Screen-Free Activities for Holiday Parties

Get Creative, Get Social, Make Connections

Your holiday party is happening soon, which means it’s time to get your creative juices flowing and bring people together to celebrate what the season is all about: connecting with the people you care about.

All those fun game nights and craft afternoons you attend the rest of the year are a great way to connect with people during the holiday season, too. Start your 2019 resolutions now by focusing on creating opportunities to spend quality time with people, rather than focusing exclusively on buying tons of gifts. We’ve got some easy ideas to get you started on bringing people together in new and interesting ways this holiday season.

Take Crafting to the Next Level

Adults and kids alike enjoy craft days, especially since it’s a license to get messy. Put on your painting jeans and get your friends and family together for a fun craft night that is holiday-themed.

The end of the year means people start thinking of all the to-do list items they neglected throughout the year. And so many of those are home décor/improvement projects. So have your friends and family bring over a home or craft project that’s been collecting dust in the corner and work together to finish them for the holiday. Sometimes all you need is help from friends to refinish that stool or finally mat and frame the piece of art that’s been in your closet.

If art is what people want, provide a stack of heavyweight blank cards and envelopes so people can make their own holiday cards. Some paints, brushes, markers, and of course glitter, are all you need to give a little inspiration.

Give Your Game Night a Holiday Twist

Instead of breaking out the usual games, aim for games that are either holiday inspired or bring out the essence of the holiday season. Authentic Agility’s game How Do You See the World? is a great option since the purpose of the game is to better understand and get to know your friends and family. Pull some questions that people often think about as the new year approaches and ask your friends what they think. You never know what you might learn! And you may just have similar goals that you can work on together.

You can also play a game of Banangrams or Scrabble, but add a twist that whoever makes the most words that are holiday-themed wins the round. Or gather up ideas for a good game of charades, but make sure they are themed around your favorite holiday.

Turn Baking Into a Group Effort

Plan a cookie decorating gathering, but have everyone attending be responsible for different items (cookie cutters, sprinkles, icing, baking ingredients). This way the group relies on each other and everyone feels like a participant in the party. Plus, it’s easier on the host. And don’t forget to encourage people to get a little inventive with cookie toppings. This party is perfect for every holiday, from Halloween to New Year’s Eve. If you need some ideas for things to bake, check out one of our favorite baking sites, Smitten Kitchen.

Whichever of these options you choose to take your holiday social planning to the next level, it’s a sure win this season to get people to relax, connect, and enjoy each other’s company.