Holiday Party Ideas to Make This Season Unforgettable
Parties worth calling home about
Think back to the best holiday party you've ever been to. I'd bet you don't remember the napkins or the centerpieces. You remember who was there, the conversation that lasted way past midnight, and how it felt to be surrounded by the people you love.
That's what these holiday party ideas are all about. Whether you're hosting your first Friendsgiving, a cozy Christmas gathering, the office party, or a New Year's Eve countdown, every idea here is meant to bring people closer together and create memories your guests will hold onto long after the party ends.
Happy hosting,
Bailey
Before the party: setting the tone
The feeling of a party starts long before the first guest knocks on the door.
Send an invitation people will save
A beautiful paper invitation in the mail feels so special in a world full of group texts. Add a handwritten line to each one, even just "we can't wait to celebrate with you," and your guests will feel welcome before they ever walk through the door.
Create a cozy welcome moment
Set up a little station right by the door with a warm drink, like spiced cider or hot cocoa, so every guest has something in their hands the moment they arrive. It's a small touch that makes people feel instantly at home.
Light it low and warm
Candles, string lights, and a lamp or two instead of overhead lighting will make any room feel like the holidays. That soft, golden glow makes guests want to settle in, slow down, and stay a little longer!
Friendsgiving ideas
Friendsgiving is all about the family you choose. These Friendsgiving ideas keep the night easy for the host and meaningful for everyone around the table.
A potluck and recipe card swap
Share a simple sign-up so everyone knows what to bring and the table ends up with a little bit of everything. Guests love contributing a dish that means something to them, and it takes so much pressure off the host. To make it even more fun and collaborative, ask everyone to bring a few recipe cards for their dish to swap, so each guest goes home with a little collection of new favorites to make all year. Every time they cook one, they'll remember the night they tried it for the first time.
Set a gratitude card at every seat
Leave a small card and a pen at each place setting with one prompt: "This year, I'm grateful for..." Before dessert, go around the table and share. It's simple, and it's often the moment people remember most. And if some of your guests are more private, the phone below gives them a way to share their gratitude in their own words, without having to say it in front of everyone at the table.
A "thankful" phone line
This is my favorite way to add something unexpected to a Friendsgiving. Set one of our vintage rotary phones on a side table and invite guests to pick up and share what they're thankful for this year, or rave about their favorite dish from the potluck (the cook will love hearing it). Some messages will be funny, some will be tender, and all of them will be yours to listen back to next November.
Christmas party ideas
Christmas parties are where traditions are born. These Christmas party ideas turn an ordinary evening into one your guests look forward to every year.
Set up a cookie decorating station
Bake a batch of plain sugar cookies ahead of time, then set out bowls of frosting, sprinkles, and candies. Guests of every age gather around the table, and everyone goes home with a little box of cookies they made themselves.
Host a cozy pajama party
Ask everyone to come in their favorite holiday pajamas. It instantly makes the night feel relaxed and playful, and the group photo by the tree will be one you treasure for years.
Swap ornaments instead of gifts
Ask each guest to bring one wrapped ornament, then take turns choosing. Everyone leaves with something new for their tree, and every December, they'll hang it and think of your party.
A holiday hotline by the tree
Place one of our phones next to the tree with a little sign inviting guests to leave a holiday message. The Stevie, our red rotary phone, practically belongs in a Christmas photo. For the little ones, turn it into a direct line to the North Pole, where they can leave Santa a message with their Christmas wishes. Next year, play the messages back while you decorate. You'll actually get to hear the magic of the season again: the giggles, the excited little voices, and all the love that filled your home.
Office holiday party ideas
The office party is a chance to slow down and celebrate the people you spend so many of your days with. These ideas keep it warm and inclusive for everyone.
Keep the gift swap simple
Set a modest price limit and a theme, like "something cozy" or "your favorite small treat," so everyone can join in comfortably. A simple theme makes shopping easy and keeps the focus on fun instead of the gift itself.
Create a photo backdrop
A wall of string lights, a garland, or a simple sparkly curtain with a few props gives everyone a reason to gather for photos. It's an easy way to get people mingling across teams!
Include the teammates who work remotely
Not everyone can be in the room, especially on teams spread across cities. Set up a Virtual Guestbook where remote teammates can record a holiday message from wherever they are, and play a few at the party. It helps everyone feel part of the celebration.
Mail a party in a box to remote teammates
A week before the party, send every remote teammate a little box to open together on a video call. Fill it with a hot cocoa kit and a festive mug, a cookie decorating kit so everyone can frost along at the same time, or a small ornament for a long-distance ornament swap. Tuck in a card signed by the whole team, and suddenly the miles between everyone feel a lot shorter.
Holiday party games for adults
A good game is the easiest way to get a room full of people laughing together. These holiday party activities work whether your guests are old friends or meeting for the first time.
Holiday movie charades
Write the names of classic holiday movies on slips of paper, split into teams, and act them out. It's easy to explain, everyone already knows the movies, and it gets even the quietest guests involved!
A wish list Secret Santa
Set a budget, then ask everyone to write a short wish list of a few things they'd love to receive within it, like a favorite candle scent, a book they've been eyeing, or a cozy pair of socks. Draw names, and each Secret Santa shops from their person's list. Everyone ends up with something they truly want, and the big reveal at the party is so much fun.
A gift-wrapping relay
Hand each team a box, a roll of paper, tape, and a bow, then start the timer. Whoever wraps the fastest wins, but the best part is watching everyone try.
Holiday "two truths and a tale"
Each guest shares three holiday memories, two true and one made up, and everyone guesses which one is the tale. You'll learn things about your friends you never knew.
New Year's Eve party ideas
New Year's Eve is part celebration, part reflection. These New Year's Eve party ideas help your guests do both.
Set up a sparkling toast bar
Offer a mix of sparkling wine, sparkling cider, and a few fun mocktails with fresh fruit and herbs, so every single guest has something to raise at midnight.
Write letters to next year
Hand out paper and envelopes, and ask everyone to write a note to themselves about their hopes for the year ahead. Seal them, keep them safe, and hand them back at next year's party. It's such a meaningful way to start the new year.
Ring in the new year with a midnight message line
In the last hour before midnight, set one of our rotary phones out and invite guests to share their biggest hope for the new year or their favorite memory from the one ending. As the clock strikes twelve, you'll have captured the whole room's excitement in their own voices, ready to play back next December.
Holiday party questions
What are some easy holiday party ideas?
Keep it simple: a warm drink station by the door, low cozy lighting, a potluck and recipe card swap, and one fun activity like holiday movie charades. You don't need a big budget to make guests feel welcome.
What are fun Christmas party games for adults?
Holiday movie charades, a gift-wrapping relay, and holiday "two truths and a tale" are all easy to set up and get everyone laughing. If you're planning a gift exchange, a wish list Secret Santa makes sure everyone goes home with something they'll truly love.
What should I do at a Friendsgiving?
Host a potluck and recipe card swap, set a gratitude card at each seat, and set out a phone where guests can share what they're thankful for or rave about their favorite dish of the night. It's a lovely option for more private guests who'd rather not share in front of the whole table.
How can I include remote coworkers in an office holiday party?
Set up a Virtual Guestbook so they can record a holiday message from wherever they are, and mail each of them a party in a box, like a hot cocoa kit or a cookie decorating kit, to open together on a video call.
How do I make my holiday party memorable?
Focus on the people, not the perfection. Give guests a reason to connect, like a game, a shared tradition, or a keepsake they help create. An audio guest book is one of my favorite ways to do this, because you get to hear the whole party again long after it's over.
Can I use an audio guest book at a holiday party?
Yes! Our phones work beautifully at Friendsgiving, Christmas parties, office parties, and New Year's Eve. Guests pick up, leave a message, and you get to keep every one of them. At Christmas, the little ones can even use it to leave Santa a message with their wishes.
Here's to a season of good company
The best holiday party ideas don't come from a store. They come from bringing people together and giving them a reason to stay a little longer. I hope this season brings you crowded tables, late nights, and the kind of laughter you'll want to hear again.
If you'd like your guests' voices to be part of the celebration, take a look at our vintage rotary phones.
Cheers,
Bailey