking of making your own ornament - if you're going to do it, why do it alone? Invite some of your friends over and make things to hang on trees together. You can find basic clear balls at any craft store to use as the base for the creation, but there's no need to limit your imagination to spherical designs. Consider providing a variety of options for the base, such as paper, wood, or cardboard cutouts in the shape of stars, snowflakes, trees, or any other winter-inspired shape you can conjure.
Stock up on glue, glitter, pipe cleaners, tinsel, or even tiny little Santa hats to give your party guests a wide range of options. If you are in need of inspiration, there are literally pages and pages of DIY ornament crafting ideas.
4 - Holiday/Christmas movie marathon
If you're going to be stuck inside during a chilly winter night, you might as well have a great movie to watch, and you might as well invite others and make a party out of it. Everyone has their favorite Christmas or holiday movie, so the only challenge you'll have is deciding which ones to watch. If you have a little extra time, you can even whip up movie-themed snacks, but popcorn is always a solid option to fall back on.
5 - Cookie decorating party
Decorating cookies is a party idea that anyone can get behind. You can pre-bake a variety of shapes for your guests to decorate with sprinkles, edible glitter (if you don't mind the cleanup), and various colors and textures of icing. If you want to give them more options, consider making the dough ahead of time and let them choose their own Christmas-themed cookie cutter.
6 - Ugly sweater crafting party
In recent years, ugly Christmas sweaters have risen in popularity. People even go so far as to have entire parties based on that theme. That can certainly be a fun idea, but why stop there? Why not open the doors to your imagination and make the ugliest Christmas sweater with your party guests? Go to your local craft store and buy a bunch of cheap basic sweaters (oversized, of course) as well as some crafting supplies, like t-shirt paints and make something delightfully tacky.
If you have a hot glue gun, you can even provide old tree ornaments and wrapping paper scraps for an added layer of craziness. Obviously, these won't hold up in the washer, but you'll at least get a few uses and a couple laughs out of them!
Or go in the opposite direction and actually make a nice sweater that you'll be happy to wear for years to come. Either way, you and your guests will have a blast.
7 - Gift wrapping party
You probably have gifts to wrap, so why not make it fun? Invite your friends over and set out a variety of wrapping and bagging options. Put on a movie or music, put out some hor d'Oeuvres, open a bottle of wine, and get to wrapping!
Obviously, you don't have to limit yourself to just one of these ideas. Mix and match to your heart's content! No matter what you do, make the most of these long winter nights and enjoy them with good company.