The Holiday season is the perfect time for celebrating, gathering with friends and family, and hosting festive parties.

If you're planning a holiday bash this year, you'll want to make it extra fun, playful, and full of holiday spirit.

In this article, you'll find a wealth of fun Holiday Party ideas designed to help you create a memorable and joyful celebration.

Invitations

Set the tone for your Party from the very start with fun, festive invitations.

Get creative with shapes like snowflakes, trees, wreaths or ornaments.

Include clever wording like “Let’s sleigh the holidays together!” and details like “Ugly sweater contest to follow.”

Or, send e-invitations with animated images, holiday tunes, or video clips to build excitement.

Food and Drinks

Turn your holiday party into a festive feast with themed foods and beverages.

Here's a list of creative holiday party ideas for treats and refreshments.

Hot Chocolate Bar

Warm up from the inside out with a hot chocolate bar.

Set out crock pots or a fondue station with dark chocolate and white chocolate options. Offer marshmallows, crushed peppermint, ground cinnamon, and chili powder so guests can customize their hot chocolate creation.

For a boozy twist, provide rum, whiskey, and flavored liqueurs.

Light Dessert Bar

Offer guests something sweet—but small enough to leave room for cookies when Santa arrives!

Set up a light dessert bar with options like chocolate mousse cups, petite cheesecakes, macarons, truffles, and mini muffins.

Make it festive with a red and green color scheme.

Themed Cocktails for Your Christmas Party

Add some extra cheer to your party drinks menu with holiday-themed cocktails.

Name your concoctions after Santa’s reindeer like “Blitzen’s Cranberry Cosmo.”

Rim glasses with crushed candy cane and float mini marshmallows on top. Garnish holiday martinis with gingerbread men and ornament picks.

Hot Buttered Rum Tasting

Invite guests to sample different spiced rum variations of this classic winter drink during your holiday party.

Offer a traditional hot buttered rum along with fun flavors like cranberry, maple, vanilla, and cinnamon so guests can pick their perfect version. Float toasted marshmallows on top.

Decorations

Decking the halls is a must for any holiday season bash.

Use icicle Christmas lights, evergreen garlands, candles, and poinsettias to infuse everything with into-the-season spirit.

Display blown-up photos of snowmen, wreaths, and other symbols around the party space. For the tables, use holiday-themed dishes and linens.

Tie festive ribbons around napkins, chairs, cutlery—anything you can tie a bow around!

Entertainment and Activities

Make your holiday party merry and bright by keeping your guests engaged with fun entertainment and activities all evening long.

Host an ugly sweater contest and vote on categories like “tackiest” “most creative” and “funniest.”

For some friendly competition, organize a cookie exchange and vote for favorites.

You can also provide board games and holiday puzzles to keep the good times going late into the night.

Here are some more entertainment and activity-related holiday party ideas.

Music

Create some Christmas cheer with a holiday soundtrack. Make playlists featuring classic hits, remixes of carols, and modern seasonal tunes.

Consider hiring a Christmas caroler to perform, or, depending on the size of your party, you can even line up a band or DJ, and invite guests to hit the dance floor.

Christmas Photo Booth

Give guests a fun way to capture memories during your holiday with a photo booth complete with seasonal props like reindeer antlers and jingle bell necklaces.

Provide holiday quote signs and other decorative elements to set the scene. Print out copies of photos or share them digitally on a custom hashtag.

Naughty and Nice Game

Add some playful humor with a “naughty and nice” superlative game.

As guests arrive, have them secretly vote for who is “most festive,” “best holiday stylist,” “biggest Scrooge” and other silly titles from your list. Announce the winners and hand out funny gag gifts.

Holiday Trivia

Show off your holiday knowledge by hosting some Christmas trivia throughout the evening. Compose trivia rounds about holiday movies, songs, traditions, foods, and general holiday facts.

Give out mini candy canes or other small prizes to winners each round.

To get everyone involved, have guests write their own trivia questions and take turns reading them.

Ornament Exchange

Here’s a thoughtful way to create take-home memories: host an ornament gift exchange.

Ask each guest to bring 1-2 wrapped ornament gifts. Draw numbers for a 1:1 exchange. Take turns choosing mystery ornaments, open them, and show off your new holiday décor item.

Consider collecting ornaments for donation to those in need.

Gingerbread House Competition

Tap into your guests’ creative and competitive sides with a fun gingerbread house decorating contest.

Provide graham cracker gingerbread house kits along with loads of candy, cookies, pretzels, and other edible decorations.

Give awards for the most realistic, most whimsical, and the most ginormous houses.

Let guests nibble their creations after judging.

Holiday Karaoke

Belt out the holiday hits at a Christmas karaoke bash.

Rent a machine and get the carols rolling with songbooks featuring all of the season’s standards.

Award prizes for the best singing performances.

Consider passing around fun karaoke props like jingle bell necklaces, reindeer ears, and Santa hats to really get the party going.

Holiday Crafts

Invite your holiday party guests to make something merry with festive craft stations.

Set out plain ornaments and craft decorations to decorate. Provide supplies for making holiday cards, candy cane reindeer, snow globes, and other crafty holiday projects.

Snowball Toss

Bring a little bit of outdoor fun inside with a snowball toss game.

Set up a snowman target and give guests soft plush snowballs or crumpled-up paper “snowballs” to throw.

Take turns seeing who can hit different parts of Frosty. Give holiday treats as prizes.

Reindeer Ring Toss

Try this Christmas twist on a classic party game by using reindeer-shaped rings. Set up poles decorated like reindeer with antlers.

Give each guest a set of reindeer ring “halos” and let them take turns trying to toss a ring around each reindeer topper.

Snow Globe Making

Hand out mini snow globe kits so your holiday party guests can create miniature worlds.

Provide clear plastic globes along with figurines, confetti, glue, and decorative embellishments.

Set out samples made by you so they can see the potential magic!

Candy Cane Calm Down Corner

Guests who find themselves a bit frazzled this holiday season will appreciate a little oasis with a “calm down corner” filled with relaxing holiday ambiance.

Play soft instrumental Christmas music and adorn the corner with candy canes and electric candles. Provide hot cocoa and cookies, too.

Christmas Movie Screening

Entertain guests throughout your holiday party by screening a continuous loop of favorite holiday movie moments (or full movies) on a projector, TV, or other large screen.

Choose a mix of nostalgic and modern classics. Hand out popcorn or movie candy and encourage reactions like booing the villain and cheering the heroes.

Planning a Hanukkah Celebration

Want to give your holiday party a Hanukkah twist? Here are some tips for putting together a lively latke-filled bash to celebrate the Festival of Lights:

Decorate with hanukkiahs (menorahs), dreidels, gold coins, and banners with Hebrew letters.

Serve traditional fare like latkes, sufganiyot (Israeli donuts), brisket, and matzo ball soup.

Play dreidel and hand out chocolate gelt coins as prizes.

Set up carnival games like a menorah ring toss or Star of David bean bag toss.

Light the menorah together, and say the Hanukkah prayer.

Give out Hanukkah-themed gifts like candles, gelt, or homemade olive oil soap.

Share the story of the Maccabees and the miracle of the oil lamps.

Play music from Jewish artists like Matisyahu or The LeeVees.

Encourage guests to wear ugly Hanukkah sweaters.

Any party can easily be made festive for Hanukkah with games, food, music, and activities that celebrate the history and traditions of the holiday.

Tips for Safely Serving Alcohol at Your Holiday Party

If your holiday party will serve alcohol, be sure to do so safely by:

-Having bartenders monitor consumption and cut off intoxicated guests.

-Providing plenty of water and substantial food to slow alcohol absorption.

-Offering zero-proof “mocktails” for designated drivers and non-drinkers

-Using ticket or wristband systems to limit the number of drinks per guest

-Stopping alcohol service an hour before the end of your holiday party

-Encourage a ride service like Uber or offer group transportation

-Never serving minors or letting impaired guests get behind the wheel

While cocktails can add a festive flair to holiday celebrations, take steps to ensure holiday spirits don't lead to safety risks. Focus on holiday fun, not overindulgence.

Benefits of an Event Venue for Your Holiday Celebration

Have you considered where you'll hold your celebration?

Hosting your holiday party at an event venue offers many advantages over hosting at home. Benefits include:

-More space and seating - Accommodate all your guests comfortably without cramming.

-Catering and bar service - Enjoy restaurant-quality food and drinks without slaving away in your kitchen.

Built-in amenities - Take advantage of features like A/V equipment, dance floors, stages, and decor.

Professional staff - Let the venue handle service, parking, coat checks, and security.

-Liability coverage - Avoid risks and alcohol-related incidents beyond home insurance coverage.

Tips for Booking an Event Venue for Your Holiday Bash

If hosting your holiday party at a venue sounds appealing, here are some tips for booking the perfect place:

-Start your search early - Popular venues book up fast for the holidays.

-Get quotes from multiple venues - Compare pricing and amenities.

-Ask about holiday décor - See if holiday decorations are included or can be arranged.

-Review catering options - Choose a menu that fits your budget and preferences.

-Understand deposits and minimums - Holiday minimums are often higher.

-Discuss audiovisual needs - Determine fees for features like sound systems.

-Request pictures of previous events - Get ideas and envision your own event.

-Read reviews from other clients - Check for issues like hidden fees.

-Clarify all costs upfront - Avoid surprise charges; get terms in writing.

With a well-chosen venue that meets all your needs, you're sure to host a smooth, stress-free, and truly memorable holiday celebration this season!

Enjoy!

The holiday season is the perfect occasion for bringing people together, celebrating cherished traditions, showing gratitude, and simply having fun.

As you plan your holiday party, focus on festive details, playful activities, great music, delicious food and drinks, and most importantly—gathering special people for a joyful, spirited celebration.

The Bell Tower on 34th is a wedding and event venue known for delivering FUN events. Our venue is close to downtown Houston and the Galleria area.

Contact us to learn more about booking a holiday party at our venue.