’Tis the Season for Fun and Games! Holiday Entertaining Ideas

The holiday season is upon us! It’s a magical time of year and one that can also involve so many things to do—hosting and attending events, shopping, wrapping, cooking, and baking. This year, we’ve put together a few tips to make your holiday planning a little more relaxed. And of course, so you have more time for games 😉

Ideas for BIG Family Parties

If you’re someone who celebrates the holidays with BIG family parties, and it’s your turn to host at home … we’ve got a few tips to help you minimize stress and maximize fun.

Food, Food, and More Food!

We all know that big parties come with a ton of food. To avoid stress (and let’s be honest, to avoid breaking the bank), why not do a potluck? Prepare a menu, divide up the dishes fairly (according to each guest’s budget and abilities), and then have everyone provide a portion of the meal. Not only does this make things easier for the host/hostess, but it also makes for a great tradition.

If your family prefers not to do a potluck, why not opt for a holiday catering service? Or perhaps a less traditional/complicated menu like a big batch of macaroni and cheese (sure to please all ages) accompanied by a ton of baguette bread and a veggie platter?

Keep it Lighthearted.

Despite our best intentions, sometimes family gatherings can get tricky, especially when people of different generations, personalities, beliefs, and opinions gather around the same table. To keep holiday events lighthearted, why not plan a few activities that appeal to everyone!

One of our favorite games for a large group evening is Hint. Although the box indicates a maximum of 10 players, there’s really no limit to the number of teams or the number of people per team. The important thing is to have fun! For something calmer and sure to spark discussion, why not try Timeline Twist? Again, the number of players indicated on the box is optional, and you can certainly all take part in building the timeline.

Another tension breaker is to prepare conversation topics, like “three things you’d take to a desert island”; “the best album you’ve listened to this year”; “your favourite TV series”; and, so on. Sometimes guiding the conversation helps to avoid uncomfortable topics that could cause a chill to the evening.

Gift Exchanges

There are often two schools of thought when it comes to gift exchanges: those who love them and those who hate them; it’s rare that anyone is indifferent. Here are a few tips to make them more interesting for those who hate them, while keeping the magic for those who love them!

Choose a budget and a theme. Whether it’s kitchen items, stuffed animals, food, drinks, clothing, gag gifts, etc., choosing a theme and setting a maximum gift budget are some basic rules for a successful exchange.

Establish clear rules for the exchange well before the event. Yes, before the event. That way, there are no surprises on the day about the format of the swap, and everyone is prepared in advance. Can we wrap it in newspaper? What’s the policy on electric tape? Are we allowed to steal? Do we unwrap there or at home? Do we use oven mitts? Can we trade afterward? All these questions often cause confusion, so by addressing them up front, you’ll avoid headaches, and everyone will have fun.

Ideas for Game Night With Friends

The holiday season can be a time to catch up with friends you haven’t seen over the past year, or to be around people you tend to see in a more festive setting. Friend parties can be more relaxed than family get-togethers, and it’s a chance to let your hair down.

Theme Night

A friend gathering is the perfect opportunity to relax with a theme night. Here are a few ideas, but it’s not an exhaustive list, so do whatever you like! 😉

Hollywood Party: Dress up in evening gowns and suits, hand out awards, serve champagne, and have your guests walk the red carpet!

Movie Character Night: Become characters from the same movie, or different movies, choose one, and become them for the evening (a bit like a Halloween party in December!)

Pajama Party: Get comfy in a relaxed atmosphere, with slippers, jammies, stuffies, and everything you need for a great evening.

Tasting Menu

Why not organize an evening centered around yummy food and great company, with a tasting evening? The options are limitless—try some favourite international dishes, like sushi, curries, pasta dishes, tapas, or fun appetizers, like cheese platters, and charcuterie. With beer, wine, or mocktails, it’s up to you! (Psst, we’ve got wine and game pairing suggestions here.) The important thing is to create a theme and stick to it. So go traditional with wine and cheese or go crazy with a food theme inspired by a cult TV series!

Game Options Galore

It’s always good to have several gaming options available. Depending on how the evening progresses, you may find that what you originally wanted to play no longer appeals a few hours later. So, we recommend light games, like Dixit (or its Disney Edition), Fun Facts, Mantis, and Just One. Or, some of the funnier, wackier games on the back burner, like Champions!, Tornaloco, Happy Salmon, or Brain Freeze Family Edition. You might even find yourself not playing at all but getting into a conversation sparked by the game—a perfect way to continue the evening.

Ideas for a Relaxing Home Holiday

Skipping the big events this holiday season? Whatever your reasons, we understand that time spent together with loved ones is truly the greatest gift of all. So, we’ve put together a few ideas to help you enjoy a more relaxed holiday.

Pajama Movie Day!

What could be better than staying in pajamas and binge-watching some of your favourite films? Or all the episodes in that awesome TV series? Sometimes doing nothing is the best thing you can do! If you want to add a little excitement to your pajama day, why not throw a little theme party afterward, with food, drinks, and games inspired by what you’ve been watching?

Are you a Wizarding School fan? Check out these games from the universe of the famous bespectacled wizard here. More of a Star Wars™ or Marvel fan? Don’t worry! We also have games that will appeal to superhero fans (see our article on all Marvel games here) and for fans of a galaxy far, far away (see our selection of Star Wars games here) Psst: the internet has tons of recipes inspired by these fan favourites!

A Day Without Screens

After a full day sitting in front of the TV, a day without screens would certainly be welcome. And we mean ALL screens! Put down your phone and tablet, hide the TV remotes; make it a family challenge. Lock it all a box that can only be opened in the morning. If anyone breaks the rules, they get a consequence chosen by the rest of the family.

Want to know if you have a close-knit family? Try doing a puzzle together! No kidding, puzzles are a great way to relax and unwind during the holiday season. Check out our favourites here.

We also have a great selection of Zen games for a relaxed day. Mosey on over here to check them out.

After playing, you’ve got to eat, of course! Cooking as a family is a great way to spend part of a screen-free day. What’s more, the delicious results of all that work!

Outdoor Activities

Winter is the perfect time to get outside! And there are plenty of outdoor activities that cost nothing (or next to nothing) and don’t involve crowds full of people. A hike, whether on foot or on snowshoes, is a great way to get some fresh air, but it also often leads to interesting discussions. Why not go skating? Many municipalities offer free outdoor skating rinks (if Mother Nature cooperates); some parks offer forest circuits for a most enchanting activity.

What About Gifts?

Whether it’s for someone on your list, a hostess gift, or a gift exchange, we’ve got you covered.

Check out our Gift Guide for a ton of ideas for every taste and budget.