8 Out-of-the-Box Ideas for Hosting a Holiday Party for Friends

 

The holidays are just around the corner, and you know what that means? It’s holiday party time! You don’t want to do the same boring holiday party you’ve done every year, right? Here are eight out-of-the-box ideas for hosting a party for your friends.

1. Make It a Murder Mystery

Everyone loves a good activity, so why not make it a murder mystery? You can give each of your guests a character to dress up as and play, and you can guide them through clues throughout the night to figure out which among you is the murderer. This is a silly way to make sure everyone has fun and is a great way to get people excited about your party.

 

2. Add a Theme

At this point, we’ve all been to countless holiday parties, so why not make yours a little something special by adding a theme? A theme can be anything you want it to be and will make your guests think a little extra about what they’re wearing to your event. This is a fun and easy way to make your night a little more fun.

 

3. Mystery Guest

Want to really shake things up? Have each of your guests bring one mystery guest. This can be anybody from their lives that they think the other guests will not know. When doing a mystery guest party, you are sure to spark lots of interesting conversation and this is a great way to connect new people.

 

4. Change of Scenery

We’ve all been to parties in someone’s living room – why not shake things up with a change of scenery? Consider renting a boar or chartering a boat for the evening to get your guests out of their element and create new memories in a new environment.

 

5. Host a Dessert Swap

Potlucks are done and boring, but have you heard of a dessert swap? This is where everyone brings their favorite dessert – cookies, cakes, brownies, you name it, and leaves with someone else’s dessert. This is a fun and delicious activity to add to your holiday party.

 

6. Host a Holiday Look Contest

Before your event, tell your guests that you will be giving out a prize for the most festive outfit. Have your guests whip out their holiday sweaters and get dressed to the nines. To keep things fair, make sure to have a group vote on who has the best outfit.

 

7. Share a Playlist

It is no secret that music can make or break the ambiance of a holiday party, so why not have your guests help you out? Before the event, make a shared playlist and invite everyone to add whatever holiday songs they want. You will have a blast listening to the mashup of tunes that everyone concocts together and trying to guess who is responsible for adding what.

 

8. Incorporate Holiday Cocktails

Encourage each of your guests to bring the fixings to whip up a holiday cocktail. This is a fun way to try a variety of different drinks, and you can make a contest out of who makes the most tasty concoction. Many of these recipes can easily be made into mocktails for guests who don’t drink.