Holiday parties with family mean food, laughter, and plenty of fun. When there’s a big crowd—kids, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, you name it—nothing keeps the energy up quite like some friendly group games. I’m excited to share a bunch of my favorite family holiday party game ideas, plus a few tips on getting everyone organized, keeping score, and making the night even more memorable.
How to Set Up the Ultimate Family Holiday Game Night
Before rolling out the games, a little organization goes a long way. When you’ve got a crowd, breaking into groups gives everyone a chance to play, cheer, and get a little competitive—all in good fun. Creating that party buzz starts with a few easy steps, even before the activities begin.
- Divide Into Teams: I’ve found that random draw works best. Pull names from a hat or mix up ages so every team has a mix of adults and kids. Sometimes, letting cousins or siblings split up and join other groups means new connections and bigger laughs, too.
- Color Code Your Teams: Bandanas, matching hats, or t-shirts in different colors make teams easy to spot. If you’re feeling crafty, have everyone decorate their own before the games start. Want an instant solution? Try holiday-themed stickers or even different colored socks—it gets the job done and looks just as festive.
- Set Up a Tally Board: Use a chalkboard, a dry erase board, or poster board and colorful markers. Give each team a row, then add tally marks or stickers to keep up with wins throughout the night.
- Choose Prizes: Prizes can be simple: mini trophies, themed candies, a goofy holiday hat, or a get-out-of-cleanup pass for the next party. It’s really about bragging rights and the excitement of winning!
These simple steps are the secret ingredient to building excitement and making sure everyone’s on the same page as the night kicks off.
My Favorite Fast Paced, Fun Family Holiday Party Games
All of these games work with a mix of adults and kids. They’re perfect for big groups, and you don’t need much special equipment. Just bring some enthusiasm, clear a little space, and let the competition begin.
1. Candy Cane Relay
Holiday Themes: Christmas, winter celebrations
Team Size: 4+ per team
- Supplies: Candy canes (real or plastic), two baskets or bowls per team
Gameplay: Place a basket of candy canes at the start and an empty basket at the finish line. Teams line up. One player at a time hooks as many candy canes as possible onto their arm and walks (no running!) to the finish. They can’t use their hands to keep the canes from falling. Drop the canes in the empty basket, race back, and hand off to the next player. After all team members finish, the team with the most unbroken canes in their finish basket wins that round. For an extra twist, ask players to balance the canes on their elbows or wrists for added challenge.
2. Red Solo Cup Stack Challenge
Holiday Themes: Works for any holiday; use festive cups or add themed stickers
Team Size: 2-6 per team
- Supplies: Red solo cups (at least 25 per team), stopwatch or timer
Gameplay: Each team gets a stack of cups. The first player builds a pyramid (6-5-4-3-2-1) as quickly as possible, then takes it back down and restacks the cups. The next player repeats. Fastest team through all members (or the most pyramids built in a minute, if you have lots of players) wins. Bonus style points for creative stacking techniques!
3. Jingle Bell Toss
Holiday Themes: Christmas, winter, even New Year’s Eve
Team Size: Any size
- Supplies: Small jingle bells or ping pong balls, 6 solo cups per team, masking tape for the toss line
Gameplay: Line cups up in a triangle like bowling pins at the far end of a table. One team member stands at the tape line and tosses jingle bells into the cups. Each bell that lands in a cup scores a point. Teams alternate turns; most points after everyone has thrown wins. If you want to give younger kids a boost, let them toss from a closer spot.
4. Snowman Dress Up Relay
Holiday Themes: Christmas, winter, or just for laughs
Team Size: 4-8 per team
- Supplies: Toilet paper, hats, scarves, mittens, stick arms or fake carrot nose (get creative!)
Gameplay: Teams compete to wrap one teammate up like a snowman using toilet paper, dress them up, and send them to the finish line. The fastest (and funniest looking) snowman wins. Bonus points for creative poses or accessories. Want to get the crowd giggling? Have snowmen attempt a simple winter dance before the finale.
5. Candy Corn Chopstick Race
Holiday Themes: Thanksgiving, autumn, or Valentine’s Day (swap in conversation hearts)
- Supplies: Candy corn (or other small candies), chopsticks, shallow bowls or plates
Gameplay: Players have one minute to move as many candies as possible from one bowl to another using only chopsticks. No hands! Tally up candies for a team total at the end. If chopsticks are too tricky for younger kids, let them use spoons or even straws to suck the candy across for added fun.
6. Ornament Spoon Relay
Holiday Themes: Christmas, Hanukkah (use dreidels), or Easter (use plastic eggs)
- Supplies: Plastic (safe!) ornaments or balls, large spoons
Gameplay: Each player must carry an ornament on a spoon across the room, weaving around obstacles if you want to up the challenge. If the ornament falls, return to start and try again. Tag the next team member. First team to finish wins. This game’s a classic test of steady hands and focus.
7. The Holiday Hunt (Scavenger Relay)
Holiday Themes: Can be customized; add themed hints or objects
- Supplies: Small holiday-themed objects hidden around the house, one hunt sheet per team
Gameplay: Each team gets a list of holiday items hidden around the house or yard. Teams must work together to find everything on their hunt sheet. First team to bring back all items (or the most in a set time) wins. Give bonus points for creative item presentation or imaginative storytelling about how an item was “found” or “rescued” during the adventure.
8. Mummy Wrap (With a Holiday Twist)
Holiday Themes: Halloween, Christmas (wrap as elves), Valentine’s (wrap as cupids)
- Supplies: Streamers or toilet paper
Gameplay: Team members take turns wrapping one teammate as fast as possible. The best looking and fastest wrap wins—holiday accessories like Santa hats or heart stickers take it up a notch. If the wrapping comes undone before the end, the team restarts. Try adding a creative pose contest at the end for fun photo ops!
Tallying Points and Crowning the Night’s Champions
Keeping track of each team’s victories makes everything extra exciting, especially as the competition heats up. Here’s what I do to keep it simple and drama free:
- Use a Big Scoreboard: A poster board or chalkboard in the game room means everyone can see team progress. Draw stars and doodles to keep things lively and easy to read.
- Assign Points: The winning team of each game gets 3 points, second gets 2 points, and everyone else gets 1 point just for making a good effort. This keeps it positive.
- Bonus Points: Sometimes I toss in bonus points for best costumes, funniest moments, or best team chant. Little extras really motivate people to bring their A-game and keep spirits high no matter who wins the main event.
At the end of the night, the team with the highest total gets prizes and all the bragging rights until next year! Some families even keep a photo or a “champion’s cup” for winners to bring back at next year’s party.
Simple and Fun Prize Ideas for Winning Teams
Prizes can be as simple or as eye catching as you want, but it’s always fun to give out a little something special. Some of my favorites:
- Mini trophies or medals (even DIY versions from the craft store work great)
- Holiday treats (hot cocoa kits, candy canes, or holiday shaped cookies)
- Novelty socks or themed headbands
- Silly medals for categories like “Most Spirited” or “Best Teamwork”
- Reusable water bottles or festive mugs
- A “winner’s hat” to wear until the next holiday party
It’s all about celebrating together and making memories. A little cheering, a lot of laughter, and prizes everyone can enjoy make it feel extra special—even the smallest treats mean the world when everyone’s in on the fun. You can even create homemade awards for quirky “Best Dance Move” or “Top Cheerer.”
Pro Tips for an Unforgettable Family Game Night
- Set a Time Limit: I find 5–7 games is plenty for keeping energy high. Rotate quickly so kids don’t get bored and adults don’t drift away chatting! Add upbeat music between rounds to keep the mood festive.
- Mix Teams Often: If you have more than one round of games, shuffle teams for some or all games so everyone gets to play together and meet new family members. This also helps keep any competitive streaks friendly.
- Adapt for Younger Kids: For little ones, let them try games with easier rules (use hands instead of chopsticks or run shorter distances). Just being included makes them feel awesome—and grownups love cheering them on!
- Take Photos: A quick snapshot of team costumes, big wins, or hilarious relay moments will help everyone remember the fun. Set up a simple photo booth with silly props for extra laughs, or make a digital album everyone can share after the party.
Pulling this all together isn’t complicated. Just a little prep, some inexpensive supplies, and the willingness to be a bit silly with your favorite people. The best part? These games work for every holiday gathering, no matter what season you’re celebrating. It’s all about cheering each other on, building memories, and maybe starting a new family tradition or two. Bring out the cups, tally boards, and prizes, and you’re set for a night to remember, year after year!
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Holiday Party Games
How many games do you need for a holiday game night?
Five to seven games is usually just right. It gives everyone enough chances to play, and you won’t run out of steam before dessert. If you’ve got a large crowd or a bunch of energetic kids, you could always add more quick rounds or rotate teams.
What can I use to color code teams on short notice?
If you don’t have bandanas or matching shirts around, anything works—ribbons, construction paper badges, even holiday socks or mittens. The goal is just for everyone to know who’s on their team and build that team spirit.
How do you make sure adults stay interested and involved?
Pick games with a little challenge or that require teamwork so grownups want to join in. Prize categories like “most creative strategy” or “funniest play” keep everyone laughing, too.
Do you need big prizes?
Not at all. Small, silly, or homemade awards are perfect. The real prize is all about the memories and seeing everyone compete and cheer each other on.