The festive season is almost here — and that means it’s time to start planning your Christmas party! Whether you’re hosting a relaxed backyard gathering or an all-out festive bash, we’ve rounded up 24 unforgettable Christmas party ideas to make your celebration one to remember. From dazzling decorations to interactive games and Aussie-inspired drinks, here’s everything you need to make it your most magical Christmas yet.
1. Throw a Themed Christmas Party
Set the tone for your celebration with a theme that reflects your style — whether that’s tropical, elegant, or full of classic festive charm. Here are a few crowd favourites:
Outdoor Garden Party
Perfect for an Aussie summer Christmas! Set up a relaxed picnic-style party with fairy lights, fresh flowers, and a casual grazing table filled with local produce. Add citronella candles to keep mozzies away and enjoy Christmas under the stars.
All-White Christmas Party
Elegant and timeless. Dress the room (and yourself!) in white, accented with silver or gold for a touch of sparkle. Use white balloons, frosted garlands, and shimmering snowflake accents to create a winter wonderland — even in the middle of summer.
Tropical Christmas
Embrace the sunshine with vibrant colours, palm leaves, and fruity cocktails. Decorate with pineapples, flamingos, and Santa in board shorts — the ultimate Aussie Christmas vibe!
2. Decorate the Place for a Christmas Party
Decorating is one of the most exciting parts of planning. The right décor instantly sets the scene and fills your home with festive cheer.
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Choose Christmas Colours: Stick to classic tones like red, green, gold, silver, and white — or switch things up with pink pastels or coastal blues for a breezy Australian summer twist. Make a balloon garland for a focal point to any space!
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Add Christmas Lights: String up fairy lights, pop-up decorations hang lanterns, and scatter candles around the space for a warm festive glow. For outdoor celebrations, solar lights or festoon lighting create a magical backyard ambiance.
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Prepare Christmas Stockings for Guests: Make every guest feel special with mini stockings filled with small treats, party favours, or handwritten notes. It’s a thoughtful detail that makes your gathering feel extra personal.
3. Decorate the Christmas Table
No Christmas party is complete without a stunning table setup. Think of it as the centrepiece of your celebration — the place where everyone gathers to eat, laugh, and toast the season.
Table Setting Tips
Use festive party supplies in classic Christmas colours like gold, silver, and red. Add touches of greenery, baubles, or mini wreaths as centrepieces. A bold Christmas table runner or themed placemats can bring everything together beautifully.
Drinks & Snacks
For an Aussie Christmas, keep things light, bright, and refreshing. Here are some easy ideas:
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Create grazing boxes filled with cheeses, dips, crackers, and fresh fruit.
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Serve food in festive shapes — tree-shaped sandwiches, snowman cupcakes, or a fruit platter arranged like a Christmas ornament.
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Offer cool beverages like chilled rosé, sparkling water with berries, sangria, or a Christmas cocktail infused with cinnamon or citrus. For non-alcoholic options, try iced tea or homemade lemonade.
Craving something sweet? Check out our Best Aussie Christmas Desserts!
4. Set Up a Photo Booth
Capture the magic of your party with a DIY photo booth! Use festive backdrops, balloons, streamers, and foil curtains for a picture-perfect setup. Add fun props like Santa hats and reindeer antlers for instant laughs and memories.
5. Put Up a Four-Sided Christmas Tree
Turn decorating into a treat! Use Christmas lollies to create edible ornaments — simply tie strings around sweets and let the kids hang them on the tree. When the party’s over, everyone gets to take home their handiwork for dessert.
6. Make a Sweet Tree Decor
You can also make a sweet edible tree decoration. The easiest way is to put a string around the different Christmas lollies and tie it into a loop. Either way, the point of this Christmas party idea is that the sweet edible decorations can turn Christmas tree decorating into a fun kid's game. All you have to do is leave the Christmas tree to the kids to decorate with lolly ornaments. In the end, everyone can eat what they hang.
7. Play Human Christmas Tree
For a hilarious icebreaker, try the Human Christmas Tree game! Divide guests into teams of at least two people — one person becomes the “tree” while the others decorate them using tinsel, ornaments, and ribbons. The best-dressed tree wins!
8. Decorate Christmas Cookies
Cookie decorating is a timeless classic. Start by baking Christmas-shaped cookies using Christmas cookie cutters. Then, set up decorating stations with various colours of frosting, chocolate drip, and Christmas sprinkles. Kids will enjoy preparing their plates of cookie for Santa. Additionally, you can host a mini competition with prizes for “Best Design,” “Most Festive,” or “Most Unique.”
9. Put on Ugly Christmas Shirts
The ultimate festive tradition! Encourage everyone to wear the most atrocious holiday shirt they can find. Make it more fun by handing out prizes for “Ugliest Shirt,” “Most Creative,” and “Most Festive.” This is a guaranteed way to spark laughter and create a cosy Christmas atmosphere.
10. Bring in a Special Guest
To guarantee the kids will have a great time, surprise them with Santa Claus! Enlist a friend or family member to dress up as Santa and hand out simple gifts such as Christmas lollies. The joy of the children is sure to bring smiles to the adults as well.
11. Play Christmas Words Eggnog Game
Are you planning to serve traditional eggnog to your guests on Christmas? For a cheeky twist, try this simple drinking game: every time someone says a chosen Christmas word (like “Santa” or “presents”), they take a sip. It’s a lighthearted way to keep the fun flowing!
11. Guess the Christmas Carol
Another fun Christmas party idea is a game called “Guess the Christmas Carol.” Play snippets of classic Christmas tunes and have guests guess the song title or artist. The first person or team to guess the name of the carol gets a point. Award small prizes to the teams with the most points. It’s festive, nostalgic, and bound to get everyone singing along.
12. Go Carolling
Celebrate the season with some good old-fashioned carolling! Spread holiday cheer by gathering your crew for a carolling session. Sing to neighbours, friends, or local community centres — then come home for a cosy dinner to end the night on a high note.
14. Prepare Christmas Karaoke
Karaoke night, but make it Christmas! Christmas karaoke can be a great alternative to traditional carolling. Create a playlist of festive hits and encourage guests to perform their favourite tunes. Whether it’s “Jingle Bell Rock” or “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” it’s guaranteed fun.
14. Host a Kris Kringle
A holiday classic! Ahead of the event, have guests randomly draw names and exchange thoughtful gifts while keeping the giver a mystery. Set a spending limit and encourage creative, personalised presents. At some point during the party, you can declare the time for gift-giving and distribute the presents. This will make it a fun and thoughtful ritual that everyone will enjoy.
Need ideas for workplace gifts? Check out our Kris Kringle Workplace Gift Ideas.
15. Write a Christmas Wish List
Spread positivity, kindness, and generosity by inviting guests to write wishes for each other and the world at large. Guests can read them aloud, hang them on the tree, or keep them anonymous for a heartfelt moment of reflection.
17. Make a Christmas Gift
Set up a small workshop crafting station with simple materials so guests can create homemade gifts like candles, ornaments, or cards. It’s meaningful, cost-friendly, and a lovely way to give from the heart.
18. Create a Christmas Cocktail Bar
Turn your party into a festive bar experience! Set up a DIY cocktail station with mixers, fruit, and Billson’s Cordials for a refreshing summer twist. Serve them in stylish drinking glasses and top with festive garnishes like mint, berries, or cinnamon sticks.
19. Host a Party Card Game Marathon
Keep the energy high after dinner with a few rounds of party card games. Choose quick, laughter-filled favourites or festive-themed trivia to get everyone involved. You could also opt for “Never Have I Ever: Christmas Edition,” or a cheeky “Who Am I?” guessing game featuring festive characters.
20. Set Up a Christmas Wish Wall
Encourage guests to write their wishes, gratitude notes, or resolutions for the coming year on colourful tags or cards. Hang them on a wall, garland, or pinboard for a touching display that doubles as party décor. It’s a beautiful reminder of what really matters during the season.
21. Organise a Christmas Movie Marathon
Set up a cosy corner with cushions, fairy lights, and snacks. Queue up festive favourites like Elf, Love Actually, or The Grinch. Perfect for winding down after dinner or a laid-back Boxing Day celebration.
22. Office Awards Ceremony
End the work year on a high with a light-hearted office awards night. Think “Best Desk Décor,” “Coffee Addict of the Year,” or “Most Likely to Be on Holiday Already.” Add mocktails, snacks, and music for a proper end-of-year celebration.
23. Christmas Quiz
Host a festive trivia game testing everyone’s Christmas knowledge — from classic films and carols to Aussie summer traditions. Split into teams, award small prizes, and crown the Christmas Quiz Champion!
24. Charity Raffle or Donation Drive
Spread the spirit of giving by hosting a charity raffle, bake sale, or gift donation drive for a local cause. It’s a meaningful way to bring colleagues together and make a difference in your community.
These fun and festive Christmas party ideas are guaranteed to make your gathering full of joy, laughter, and Aussie Christmas spirit. Start planning now and you’ll be sure to have a fantastic party! Browse our site to find all your party essentials, decorations, and supplies to make the celebration shine. We wish you a Merry Christmas!