Host a festive outdoor holiday party with these popular backyard Christmas party ideas!
Are you looking for some backyard Christmas party ideas? Then, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve collected a ton of really neat backyard Christmas ideas that are a great choice for any outdoor holiday party.
The holiday season is a magical time of year and a great time to round up friends and family members and host Christmas celebrations.
Although you may not get a winter wonderland if you live in a warmer climate, you can still celebrate by hosting a festive outdoor Christmas party!
Whether you plan to host your outdoor Christmas party in your backyard or in a public outdoor space we know how to make it extra special.
Here are some great tips and ideas to help you plan the best outdoor Christmas party ever even if it wont be a white Christmas!
We’ve collected over 15 of the best outdoor Christmas party ideas that are sure to make your holiday celebration the hit of the season.
Here are some tips and ideas to get you started on hosting your own outdoor Christmas party:
15+ Backyard Christmas Party Ideas
Set the Scene
One of the most important and first thing you need to consider for your party is creating the right atmosphere.
For an outdoor Christmas party, you’ll want to create a festive and inviting space for your guests.
Start by stringing up some Christmas lights that twinkle after dark. We love fairy lights in open spaces to create a dramatic effect.
LED lights are a great option too because they’re energy-efficient and they don’t generate heat.
You can also use solar string lights if you want to be extra eco-friendly. This is a frugal option since you can keep solar lights out into the summer time.
Next, add some Christmas décor like wreaths, garlands, and ornaments. You can hang these from trees, railings, in your table setting or any other structure in your backyard.
If you have an outdoor fireplace, consider hanging stockings around it.
And finally, don’t forget about music! This is an easy way to get into the holiday spirit. Setting up a speaker system will help to create a party atmosphere.
Make sure to put together a festive playlist in advance so you’re not scrambling at the last minute.
Here are even more backyard Christmas party ideas that’ll help set the scene:
Put up a Christmas tree
Putting up a Christmas tree in anticipation of your outdoor party is one of our favorite backyard Christmas party ideas since it’s an extra fun way to instantly boost cheer during this favorite time of year.
There’s really no better way to decorate for Christmas is there?
If you are in a warm weather climate, consider decorating your outdoor gatherings for Christmas with decorated artificial Christmas trees.
You may not be able to have a snowball fight but you can surely decorate with some of your favorite pieces to really set the holiday mood.
That’s right, decorated Christmas trees aren’t only reserved for your dining and living room but can become an important part of your outdoor Christmas decorations.
Flock your tree branches to give your artificial trees the special effect of snow.
Backyards are the perfect place for artificial Christmas trees and fun decorations of all sizes!
Pro tip: Hit up local thrift stores to snag gently used Christmas trees and decorations at a fraction of the cost.
Plan Some Fun Activities
One of the best things about Christmas parties is all the fun activities you can do.
If you’re looking for some backyard Christmas party ideas, consider setting up a Christmas themed photo booth.
All you’ll need is a festive backdrop and some props, and your guests will be able to snap selfies to their heart’s content. This makes a great addition to any party.
Another one of our favorite backyard Christmas party ideas is a gingerbread house-making contest.
This is a great hands-on activity for kids and adults alike. You can provide all the materials, or let your guests bring their own .
Whoever makes the most creative gingerbread house wins a prize!
For something a little more low-key, set up a Christmas themed board game area where guests can challenge each other to a friendly game of chess or checkers.
And of course, no outdoor Christmas party is complete without some holiday-themed games.
A few classics include games like a Christmas Pinata, Christmas Bingo, Jingle Bell Toss Christmas trivia, Merry Christmas word game and a holiday scavenger hunt. We love these types of games for larger groups.
Here are even more backyard Christmas party ideas perfect for your outdoor Christmas festivities:
Wear Ugly Christmas Sweaters
Another of our favorite backyard Christmas party ideas is hosting an ugly sweater party.
Ask guests to wear festive ugly sweaters to your party. You can even have a contest to see who has the ugliest sweater.
This is a perfect way to get everyone into the holiday spirit!
Hosting an Ugly sweater party is the perfect excuse to wear that hideous holiday sweater you’ve been waiting all year to break out.
Ugly Christmas sweaters have become a popular trend in recent years, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting your friends and family on board with this idea.
Play Christmas Light Bingo
We love bingo and so we created this free Christmas light bingo printable for some outdoor holiday fun.
The rules of this game are simple, guests get together and head off on a neighborhood walk to find the items on their bingo card. The first person to Bingo wins!
Looking for traditional bingo instead? Check out our free 24 page Christmas bingo bundle.
Listen To Christmas Music
Nothing says Merry Christmas like some festive holiday tunes. Create a playlist of all your favorite Christmas songs to get everyone in the mood for celebrating.
It’s a good idea to use a Bluetooth speaker so you can easily move the music around your backyard.
If you want to get everyone involved, set up a karaoke machine and let everyone take turns singing their favorite Christmas carols. This is sure to be a hit with all your guests!
You can even make it a game by seeing who can name the most songs on the playlist.
The person with the most correct guesses wins a prize!
This is one of those backyard Christmas party ideas that is easy to set up!
Plan A White Elephant Gift Exchange
A white elephant gift exchange is a popular Christmas party game where everyone brings a wrapped gift to exchange with someone else at the party.
The catch is that the gifts are usually inexpensive or gag gifts.
This is a perfect idea that gets everyone in on the fun and it’s also a good way to avoid having anyone end up with a gift they don’t want.
To play, each person brings a wrapped gift to the party and places it in a designated area.
Once everyone has arrived, each person takes turns picking a gift from the pile. The catch is that you can either keep the gift you picked or steal someone else’s gift.
To make it even more fun, grab a copy of our free printable left, right, across Christmas game. With our free game guests will pass gifts LEFT, RIGHT and across as they sing classic Christmas songs. At the end of the song, guests get to keep the gift they are holding.
Just make sure your guest list is aware of the game beforehand so they can be prepared with a suitable gift.
Set Up An Outdoor Movie
If a low key Christmas party is more your style, then one of the best backyard Christmas party ideas is setting up an outdoor movie and watching your favorite Christmas movie.
This is one of those backyard Christmas party ideas that doesn’t require much planning or preparation.
You can set up a projector and screen in your backyard and invite your guests to bring blankets and lawn chairs to sit on. Don’t forget the popcorn!
This is a great way to relax and spend time with your friends and family. And it’s an activity that everyone is sure to enjoy.
All you need is a projector, a screen, and some comfy lawn chairs or blankets.
It’s a great choice for small or a large crowd and you can even make it a themed party by asking everyone to dress up as their favorite character from the movie.
Here are some classic Christmas movies that we suggest:
- Elf
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- Home Alone
- The Polar Express
- A Charlie Brown Christmas
- The Santa Claus
- Miracle on 34th Street
Caroling Party
Get everyone in the holiday spirit by throwing a Christmas carol party!
Supply your guests with songbooks and lanterns, then head out into the neighborhood or in your backyard to sing and spread some holiday cheer.
You can even make it a potluck and have everyone bring their favorite holiday dish.
Caroling is a great way to get everyone involved and in the holiday spirit. And what’s more festive than singing holiday songs together?
Christmas Scavenger Hunt
A Holiday themed scavenger hunt is one of our favorite Christmas party games.
Get your guests moving with a holiday-themed scavenger hunt!
Hide small presents or holiday-themed items around your yard or neighborhood and give your guests a list of things to find.
Set a time limit to make it more challenging. The first person or winning team to find all the items on the list wins a prize!
This is a great activity small and big kids and even adults. And it’s a good way to get everyone moving and exploring your neighborhood or backyard.
Holiday Photo Booth
We just love photo booths so it’s no surprise that a holiday photo booth made our list of backyard Christmas party ideas.
Photo booths are always a hit at parties and they’re especially fun at Christmas parties because they allow guests to take festive photos of special occasions.
You can set up a photo booth in your backyard or any other open space inside or outside your home.
All you need is a camera, some props, and a festive background. Then let your guests have fun taking photos!
This is a great way to get everyone involved and it’s also a fun way to capture memories of your party.
Set up a holiday backdrop in your yard or garage and supply your guests with props like Santa hats, red ribbons, reindeer antlers, and other holiday-themed items.
Then let everyone take turns posing for some festive photos.
Don’t forget to take plenty of pictures yourself! This is one of the best ways to capture memories of your party.
Pro tip: Use construction paper and old Christmas cards to create your own photo booth backdrops on the cheap.
Build a Gingerbread House
Gingerbread house building is another great activity for both kids and adults since it’s a team building activity that encourages cooperation.
And, it’s a fun way to get everyone involved in the Christmas spirit. So, it’s not surprising that it’s a permanent feature in dozens of holiday party themes.
Supply your number of guests with gingerbread house building kits, icing, and candy decorations. Then let everyone have fun building their own houses. This is a great activity for groups of all sizes.
Turn it into a competition by voting on the best gingerbread house or giving a prize to the person who builds the most creative house.
This is a great way to get everyone involved and have some festive fun. And it’s also a great way to bond with friends and family.
Serve Up Some Seasonal Eats And Drinks
No party is complete without food and drinks, and an outdoor Christmas party is no exception.
When it comes to food, you’ll want to serve up some seasonal favorites like roasted chestnuts, gingerbread cookies, and eggnog.
You can also set up a hot chocolate bar where guests can add their own toppings, like marshmallows, whipped cream, and candy canes.
For drinks, make sure to have a selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
Eggnog is always a popular choice, or you can make a festive punch. If you’re serving alcohol, consider setting up a mulled wine station or a build-your-own-Mojito bar.
And don’t forget about dessert! A Christmas party wouldn’t be complete without some indulgent sweets.
A festive twist on a classic favorite is this recipe for peppermint bark. It’s easy to make and only requires a few ingredients.
Here are a few of our favorite outdoor Christmas party ideas to inspire you.
Hot Cocoa Bar
What’s more festive than a steaming mug of hot cocoa or hot toddies? Well, a hot chocolate bar of course!
Set up a hot cocoa bar with all the fixings: marshmallows, candy canes, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and of course, a variety of different flavors of hot cocoa mix.
We love using a glass jar to display each topping to make things look really festive.
This is a great way to keep guests warm and also give them something fun to do. Plus, it’s a great way to get everyone involved in the Christmas spirit!
Make Festive Smores
Plan to light your fire pit and make smores with your guests! This is a great way to keep everyone warm and also give them something fun to do.
All you need are some graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows. Then let everyone roast their own marshmallows and make their own smores.
This is a great idea for kids and adults alike. And it’s the perfect time to bond with friends and family.
A Holiday Dessert Table
Christmas is the perfect time to indulge in some sweet treats. So why not set up a holiday dessert table for your guests?
This is a great way to show off your baking skills and also give your guests something to take home with them.
You can make a variety of different Christmas cookies, candies, and other sweets. We love decorating sugar cookies with festive icing and sprinkles.
If you’re not the greatest baker, no problem! There are plenty of easy and festive desserts that you can make without spending hours in the kitchen.
For example, you could make a holiday charcuterie board with some seasonal fruits, nuts, and cheeses. Or you could set out a platter of Christmas cookies. Or, the perfect solution is making it a potluck and asking each guest to bring their favorite holiday dessert!
Mulled Wine Station
Mulled wine is the perfect drink to keep your guests warm at an outdoor Christmas party. It’s also a great way to get everyone into the holiday spirit!
Set up a Mulled Wine station with all the ingredients you need to make this festive drink. This includes wine, oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg. Then let your guests serve themselves and enjoy!
This is a great idea for a more sophisticated Christmas party. It’s also a great way to get everyone into the holiday spirit!
Final Thoughts
There are many different ways to throw an outdoor Christmas party that your guests are sure to enjoy.
With a little creativity and planning, you can throw a party that everyone will remember with this large list of ideas for backyard Christmas parties we put together.
Now that you have all the information you need to host a successful outdoor Christmas party, it’s time to start planning!
With a little bit of preparation, your party is sure to be a hit with all your friends and family.
So get out there and start planning your party! And have fun celebrating the holidays with your friends and family.
6 Comments