Holiday Party Name Ideas

There are so many ways to plan a party. Maybe the food comes first, or you plan your party around activities. Another popular party idea is to pick a theme. You have decade parties, rhyme-without-reason parties, and white lies parties, to name a few, but there are also tons of great Christmas holiday party themes. If you're hoping to plan a unique holiday party this year, check out our list of holiday party name ideas!

1. Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

You can't knock a classic! Find your favorite ugly Christmas sweaters and celebrate in style. (Or lack thereof.) Don't forget to have an award for the best ugly Christmas sweater!

2. White Elephant Party

White elephant parties revolve around a goofy gift exchange. Set a maximum price so gifts are roughly in the same price range, find a set of white elephant rules, and you're on your merry way to a fun holiday party idea.

3. Reindeer Games Party

This is a great Christmas party theme for kids, but you can totally fill it with Christmas activities for adults. Plan Christmas-themed games and activities such as a reindeer ring toss, a run run Rudolph race, and other events with prizes you can win.

4. Winter Wonderland Party

Not every Christmas party theme has to be hyper-specific! A winter wonderland party can be whatever you need, whether it's for an adult Christmas party or an office holiday party. Remember to decorate with snowflakes, icicle lights, and other winter decorations.

5. Christmas Carol-oke Party

Host a Christmas-themed karaoke party! There are plenty of Christmas carols and holiday tunes to keep your party going. Even when it's time to eat and take a break from singing, don't forget to play all the Christmas songs to keep everyone in the holiday spirit.

6. Merry Grinchmas Party

Holiday movies like How the Grinch Stole Christmas make excellent Christmas party theme ideas. If you have a collection of Grinch-themed Christmas decorations or want to start one, this holiday party idea is for you! Don't forget to watch your favorite Grinch movies. (And yes, there's multiple!)

7. Gingerbread House or Christmas Cookie Decorating Party

Many Christmas celebrations center around family and food. Why not bring everyone together with festive food-making? Having everyone actively cooking in the kitchen might be difficult, but food decorating is much easier. Get everyone to decorate festive gingerbread houses or Christmas cookies and celebrate by snacking on them later!

8. Holiday Murder Mystery Party

Host a murder mystery party, but with a festive twist! Non-Christmas party themes are easy enough to tailor to your holiday needs, such as a murder mystery party. You can either find a pre-made murder mystery party or create your own with themes like "Murder on the Polar Express", "Twas a Death Before Christmas", or 'Winter Takes All."

9. Merry Craftsmas Party

Do you have friends or family who love to craft? Turn it into your holiday party theme by providing some simple crafts to enjoy together! You can try making ornaments, cutting out snowflakes, or coloring sheets while watching your favorite holiday movies or listening to Christmas music.

10. Jingle Bell Ball

You'll probably need to rent space for this one, but many Christmas songs are perfect for a holiday dance party. Break out favorites like "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" and sleigh that dance floor!

11. Christmas Movie Watch Party

Watch parties are fun to host any time of the year, but a Christmas movie watch party lets you watch your favorite holiday movies together. Depending on which movies you pick and how long your party is, you'll probably need 2-3 movies. Which Christmas movies are in your top 5?

12. Festivus

Festivus is a fake winter holiday that originated on the Seinfeld TV series. It is celebrated on December 23rd by decorating only with a metal pole on the floor, partaking in festivities like "the airing of grievances" and "feats of strength", and eating a Festivus dinner. While this made-up Christmas event was created for a TV episode, some people actually hold their own Festivus events. We guess it really is Festivus for the rest of us!

13. Christmas Cookie Exchange Party

What is your favorite Christmas treat? Christmas cookies are some of the most iconic desserts, and they're so easy to bake and take on the go. Why not host a Christmas cookie exchange party where guests bring samples of their favorite Christmas cookies to share? You can even add to the fun by giving awards for the best or most unique Christmas cookies.

14. Deck the Halls Party

Have guests participate in some Christmas decorating with a Deck the Halls party! Set up stations where people can make or decorate their own ornaments and get creative. Then, when everyone's ornaments are finished, they can hang them on the tree or around the venue for a festive touch. Don't forget to remind guests to take their new ornaments home with them when they leave!

15. Frozen Party

Are you in need of a kids' Christmas party idea? Create something fun and familiar with a Frozen-themed party! This Disney movie is the perfect theme for winter and Christmas parties, with Elsa's ice powers and a snowman and reindeer companion. Don't forget to provide Frozen-themed treats and activities for kids!

16. Christmas Around the World

Make your Christmas party a mixture of different Christmas traditions worldwide. Serve cultural foods like tamales, bibingka, lefse, pan de jamón, and others. Participate in Christmas activities like hitting Christmas piñatas, hiding a Christmas pickle ornament for guests to find, and exchanging books to read by the fire. This party theme will take some research, but it's also an excellent way for workplaces to have employees share their Christmas traditions.

17. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Party

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a classic Christmas tune sung by Judy Garland in 1944 for the musical film Meet Me in St. Louis. Naming Christmas parties after popular holiday tunes is excellent, and you can take it a step further with this one by leaning into vintage Christmas vibes. Find vintage-look or actual vintage Christmas decorations, play classic old Christmas tunes, and watch black-and-white holiday movies like It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street.

18. My Favorite Things Party

While "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music isn't necessarily a Christmas song, it makes a great holiday party theme. Guests can bring their favorite Christmas foods potluck-style, and you can play your favorite holiday tunes and decorate with your favorite Christmas decorations. People also bring their favorite products to give as gifts to other attendees. What other beloved holiday traditions would you present at a favorite things-themed Christmas party?

19. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

So you already know you want a Christmas dance party, but what's a good name for it? While we already suggested a Jingle Bell Ball, something more informal like Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree is another option for a less formal-style party. Whether you go with a venue or hang out at home, don't forget to have a Christmas tree present in your dancing area!

20. Bah Humbug Bash

There are so many adaptations of A Christmas Carol that it's highly improbable none of your guests have seen it. Find ways to incorporate Christmas Carol elements into your decorating, food, and entertainment for a fun Christmas party theme. You can try serving mince pies and Christmas pudding, host a trivia game centered around Christmases past, and watch one of the movies!

21. 12 Days of Christmas Party

"The 12 Days of Christmas" is a popular holiday carol that could make a unique Christmas party theme. You can reference the 12 days of Christmas in your decorations, food, entertainment, music, and more. For reference, the 12 days of Christmas include twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.

22. Coastal Christmas Party

Not everyone has a white Christmas, and that's ok! If you live in warmer climates and have access to a beach, know that your northern friends will be jealous that you can have a Christmas beach party. Of course, if you're tired of snowy white Christmases in your current climate, making a beach-themed Christmas party at home could be a fun break from typical Christmas parties.

23. Merry Friendsmas Party

Christmas parties often focus on family, so sometimes people make a separate Friendsmas party to celebrate Christmas with their friends. You have a lot of room here to keep it small and low-key or big and boisterous if you have a large friend group. Do what you enjoy doing together in a Christmas setting while eating good food and enjoying each others' company.

24. Christmas Carnival Party

Using alliteration to invent Christmas party themes is a creative option. Why not host a Christmas carnival? You can add some carnival decorations to your Christmas décor and have carnival games for guests to play with present prizes. If you want to take the theme even further, create a ticket booth where guests can obtain tickets to use with the games and prizes.

25. Winter Wellness Party

While the holidays are a lot of fun, they can also feel stressful. Why not kick back with friends and family with a Christmas wellness party? You'll have to know your guests well for this one, but you can kick back and relax, do facials together, use massagers, and find other ways to have a group wellness session.

26. Life Day Party

How much do you love Star Wars? Life Day is a Star Wars-based holiday celebrated by Wookiees on November 17th. Christmas is generally celebrated a month later in December, but Life Day is obviously an alternative Christmas celebration. Whether you choose to celebrate on November 17th or closer to Christmas, remember that the Star Wars Holiday Special is required viewing!

27. Ludachrismas Party

The kids aren't going to get this one (and shouldn't), but Ludachrismas is a unique way to host a Christmas party. The fake holiday Ludachrismas originates from the TV series 30 Rock, where everyone gets plastered and complains about work instead of doing everyday Christmas things. People don't need to overindulge at your Ludachrismas party, but playing your favorite rap, hip hop, and other non-traditional holiday tunes is mandatory, including "Ludachrismas"!

28. Christmas Pajama Party

What good are those adorable Christmas pajamas if you only feel the need to wear them once a year? Dress up in your comfiest pair of Christmas pajamas and enjoy a cozy night of fun. Watch Christmas movies, share holiday snacks, and find other laid-back activities such as crafts or gift exchanges.

29. Kitschmas Party

Christmas, but make it kitsch! The term usually relates to art and design that may be seen as overly gratuitous or in poor taste, and it has connections to camp and pop art. Many Christmas decorations align with the kitsch aesthetic, including items like colorful Christmas trees in shades of blue, pink, and non-traditional colors, giant bedazzled candy decorations, and novelty Christmas ornaments.

30. Christmas Tea Party

Christmas is celebrated during one of the coldest months of the year, so warm drinks like hot chocolate and warm, spiced apple cider are commonly enjoyed holiday beverages. Maybe it's time to mix it up with a Christmas tea party! Set up a tea station with various teas to try and cream, sugar, honey, and other ingredients to add to their tea. Serve tea sandwiches, scones, and other light tea snacks for a refreshing twist on Christmas.

We hope you're ready to host a great holiday party! Have you hosted any of these Christmas party ideas before? Do you have any other creative suggestions for us? Feel free to share in the comments! Also, don't forget to snag those Christmas presents. We hope you have a happy holiday season!