The holiday season is the perfect time to spend quality moments with friends, and there’s no shortage of exciting group activities to enjoy together. Whether you’re gathering in person or connecting virtually, the holidays are an opportunity to bond over laughter, shared experiences, and creating lasting memories. From outdoor adventures to cozy indoor games, here are some fun group activities to enjoy with your friends this holiday season.
1. Holiday Movie Marathon
What better way to get into the holiday spirit than with a festive movie marathon? Whether you’re a fan of classics like Home Alone, Elf, and The Grinch or prefer newer hits like Love Actually or The Christmas Chronicles, there’s something for everyone.
Tips for a Great Movie Marathon:
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Create a Cozy Atmosphere: Grab blankets, pillows, and warm drinks to make it feel extra cozy.
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Snacks are Key: Stock up on popcorn, candy canes, cookies, and other holiday treats.
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Themed Drinks: Prepare festive beverages like hot chocolate, mulled wine, or even a holiday punch.
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Interactive Movie Bingo: Add a fun twist with a bingo card filled with common holiday movie tropes (e.g., “someone gets kissed under mistletoe,” “snow falls”).
2. Holiday-Themed Scavenger Hunt
A holiday scavenger hunt is a fantastic way to inject some friendly competition and laughter into your gatherings. Create a list of holiday-themed items or clues related to Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s, or any other festive traditions your group celebrates.
Ideas for Scavenger Hunt Items:
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A mistletoe
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A wrapped present
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Something sparkly (tinsel, ornaments, etc.)
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A holiday-themed snack or drink
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A letter to Santa
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A snow globe
You can do this hunt indoors, around the house, or outdoors if the weather allows. It’s a great way to get everyone involved, and the prize for the winner could be something simple but fun like a Christmas-themed trophy or a group activity voucher.
3. Cookie Decorating Party
Nothing says the holidays like freshly baked cookies, and decorating them can be just as much fun! Invite your friends over for a cookie decorating party, where everyone can unleash their inner baker and create edible masterpieces.
What You’ll Need:
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Sugar or gingerbread cookies (pre-baked or bake them together)
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Icing in various colors
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Sprinkles, edible glitter, and other fun toppings
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Holiday-themed cookie cutters (stars, reindeer, snowflakes)
This activity is not only creative but also delicious. Set up a decorating station and allow everyone to create their own unique designs. You can even make it a friendly competition, with a prize for the best-decorated cookie.
4. DIY Holiday Crafting
Get crafty this holiday season by creating personalized gifts or holiday decorations. It’s a great way to bond with your friends while making something unique and meaningful. Plus, DIY projects can be a relaxing way to de-stress.
Craft Ideas:
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Handmade Ornaments: Use clay, wood, or even paper to create personalized tree ornaments.
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Holiday Wreaths: Gather greenery, ribbons, and other materials to create custom wreaths for doors or windows.
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Personalized Mugs: Decorate mugs with paint markers or create custom mugs with photos for your friends.
You can host a crafting party where everyone brings their own materials and ideas, or you can create a group project and work on it together. Either way, it’s a creative and fun way to celebrate the season.
5. Outdoor Winter Activities
If your area gets snow and cold weather, take advantage of it by enjoying some outdoor winter activities. Whether you’re skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, or simply having a snowball fight, outdoor activities can be a great way to get active and enjoy the season with friends.
Winter Activity Ideas:
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Ice Skating: Find a local rink or head to a natural frozen pond for ice skating.
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Skiing or Snowboarding: If you live near mountains, grab your skis or boards and spend the day on the slopes.
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Snowshoeing or Winter Hiking: Explore nature trails with snowshoes or just a good pair of boots.
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Building Snowmen: Even if you’re not into sports, you can always make snow angels or build a giant snowman with your friends.
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Sledding: Grab some sleds and race your friends down the hill for a day of pure fun.
Outdoor activities are an energizing way to enjoy the holiday season and make the most of the winter months.
6. Secret Santa Gift Exchange
A Secret Santa gift exchange is a time-honored tradition that always brings joy during the holidays. The surprise of opening a gift from a friend and trying to guess who your Secret Santa was makes this activity so much fun.
How to Make It Even More Fun:
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Set a Budget: Agree on a price range so everyone’s gifts are in a similar range.
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Theme It: You can make the gift exchange even more interesting by adding a theme, like “handmade gifts” or “eco-friendly presents.”
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Reveal Party: Organize a small gathering or virtual meeting to reveal the Secret Santa gifts. It’s always exciting to see the creativity that goes into picking out a perfect gift for someone!
7. Holiday Karaoke Night
Let your inner pop star shine at a holiday karaoke night! There are endless holiday songs that make the perfect backdrop for a festive and hilarious night of singing. From Jingle Bells to All I Want for Christmas Is You, it’s all about having fun with your friends and belting out your favorite tunes.
Tips for a Successful Karaoke Night:
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Create a playlist of holiday songs.
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Add some non-holiday hits so everyone can sing their favorite songs.
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Have a competition or simply let everyone perform just for fun.
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Record the performances to look back on later for laughs!
Virtual Option: If your friends aren’t in the same area, consider using a karaoke app or video conferencing tool where everyone can join and sing together.
8. Holiday-Themed Potluck Dinner
Host a holiday-themed potluck dinner where everyone brings a dish that represents their own holiday traditions. Whether it’s a favorite family recipe or a dish that reminds them of their childhood, a potluck can be a wonderful way to sample a variety of festive foods and share your culture and traditions with each other.
Potluck Ideas:
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Main dishes: roast turkey, ham, vegan main courses
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Side dishes: mashed potatoes, casseroles, roasted vegetables
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Desserts: pies, cakes, cookies, and fruitcakes
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Drinks: eggnog, mulled wine, spiced cider
To make it even more fun, ask guests to bring their dish with a small note explaining its significance to them or their family’s traditions. It’s a lovely way to learn more about each other while enjoying some delicious food.
9. Gift Wrapping Party
Gift wrapping doesn’t have to be a chore when you turn it into a social event. Get together with your friends, bring all your gifts, and spend the afternoon wrapping presents while chatting, listening to music, and sipping on hot cocoa.
Ideas for a Fun Gift Wrapping Party:
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Theme your wrapping: Create a wrapping station with fun and festive materials, such as patterned wrapping paper, bows, and tags.
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Show off your creativity: Have a contest for the best-wrapped gift, with prizes for creativity, originality, or most festive wrapping.
Wrapping gifts together makes the task feel like less of a chore and is a perfect way to spend time with friends before the holiday rush.
10. New Year’s Eve Game Night
Ring in the New Year with a fun-filled game night! Whether you play board games, card games, or party games, a New Year’s Eve game night can be the perfect way to celebrate with your closest friends. Consider incorporating games that are easy to play with a large group, such as Charades, Pictionary, or a trivia game based on the year’s events.
Ideas for Game Night Fun:
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Resolution Charades: Have everyone act out their New Year’s resolutions and see if others can guess.
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Countdown Timer Game: Play a game where you try to finish as many rounds of something (like Pictionary or trivia) before the clock strikes midnight.
The holidays are a time to enjoy the company of the people who matter most, and these group activities are a great way to make the season even more special. Whether you’re bonding over a movie marathon, getting creative with DIY crafts, or enjoying the outdoors, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The most important thing is to have fun, relax, and make memories with your friends that will last well beyond the holidays!
