Planning a Christmas party for teens is such a fun idea, and there are endless ways to make it memorable. Whether it’s a youth group Christmas party, a teen gathering, or a family Christmas get-together, the key is in the details. From Christmas lights to gingerbread houses and ugly sweaters to a hot cocoa bar, there’s something for every personality and group size. Let’s dive into these festive ideas to make your Christmas season merry and bright!
Here are 22 Fun Christmas Party Ideas for Teens:
1. Deck the Halls with Christmas Trees
The Christmas tree is the centerpiece of holiday decor and instantly brings the holiday spirit to life. For a party, set up a mini Christmas tree that guests can help decorate. With a bunch of inexpensive prizes or mini candy canes as ornaments, teens can enjoy transforming the tree and add a personalized touch. My teens still love decorating the tree and have a good time when we do it all together.
2. Host a Christmas Movie Marathon
A Christmas movie marathon is one of the best Christmas party ideas for teens. Pick holiday classics like *Home Alone*, *Elf*, and *The Grinch*. For a fun twist, prepare a list of Christmas movies for a “binge-watch” challenge, or add a twist by asking everyone to dress as their favourite Christmas movie character. You can create some fun Christmas games around the best Christmas movies.
3. Gingerbread House Decorating
Gingerbread houses are a popular activity for any Christmas gathering. Set up a decorating station with icing, candies, and sprinkles, and let teens unleash their creativity. This is a great way to bring everyone together, whether they’re in smaller groups or working solo. For some added fun, make it a competition with a winning team prize!
4. Create a Christmas Playlist
Make a festive playlist with classic Christmas songs, from “Jingle Bells” to “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Christmas music brings good news and cheer to any party setting. You can even host a Christmas karaoke session where everyone can belt out their favourite holiday songs. It’s the best way to keep the energy high! You can add the playlist to your spotify and share it with the entire family.
5. Organize Fun Christmas Party Games
Christmas games are a fantastic way to break the ice and get teens laughing. Here are a few ideas:
**Secret Santa Gift Exchange**: Set a price limit and have everyone bring a quirky gift. Watching guests trade and steal presents is a ton of fun.
**Big Ball of Plastic Wrap Game**: Wrap a bunch of small prizes (candy, trinkets) in layers of plastic wrap. Teens unwrap one layer at a time to get a prize until the next person has their turn.
**Christmas Charades or Pictionary**: Make a list of holiday-themed items for teens to act out or draw. Simple games like this are easy to organize and always a hit at Christmas parties.
6. Hot Cocoa Bar / Hot chocolate
A hot cocoa bar is a fun addition to a winter wonderland party. Stock up on hot chocolate mix, whipped cream, marshmallows, candy canes, and more. Let everyone customize their drink to their liking. A hot chocolate bar is perfect for groups of teens and creates a cozy, festive vibe.
7. DIY Ugly Sweater Party
An ugly sweater party is a staple of Christmas gatherings and a fun way for teens to show their holiday spirit. Provide plain sweaters and decorating supplies so guests can create their own tacky masterpieces. Have a photo booth with festive props so guests can take pictures in their holiday creations. Award a prize to the person with the ugliest sweater!
8. Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt
Take the party outdoors with a Christmas lights scavenger hunt. Hand out a printable PDF with clues or a list of things to find, like reindeer, Santa, or jingle bells. Teens can either go in small groups or as one big group, taking pictures of the items they find. This activity brings Christmas fun to a whole new level!
9. Candy Cane Craft Station
Set up a craft table where teens can make candy cane ornaments, Christmas cards, or other holiday decorations. For younger teens, this is a good way to stay entertained while creating something special to take home or gift to family members.
10. Christmas Storytime
Take a break with a classic Christmas story reading. Whether you choose A Christmas Carol or a fun tale like The Polar Express, this is a cosy, heartwarming activity. Teens can listen while sipping on hot chocolate, and it’s a great way to bring everyone together.
11. Christmas Bingo with Prizes
Bingo is a simple game that never goes out of style. Create a holiday-themed Bingo card and use fun Christmas items as markers. A Bingo game is a great idea for both large and smaller groups, and you can add a prize for the winning team!
12. “Favourite Things” Gift Exchange
A “favourite things” gift exchange is a fun twist on the usual holiday gift exchange. Each guest brings an item they love (like their favourite snack, book, or beauty product). Set a price limit, and at the end of the night, everyone goes home with something handpicked by their friends.
13. Holiday-Themed Minute-to-Win-It Games
Minute-to-Win-It games are high-energy and perfect for a group of teens. Here are a few Christmas-themed ones to try:
-Marshmallow Toss: See who can toss the most mini marshmallows into a bowl in 60 seconds.
-Candy Cane Relay: Teens race to balance candy canes on their heads while walking to the finish line.
-Snowball Toss: Throw mini “snowballs” (cotton balls) into a bucket from across the room.
14. Build a Christmas Playlist Together
Let everyone add their favorite Christmas songs to a group playlist. This way, everyone gets to hear their go-to tunes. It’s the best way to discover new songs and keep the Christmas spirit going all night.
15. Set Up a Holiday Photo Booth
A photo booth with holiday props, wrapping paper backgrounds, and silly hats can add so much fun. Teens can take photos with their friends, and you can even print free printables for props. Photos make for lasting memories and a great way for party guests to share the holiday cheer.
16. Host a “Winter Wonderland” Party
Transform the party space into a winter wonderland with white lights, fake snow, and snowflake decorations. Create an enchanting vibe, and encourage guests to dress in white or blue for a frosty effect. This is a beautiful theme that makes for Instagram-worthy photos!
17. Christmas Cookie Decorating
Gather the group at the kitchen table and provide plain sugar cookies, frosting, and sprinkles. Decorating cookies is a fun, hands-on activity, and each guest can bring their cookies home to enjoy later.
18. Host a Christmas Talent Show
Invite party guests to showcase their talents—singing Christmas carols, performing a holiday skit, or sharing a dance routine. It’s a fun way to celebrate individual skills and is especially entertaining if you have a mix of outgoing and shy personalities.
19. Have a Christmas “Bake-Off” Challenge
A bake-off can be an exciting way for older teens to show off their skills (or have a good laugh at their kitchen fails!). Divide them into smaller groups, and give each team ingredients to make the best gingerbread cookies or Christmas cupcakes. See who can make a show stopper Christmas cake.
20. Wrapping Paper Relay Race
In this fun game, teams race to “wrap” a teammate in wrapping paper like a human Christmas present. The first team to finish wins! This relay is a fun Christmas game and guaranteed to get everyone laughing.
21. Set Up a “Gift Card” Swap
Gift cards are practical and universally loved. Have each guest bring a £5-£10 gift card to popular places like coffee shops or fast food. At the end of the night, everyone exchanges cards for a small but valuable gift.
22. Sing Christmas Carols
A Christmas carol sing-along is a classic way to end a party. Let everyone choose their favourite carol, and don’t worry if you’re off-key—Christmas carols are meant to be sung with joy!
Wrapping Up
Planning a teen Christmas party is all about mixing fun, tradition, and a touch of creativity. From hot chocolate bars to secret santa gift exchanges, there are countless ways to make a memorable evening. Whether you’re hosting a large group or a small gathering, these Christmas party ideas are guaranteed to bring everyone together for a great time.
Merry Christmas and we hope you enjoy these fun Christmas activities. If you are buying gift cards this year do check out this post Creative Ways to Send Giftcards.
