Fun Holiday Games to Play with Kids, Friends, and Family

Edited 2024 with additional games

Holidays don’t have to be stuffy, frustrating, or lame. They can be joyous with happy memories made and a fun time had by all. I am of the mindset that you make your own destiny and you can choose to make a holiday memorable. But I understand that being around family and friends can get overwhelming. Try these fun holiday games to keep the party going. You can play them with kids, family and friends. 

I love to play games and make fun enjoyable memories that I can look back on and be thankful for such wonderful experiences. So I thought I would help you out with a few organized games. Children, family, friends, or groups/co-workers can play these games. They will be fun and everyone will ask you to plan your next Holiday gathering. You’re welcome!

I will break down a couple of games for each group so they are easy to pick out and choose what you’d like to play. You can also download the printable portions of the games that require those as well. I have you covered and no need to look elsewhere. Everything you need is right here. 

Now, I do have to say, I didn’t come up with these games on my own. This is just your one-stop shop for a few of them. If you aren’t interested in these or just looking for a few more I took inspiration from Shutterfly.

Fun Holiday Games with Kids

20 Questions – Holiday Edition

Begin by choosing who will be the person answering the group’s yes/no questions. You can start with the oldest, youngest, last person to arrive at the party, the only person who didn’t bring a side dish… You get the idea. 🙂 Once you have chosen the answerer, choose a category – Holiday Movies, Holiday Characters, Holiday Items – you can get use these ideas. Then the rest of the players take turns asking yes/no questions to gain clues to the answer. For example: If your chosen category was Holiday Characters you might ask “does your character have a red nose?” The answerer would then say yes/no depending on the character they chose from this list. The person who guesses correctly is the next answerer. You can keep score or just play for fun. That level of competition is completely up to you. 

 

Pin the Nose on Rudolph

This one is always fun in whatever way it is made up. I have this available for you to print on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper for your convenience and multiple noses that can be used. To help with identifying who is the closest put the name of the persons participating in the fun on each of their designated nose. Then there is no question who actually pinned Rudolph’s nose on him. If you haven’t played ‘Pin the tail on the Donkey’ or similar the rules are easy. Hang the printed Rudolph on the wall/door/fence, etc at a height that is appropriate for the people playing the game. Cover their eyes, spin them around and face them in the direction of the printed Rudolph. Here is my warning though – be careful with the littles as they may fall down if spun too much. (also fun, and hilarious to watch, but I don’t want anyone getting injured on a day full of fun!) 

 

Craft Your Own Reindeer Antlers

Reindeer are equipped with some heavy-duty gear every day, not just on Christmas Eve. The antlers of reindeer can reach an impressive 39 inches in width and 53 inches in length! That’s quite the load to carry on your head. Ready to give it a try? Kids, team up with an adult partner, and let’s dive into the crafting adventure.

Materials Needed:

• Pantyhose (the cheapest ones are fine – Walmart, Dollar Store, etc)
• Balloons

Game Instructions:

1. Partner Up: Kids, find an adult partner to join you in this creative activity.
2. Balloon Assembly: Inflate the balloons and carefully insert them into the legs of the pantyhose. Aim for four balloons on each side.
3. Antler Application: Wear the top part of the pantyhose on your head on your head, arranging the balloons to create your very own Reindeer Antlers.

Now get ready to showcase your festive and newly crafted reindeer antlers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Candy Cane Catch

This one sounds fun and entertaining for anyone, but may be a little more challenging for the littles. This is similar to a minute to win it game. Remember, when you get up on these chairs, hopefully before your third glass of spiked eggnog, be very careful. I am NOT responsible if you fall off your chair! 😀

Materials Needed:

• Tinsel or ribbon
• Chairs
• Candy canes

Game Instructions:

1. Secure a length of ribbon or twine between two posts or chairs trying to make it as taut as possible.
2. Players should stand on the chairs, safely, and attempt to e the first to release a candy cane from the chair so it is hanging or suspended on to the ribbon.
3. Continue playing until the first player successfully hangs a candy cane on to the ribbon. You can also set a timer for a minute to see who can hang the most candy canes on to the ribbon.

 

 

 

Snowmen Shake

This one should be funny and entertaining and be sure to take videos for your future enjoyment and a good laugh.

Materials Needed:

• Ping Pong Balls or small ornaments
• Tissue boxes
• Panty hose or duct tape

Game Instructions:

Decorate the ping pong balls to look like snowman faces. You could even get your kids to help with this part of the game. 😀 Fill an empty tissue box with the snowmen ping pong balls and tape the tissue box to someone’s backside. (You could also use a Velcro belt glued to the box)

Enjoy these snowmen from my yard as inspo!

 

Holiday Mad Libs – Naughty or Nice

I’m sure you remember your English class and can all find fun in good ‘ol fashioned Mad Libs. These are classic stories I have provided so feel free to play in a way you think would be the most fun for you and your group. (naughty or nice) Choose one person to write the answers while the rest of the guests choose the words based on the suggestion provided. Once you have filled in all the blanks read your story out loud and have a good laugh. I have provided a few here for you, but feel free to find some others on the web to keep it going if you finish these. 

 

 

Gift UN-Wrap

You can play this game a couple of different ways and each way is hilarious to watch.

If you are exchanging gifts at your next holiday party request that everyone bringing a gift, wrap it extra tight, with extra paper and extra tape, and bring a pair of oven mitts. If you’ve seen this, you know the hilarity that can ensue from watching someone open their gift with oven mitts. You can give a time to try and unwrap it or just watch and laugh until they get it open or give up. 

Another way to play this game is the host provides a gift that is wrapped extra well and everyone gets an attempt to open the gift with oven mitts for a designated time. (1-2 minutes is plenty) Once the time is up, pass the mitts and the gift to the next person. Whoever ends up getting the paper off and opening the gift in the designated time gets to keep the gift. 

 

12 Days of Shots

This festive Christmas drinking game is guaranteed to bring the holiday cheer—and likely leave everyone feeling merry by the end! It’s best enjoyed over an extended period, making it perfect for a long evening of fun. In this game, the group collaborates to create 12 unique shots, each with a Christmas-themed name. Then, take the shots together at intervals throughout the celebration.

Fun Group Holiday Games

I have always been a fan of relay games. Gets you moving, chatting, and getting to know one another while also having fun. The next 2 games are relays. Keep in mind, you will need some space for these games. Remember, if these don’t work for your group, Shutterfly has some others you can choose from. 

Penguin Waddle

You will need a blown-up balloon for each team, some space to move and a course with place markers set 15-25′ apart. Separate into teams of 3 or more. The first player, from each team, puts a balloon between their knees and waddles like a penguin to the marker and back. Then pass the balloon to the next team member. If any team member drops the balloon they start over. The first team to complete the relay wins.

Ornament Relay

This one is very similar to the egg relay I know we all played in school, but with an ornament. It might be best to use plastic or shatterproof ornaments because you know someone is going to drop theirs. Split into your teams. You can do this by counting off numbers, drawing straws, or having 2 team leads choose their team. Whatever suits your fancy. Once the teams have been designated show the obstacle course or length of relay they will need to complete with an ornament on their spoon. Remember, the objective is to NOT drop the ornament. If you drop the ornament, you have to start over from the beginning and try to catch up. You can only use your spoon to transfer the ornament from one team member to the next – NO HANDS! – Once you have successfully transferred the ornament the next person needs to complete the course until everyone has completed it or the first team finishes and is crowned the winner. You can also do First, Second, and Third place if you are giving out congratulatory gifts. 

Santa’s Grab Bag Game

This Christmas gift game is unlike any you’ve ever played before. This Santa’s Grab Bag game combines the classic games of hot potato, pass the parcel, and trivia in one game you’ll want to play year after year! It’s the perfect option for a Christmas party where you want games with prizes but don’t want to do a gift exchange!

Materials Needed:

• Gifts – it’s up to you if you want everyone to bring their own or you want to provide them. I recommend gifts that actually wrapped in wrapping paper rather than in bags or boxes that may get opened while the bag is passed.
• Bag – any large bag will do. It needs to be able to fit the gifts.
• Printer – you’ll want to print out the prompts to tape onto the gifts.
• Music and speaker – I found that a phone speaker was too quiet, so I recommend using a speaker for this game. 

Setup:

1. Wrap all those presents. In this game, you can win more than one present, so get a handful of extras. It’s also important you wrap each one – you won’t want them falling out of their bags inside Santa’s sack.
2. Print and cut out the prompts/categories.
3. Tape one prompt onto each present so that that can be easily seen. 
4. Place all the presents into Santa’s bag.
5. Choose one person to be in charge of the music. The music needs to be stopped randomly throughout the game.
6. Have everyone in the group sit in a circle and give one person in the circle the bag.

How to Play:

1. Start the music and while the music plays people must pass the bag clockwise around the circle, just like in hot potato. (Make sure the person playing the music isn’t facing the circle to keep it fair).
2. After playing a short clip of music, stop the music
3. When the music stops, the person holding the bag will pull one present out without looking and read the prompt taped onto the present out loud.
4. The player then has five seconds to name THREE items in the category prompt. Once they have finished reading the prompt, the group can begin quietly counting to five (or loudly if your group likes real pressure and obnoxious games) to give them an actual timer and a little pressure. For example, if the prompt was Christmas colors, they would need to name three Christmas colors before the group finished counting to five.
5. If the player correctly responds to the prompt in the allotted time they get to open and keep their present and remain in the game. If they cannot, the present goes back into the bag still wrapped, with the chance to be won by another player.
6. Start the music again and pass the bag around the circle again until the music stops.

Keep playing this same way with the bag going around the circle and people winning (or not winning) gifts until all of the presents inside the bag are gone and handed out to people!

Christmas Trivia

🎄 Think you know Christmas? Put your holiday knowledge to the test with our festive trivia game!

• Divide into teams or play solo, then take turns answering questions to score points—whoever knows the most wins the Christmas crown!
• Set a timer for each question to keep the game fast and fun, and don’t forget a festive prize for the winner!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you have fun with these ideas and enjoy your holiday season. It is the most wonderful time of the year! Have another game to share? Please do so! I can and will continue to add to this each year to keep the fun going. Feel free to share the fun on my Facebook or tag me on Instagram too!