How to Host a Christmas Party Guests Will Love

A classic Christmas cookie party is a hit for all ages: just make (or buy) a couple of batches of sugar and gingerbread cookie dough, set out frosting and toppings, then let guests shape and bake the dough before decorating to their hearts’ content.

Holiday Host Tip: Bake a batch of cookies before the party begins so your guests don’t have to wait until theirs have cooled to start icing.

To host an elegant holiday cocktail party, set out a buffet of bite-size desserts, serve signature drinks, and invite guests to dress in their finest festive attire for a mix-and-mingle affair. Create a festive mood with candles and low lighting that complement the evening’s elevated atmosphere.

Host a potluck-style Christmas party by asking friends and neighbors to bring their favorite family dish. Set a festive table, then fill seasonal serveware with everyone’s contributions and share it all family-style.

Holiday Host Tip: To avoid overlap, create a shareable document where guests can list what they plan to bring or claim a specific type of dish.

Dreaming of a snowy Christmas? Bring your vision of a winter wonderland to life with all-white decor, attire, and food—think vanilla-frosted cupcakes, white chocolate hot cocoa (marshmallows are a must!), or treats topped with whipped cream.

Gather the neighborhood kids for a Christmas-themed craft night. Handprint ornaments, DIY wrapping paper, and countdown calendars are classic ideas—just choose crafts that are appropriate for your guests’ ages.

Holiday Host Tip: Enlist other parents to help with tracing hands, refilling paint, or cutting paper.

Warm up with a Caribbean-inspired Christmas party. Deck your halls with bright decor, serve fruity drinks topped with tiny umbrellas, and make a playlist of beachy Christmas tunes to add a summer feel to your holiday soirée.

To throw a “favorite things” Christmas party, ask guests to bring a gift they’d love to receive—bonus points if it’s wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string—then draw numbers to determine who gets what and exchange gifts to discover your friends’ personal favorites.

Calendars fill up quickly once the holidays hit. To ensure your friends and family save a spot in their schedules, send Christmas party invitations early—by Thanksgiving at the absolute latest.

Keep Christmas party decor simple by building on the decorating you’ve already done, adding seasonal touches such as tablecloths, serving platters, or candles to complement your theme.

Snacks served buffet-style, heavy hors d'oeuvres, and bite-sized desserts give guests an excuse to mingle—and the lively conversation that ensues creates a festive feel.

Let Christmas music set the soundtrack for your soirée: whether it’s classics from Nat King Cole and Perry Como or modern renditions of your favorite carols, choose a musical style that fits the atmosphere you’re aiming for.