12 Holiday-Themed Games for Festive Family Evenings

The holiday season is a time for families to come together and create lasting memories. One way to make these moments even more special is by playing fun and festive games that everyone can enjoy. Whether you’re gathered around a cozy fire or sitting at the dinner table, these holiday-themed games are sure to bring laughter and joy to your family evenings. From classic favorites to new and innovative ideas, here are 12 games that will make your holiday season extra special.

1. Holiday Charades

Charades is a timeless game that’s always a hit. Add a holiday twist by choosing words and phrases that are holiday-related. Use classic holiday movies, songs, and traditions as inspiration. Divide into teams and take turns acting out the clues. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

2. Ornament Relay Race

This game is perfect for burning off some energy and getting everyone moving. Set up an obstacle course with various stations, and place a box of ornaments at the starting line. Each player must run through the course, completing challenges at each station and collecting ornaments as they go. The first player to make it back with all their ornaments wins.

3. Holiday Scavenger Hunt

Get into the holiday spirit with a festive scavenger hunt. Create a list of holiday-themed items for players to find around the house or neighborhood. Hide small prizes or treats with each item to make it even more exciting. The player or team who finds all the items first wins.

4. Snowman Building Contest

If you live in an area with snow, a snowman building contest is a must. Divide into teams or compete individually to build the best snowman. Get creative with accessories and decorations. Don’t forget to take a photo of each snowman and declare a winner based on creativity and overall appearance.

5. Gingerbread House Decorating

Gingerbread house decorating is a classic holiday activity that’s fun for all ages. Purchase pre-made gingerbread house kits or make your own. Provide an assortment of candies, icing, and other edible decorations. Set a timer and let everyone’s creativity shine. After the time is up, have a taste test to determine the winning house.

6. Ugly Sweater Fashion Show

Ugly sweaters are a staple of the holiday season. Turn them into a fashion show by having each family member show off their sweater and strike a pose. You can add a competitive element by having a panel of judges or by allowing everyone to vote for their favorite sweater. Give a prize to the winner.

7. Christmas Trivia

Test your knowledge of all things Christmas with a trivia game. Create a set of questions ranging from easy to difficult and take turns answering. You can find pre-made trivia decks online or come up with your own. Keep score and declare the trivia champion at the end.

8. Holiday Pictionary

Pictionary is a game that everyone can enjoy. Create a list of holiday-themed words or phrases and place them in a hat or bowl. Split into teams and take turns drawing and guessing the clues within a time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

9. Holiday Bingo

Bingo is a classic game that can easily be adapted for the holidays. Create bingo cards with holiday-themed images or words. Use small candies or holiday-themed markers to cover the spaces. The first person to get a line or a full card yells “Bingo!” and wins.

10. Christmas Memory Game

Test your memory skills with a Christmas memory game. Place a variety of holiday-related items on a tray and give everyone a few seconds to memorize them. Then, cover the tray and have each person write down as many items as they can remember. The person with the most correct items wins.

11. Holiday Mad Libs

Mad Libs is a fun and silly game for all ages. Create a set of holiday-themed Mad Libs stories and let everyone take turns filling in the missing words. Once all the words are filled in, read the stories aloud and enjoy the hilarious results.

12. Christmas Karaoke

End the evening with some festive singing with a Christmas karaoke session. Create a playlist of holiday songs and take turns belting out the tunes. You can use a karaoke machine or find karaoke versions of songs online. Make it even more fun by dressing up and adding props.

These 12 holiday-themed games are sure to bring laughter, joy, and lots of fun to your family evenings during the holiday season. Whether it’s a small gathering or a big family reunion, these games will create memorable moments that will last a lifetime. So gather your loved ones, get into the holiday spirit, and enjoy some quality time together with these festive games.