Christmas Party Games: Charades, Would You Rather, Scavenger Hunt

Christmas charades cards

Choose Charades cards and a count. Each press of Make set shuffles the deck, and the same set code brings the same cards back. Print, cut along the dashed lines, and put the cards in a bowl. One player draws a card and acts it out without speaking while the rest guess.

Prompts are written for this site and cover winter activities, holiday chores and a few silly scenes. The adult set adds light, clean humor about shopping, wrapping and holiday dinners.

• Give each team 60 to 90 seconds per card.
• Allow one pass per turn so nobody gets stuck.
• Let younger players act in pairs.

Would you rather and this or that

Would you rather cards give two choices. Players pick one and explain why, or just pick. This or that cards are faster: two words, one pick. Both work well while people arrive or while dinner finishes. For a quick vote, have players step to one side of the room for each choice.

Christmas scavenger hunt: indoor and outdoor

The checklist is for kids and families or for adults, indoors or outdoors. Players tick items as they find or photograph them. Set a time limit and a rule about what counts, such as photos only or bring-back items only.

For an outdoor hunt, stay on sidewalks and paths, look without touching other people’s decorations, and keep an adult with young children. Do not pick or break branches from trees. Some items depend on weather, such as snow, and say so on the sheet.

• Check the weather and daylight before an outdoor hunt.
• Ask before photographing people.
• Take the list, not the lights: look at displays from the sidewalk.

Christmas party games for large groups

Large groups need structure more than clever games. Split the room into teams of four to six, name a host and a scorekeeper, and keep each round short. Games that every team can play at once, such as the scavenger hunt, would you rather and this or that, scale better than games where one person performs while many watch.

Run two or three games and stop while people still want more. Plan about 10 to 15 minutes each, with a short break between.

• Print one set per team so nobody waits for a card.
• Use charades for a final round when everyone knows each other.
• Keep prizes small and optional, and make sure every team gets some credit.
• Have a quiet option, such as the word search, for guests who prefer not to perform.