The holiday season is the perfect time to get together with your closest friends and celebrate the joys of the season. But let’s be real—sometimes the usual cookie swaps and gift exchanges can feel a little too predictable. This year, why not spice up your Friendsmas party with some fresh and fun ideas?
Whether you want to go all-out with a themed bash or keep it low-key with cozy activities, there’s something for every vibe and personality. In this post, we’ll explore 19 unique Friendsmas party ideas that are sure to keep everyone entertained, happy, and making memories all season long.
1. Host a Christmas Movie Marathon
Who doesn’t love a good holiday movie? But this year, take it up a notch by creating a themed movie marathon for your Friendsmas celebration. You can choose a mix of classic films like Home Alone or Elf alongside some new releases.
Want to make it even more fun? Create a cozy movie-watching setup with plenty of blankets, pillows, and even a popcorn bar! Add a few hot cocoa stations or festive snacks to make the experience extra special.
2. Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest
Forget just baking cookies—turn it into a full-on competition! Set up a cookie decorating station with plenty of frosting, sprinkles, and candy, and let your guests get creative. You can even make it a judged competition with fun categories like “Most Creative” or “Best Holiday Theme.”
This is a fun way to tap into your friends’ inner artists while enjoying some sweet treats. Plus, everyone gets to take home their creations as party favors!
3. Secret Santa Gift Exchange with a Twist
While Secret Santa is a classic, it can get a little predictable. Give it a twist this year by adding quirky rules. For example, everyone could buy a gift that must be the funniest or most unusual, or perhaps each gift must be handmade.
Another fun variation is to implement a “white elephant” style game, where people can steal each other’s gifts after they’ve been opened. This always creates plenty of laughter and fun moments!
4. Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
Gingerbread houses are a holiday tradition, so why not make them the star of your Friendsmas party? Set up a decorating station with all the goodies—icing, candy, sprinkles—and let your guests design their own gingerbread masterpieces.
You can divide the group into teams for a bit of friendly competition or let everyone decorate at their own pace. At the end, you’ll have a display of creative (and sometimes wacky) gingerbread houses!
5. Holiday Themed DIY Craft Station
Let’s face it, crafting is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Set up a DIY craft station at your Friendsmas party with all the supplies your guests will need to create their own holiday decorations. Think homemade ornaments, wreaths, or even personalized stockings!
Guests will love having something to take home and will also get to enjoy the process of making something special together. Crafting with friends is a guaranteed way to bond and share some laughs.
6. Christmas Karaoke Party
What better way to get everyone into the holiday spirit than by singing your favorite Christmas carols and pop hits? Set up a karaoke machine or use a karaoke app, and let your friends belt out their favorite tunes. From Last Christmas to All I Want for Christmas Is You, you’ll have an unforgettable evening filled with music and laughter.
To spice things up, make it a friendly competition where guests can compete in holiday-themed duets or group performances. The funnier, the better!
7. Holiday-Themed Potluck Dinner
Nothing brings people together like food. This year, why not have a Friendsmas potluck dinner where everyone brings a holiday dish? You can even have a specific theme, like “Comfort Food” or “International Holiday Dishes,” to inspire a diverse spread of food options.
Not only will this make for a delicious meal, but it’s also a great way to try new recipes and celebrate different cultures’ take on holiday food traditions.
8. Ugly Sweater Contest
Ugly sweaters are a staple at any Friendsmas party, so why not make a contest out of it? Encourage your guests to go all out with the tackiest, most over-the-top holiday sweaters they can find, and award prizes for the most creative, funniest, or outlandishly decorated ones.
This is a great way to kick off your Friendsmas celebration with laughs and a fun icebreaker activity. Bonus points for incorporating DIY elements into those sweaters!
9. Friendsmas Bingo
Add some festive fun to your Friendsmas party with a customized holiday Bingo game. You can easily create a Bingo card with holiday-themed phrases, objects, or even inside jokes from your friend group. It’s a simple game that everyone can join in on, and the best part is, you can offer small prizes for those who get Bingo first!
To make it even more interactive, host a few rounds throughout the night, keeping everyone entertained between other activities.
10. Christmas-Themed Scavenger Hunt
Looking to get your friends moving and having fun? Organize a holiday-themed scavenger hunt around your house or neighborhood. You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you like, with clues, riddles, and challenges that lead to hidden prizes.
Consider including holiday-specific items like candy canes, ornaments, or even gingerbread cookies to keep things festive. You can also make it competitive by dividing into teams and having a race to find all the items.
11. Hot Chocolate Bar Extravaganza
Hot cocoa is the ultimate holiday treat, so why not turn it into a show-stopping experience? Set up a hot chocolate bar with all the fixings—whipped cream, marshmallows, candy canes, chocolate chips, and even flavored syrups!
Guests can create their own custom cups of hot cocoa, and you can even add fun extras like flavored liqueurs for the adults in the group. This is a simple but impressive idea that will keep everyone warm and cozy throughout the evening.
12. Holiday Charades
Charades is always a hit, and when you make it holiday-themed, it’s even more fun. Set up a game of charades with all kinds of holiday-related prompts—whether it’s acting out Christmas songs, holiday movies, or classic Christmas traditions.
You can play in teams, or if you’re feeling adventurous, make it a speed round where each player only gets a few seconds to act out their phrase. Charades is guaranteed to get everyone laughing and joining in the holiday fun!
13. Christmas Tree Decorating Relay
This one’s a fun, competitive twist on the classic tree decorating. Set up an area with all your Christmas tree ornaments, garland, and other decorations. Divide into teams and give each team a set time limit to decorate their tree.
What makes this extra fun is the relay aspect—you can only decorate the tree one item at a time, passing each decoration to the next person on your team. The team with the best-decorated tree at the end wins!
14. Holiday-Themed Photo Booth
What better way to capture memories than with a fun photo booth? Set up a corner with holiday props, like Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and festive signs, and let your guests snap silly, festive photos.
You can even create a themed backdrop, such as a snowy forest, Christmas tree, or holiday fireplace. Your guests will love having these photos as keepsakes from the party!
15. Christmas-Themed Craft Cocktails
If your crowd enjoys a good drink, why not create a menu of Christmas-themed cocktails? Think Candy Cane Martini, Spiced Cider, or Holiday Sangria. You can get creative with garnishes like sugared rims, fruit slices, and sprigs of rosemary.
Guests can sip on their festive cocktails while chatting and enjoying the holiday cheer. Plus, you can always offer non-alcoholic versions of these drinks for anyone who prefers not to indulge.
16. Holiday Piñata Fun
For a Friendsmas party that’s a bit more playful, consider adding a holiday-themed piñata to the mix. You can fill it with candy, small trinkets, or even funny little holiday-themed surprises. Everyone will have a blast taking turns trying to break it open and get the goodies inside!
A piñata adds an element of surprise and fun to your party, and it’s something everyone can enjoy, from kids to adults.
17. Christmas-Themed Board Games
If you want to incorporate some friendly competition, why not bring out some Christmas-themed board games? There are plenty of options out there, from classic games like Monopoly with a holiday twist to new games created specifically for the season.
Board games are a great way to engage everyone, whether you have a large group or just a small gathering. Plus, they make for some great memories and inside jokes to carry on after the party is over.
18. Friendsmas Gift Wrapping Station
Turn your gift wrapping into a fun activity by setting up a gift wrapping station at your party. Stock up on colorful wrapping paper, ribbons, tags, and fun gift toppers, and let your guests wrap their gifts together.
This is a great way to make the wrapping process more enjoyable, and you can even make it into a game by challenging guests to wrap a gift in the most creative or fastest way possible.
19. Friendsmas Pajama Party
What better way to stay cozy during the holidays than in your favorite pajamas? Host a Friendsmas pajama party, where everyone shows up in their comfiest Christmas-themed jammies.
You can keep the atmosphere casual, watch holiday movies, enjoy a festive breakfast, or
even have a cozy sleepover-style evening filled with snacks and games. It’s the perfect way to unwind with your friends while celebrating the season.
Conclusion: Make This Friendsmas Unforgettable
This Friendsmas, skip the usual and opt for one of these unique ideas that will leave your friends talking long after the season ends. Whether you’re looking for a cozy night of holiday cheer or a fun-filled event full of surprises, these 19 Friendsmas party ideas will help you create unforgettable memories with your favorite people.
The holidays are all about connection and fun, so make sure your party is as unique as your friendship group. With these creative ideas, you’re sure to have a blast and make your Friendsmas celebration one to remember.