Apartment Life Blog

30 Holly Jolly Holiday Party Ideas

Written by Apartment LIfe | Sep 23, 2021 7:15:18 PM

Most people are starting to think about Halloween, but for our Apartment Life Coordinators, it's already holiday party planning season. The great thing about these parties is that you can mix and match ideas: combine a tacky sweater party with a hot chocolate bar, or watch your favorite Christmas movie while roasting s'mores.

Here's a list of our favorite holiday party ideas (feel free to mix and match those party names):
  1. Kris Kringle Karaoke
  2. Flapjacks and Flannel: brunch
  3. Merry Martini Night
  4. Jingle & Mingle: hot cocoa bar
  5. An Evening of Merrymaking: wreath decorating
  6. Frosty Fest: Christmas pajama party
  7. Winter Wonderland Party / White Christmas: decorate with all white / wear white (can also decorate with a minimalist Scandinavian theme)
  8. Holiday Hoopla: Christmas costume party - come dressed like your favorite character from a holiday movie
  9. Holiday "House" Party: gingerbread house decorating party
  10. Christmas CRAFTernoon: holiday craft night 


  11. Merry Little Christmas Party: Christmas ornament swap
  12. Christmas Castoff Gift Exchange: white elephant gift exchange with a gift you don't like/need
  13. Ice, Ice, Cookies: cookie exchange party or cookie decorating party
  14. A Not So Silent Night: Christmas caroling party
  15. Wine & Wrap / BYOB(ow): gift wrapping party
  16. PETmas Party: pets in ugly Christmas sweaters
  17. Fireside Roast and Toast: set up a s'mores charcuterie board
  18. Sparkles and Spirits / Tidings and Tinsel: ornament making party (we've got an easy salt dough recipe) + a signature cocktail
  19. Retro Christmas Party: use old-fashioned decorations
  20. A Holly Jolly Holiday Party: Christmas lights tour - rent a bus (your church might have one) and take your residents on a tour of the best Christmas lights in your city

  21. Cocktails and Candy Canes - let guests write Christmas cards to send to military (more info here or here)
  22. Jolly Jamboree: play holiday bingo - you can purchase bingo cards here
  23. Wacky Tacky Sweater Soiree
  24. Reindeer Games /Mistletoe Mania: game night
  25. The 12 Tastes of Christmas: serve 12 appetizers/treats/drinks
  26. Santa Soiree: pictures with Santa
  27. A December to Remember: free Christmas card photos
  28. Cocktails and Candy Canes
  29. Sugarplum Celebration: dessert party
  30. Mistletoe and Margaritas
Of course, we've got an entire Pinterest board full of Christmas event ideas, recipes, and decoration tutorials. We want to be the first to wish YOU a Merry Little Christmas.

Do you have more ideas that have worked for you? Share them in the comments below and tag us in your pictures!