The holiday season is the perfect time to create unforgettable memories with friends and classmates, and what better way to spread the cheer than with a Christmas party at school? Whether you’re planning a small classroom gathering or a school-wide celebration, games are the secret ingredient to keep the fun flowing and the energy high. From hilarious challenges to creative team activities, there’s something for every age group to enjoy.
You might be wondering ,what makes the perfect Christmas game? Well, it’s all about keeping things festive, interactive, and a little bit silly. Luckily, we’ve rounded up 23 fun Christmas party games for school that will guarantee tons of laughs and team spirit. Ready to get the festivities started? Let’s dive right in!
1. Christmas Charades
Charades is a timeless game, and Christmas charades adds that special holiday twist. How do you play? Players take turns acting out Christmas-related phrases, songs, or activities without speaking while others try to guess what it is. You can have categories like “Santa’s Workshop,” “Holiday Movies,” or “Winter Wonderland.”
Why is this game a hit? It’s a simple and fun way to bring out everyone’s creativity. Plus, it encourages teamwork and gets everyone laughing. Don’t forget to create a list of Christmas-themed prompts ahead of time so you’re ready to play right away!
2. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
This festive take on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” is an absolute must at a Christmas party! The game is simple: blindfolded players try to pin a red nose onto a poster of Rudolph the Reindeer. The one who gets closest to the right spot wins!
What’s great about this game is its accessibility—it’s perfect for kids of all ages and doesn’t require much prep. You can even make it a bit more challenging by adding a timer or rotating players quickly to keep everyone on their toes.
3. Christmas Bingo
Everyone loves a good game of bingo, especially when it’s Christmas-themed. This game is easy to set up, and it’s perfect for large groups. Create bingo cards with festive symbols such as Christmas trees, snowflakes, presents, and Santa hats.
Why should you play? It’s an engaging way to keep kids entertained while encouraging them to pay attention to the holiday spirit around them. You can add small holiday-themed prizes for extra excitement. A little healthy competition never hurt anyone!
4. Snowball Toss
What’s more Christmas-y than a good old-fashioned snowball fight? For this game, all you need are white socks or cotton balls (to make the “snowballs”) and a target. Set up a few buckets or large containers, and see how many snowballs each player can toss into the target.
This game is great because it’s both fun and a little challenging. You can even make it into a team game or a relay race to keep things exciting. The best part? It’s mess-free!
5. Christmas Tree Decorating Relay
Get your creative juices flowing with a Christmas tree decorating relay. Divide the students into teams, and give each team a “tree” (a large cone or even a simple cardboard cutout). The players must race to decorate their tree with tinsel, ornaments, and other festive decorations.
Why do kids love this game? It combines teamwork and creativity, and everyone gets to show off their Christmas spirit. Plus, it’s a race, so it’s sure to get the adrenaline pumping. Make sure to have plenty of holiday decorations on hand!
6. Christmas Carol Lip Sync Battle
This game is perfect for anyone who loves music and fun performances. The idea is simple: students pick their favorite Christmas carol and perform a lip sync to it in front of their classmates.
Why is it fun? It’s a chance for students to show off their personalities and sense of humor. They’ll have a blast trying to outdo each other with the silliest and most over-the-top lip sync performances. You can even have a panel of judges to pick the winner!
7. Holiday Pictionary
Pictionary is a game that never fails to entertain, and a Christmas version brings even more laughter. Players draw pictures of holiday-related items or scenes while their teammates try to guess what it is.
What makes this game so great? It encourages quick thinking and creativity. Plus, you’ll get to see some hilarious attempts at drawing everything from Christmas trees to snowmen. It’s an easy game to set up and can involve players of all skill levels.
8. Santa Says
A holiday version of “Simon Says” can get everyone moving and laughing. Players follow commands like “Santa says jump like a reindeer” or “Santa says dance like an elf.” If Santa doesn’t say it, and someone follows the command, they’re out.
Why should you play this game? It’s an active game that gets everyone moving and laughing. It’s easy to play, requires no special equipment, and can be adapted to suit kids of different ages and abilities.
9. Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Who doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt? This holiday version can be done inside or outside, and the goal is to find hidden Christmas-themed items. You can provide clues or riddles, or even just give students a list of items to look for.
What makes it great? A scavenger hunt gets kids moving and thinking. It’s a fantastic way to explore the holiday decorations and keep everyone engaged. Plus, the thrill of finding the next item is always a crowd-pleaser!
10. Christmas Freeze Dance
This game combines dancing with the fun of “freeze tag.” Play some Christmas music and let the kids dance around, but when the music stops, they have to freeze in place. Anyone caught moving after the music stops is out.
Why is this game so enjoyable? It encourages movement, creativity, and a little bit of competitiveness. Plus, it’s always hilarious to see how long kids can stay still when they want to keep dancing!
11. Secret Santa Gift Exchange Game
For this game, each student draws a name from a hat and buys a small gift for that person. The twist? They must guess who their Secret Santa is after opening the gift.
What’s fun about this game? It adds a bit of mystery and excitement to the usual gift exchange. Plus, it encourages thoughtful gift-giving and can lead to some fun moments of surprise and laughter.
12. Candy Cane Hunt
Hide candy canes around the room or outside area and have students search for them. The person who finds the most candy canes by the end of the game wins a prize.
What’s great about this game? It’s simple and festive! The hunt for candy canes is a great way to get everyone involved, and the sweet rewards make it even more fun.
13. Christmas Ornament Relay
In this game, students pass a Christmas ornament from one person to another using only spoons, or you can set up obstacles to make the relay more challenging. The team that completes the relay first wins!
Why is this game perfect? It’s a great way to encourage teamwork and coordination while adding a bit of competition. Plus, who doesn’t love the challenge of carrying delicate ornaments without dropping them?
14. Christmas Tree Bowling
Set up a makeshift bowling alley using empty cans decorated like Christmas trees, and use a soft ball as the bowling ball. Players take turns trying to knock over as many “trees” as possible in one roll.
Why will kids love this? It’s an interactive and active game that’s easy to set up. Plus, the challenge of knocking down the Christmas tree cans will keep everyone entertained.
15. Snowman Sack Race
Set up a sack race, but with a twist—players have to race while wearing a white sack to mimic a snowman. The first team to get to the finish line wins!
What’s so fun about this game? It’s a great way to get kids moving and laughing as they race in snowman style. It’s also a great way to incorporate some holiday fun into a classic race!
16. Christmas Bingo with a Twist
A traditional bingo game with a fun holiday twist! Add tasks to the bingo cards that kids have to complete, such as “sing a Christmas carol” or “do the reindeer dance.”
Why is this a hit? It’s a twist on a beloved game that keeps kids entertained and involved. The extra tasks make it more engaging and fun!
17. Snowball Fight (With Soft Balls)
Get ready for a friendly snowball fight! Using soft white balls, kids can form teams and have a “snowball” battle. The last team standing with the most snowballs left wins.
Why does this work? It’s a classic, fun way to burn some energy and get everyone in the holiday spirit. Plus, the snowballs are soft, so it’s safe and hilarious!
18. Christmas Story Time Challenge
Kids can take turns reading short Christmas stories or passages, but here’s the catch—everyone has to act out what’s happening as they read.
What’s the appeal? It’s a creative way to combine storytelling with interactive fun. It’s a perfect way to get kids engaged with their imagination and creativity.
19. Christmas Memory Game
Set up a memory card game with holiday-themed images. Lay the cards face down, and players take turns flipping two cards at a time to try and find a matching pair.
Why is this game perfect? It’s a fun and educational way to get kids thinking while enjoying the Christmas spirit. Plus, it’s a relaxing game that doesn’t require too much energy.
20. Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
This is a great group activity! Provide gingerbread house kits or make your own houses from graham crackers and let the kids decorate with
frosting, candy, and other fun edible decorations.
Why is this fun? It sparks creativity and provides a chance to work together. Plus, everyone loves the chance to decorate a gingerbread house!
21. Christmas Cookie Decorating
Set up a cookie-decorating station with sugar cookies, frosting, and all sorts of sprinkles, candies, and edible decorations. Kids can create their own holiday masterpieces.
What’s not to love? It’s a hands-on activity that lets kids get creative and enjoy a sweet treat at the same time. Perfect for any Christmas party!
22. Christmas Talent Show
Let the kids show off their talents in a Christmas-themed talent show. From singing carols to telling jokes, each student gets a chance to perform for the group.
Why does this work? It’s an awesome way to build confidence and celebrate the unique talents of every student. Plus, it’s always hilarious to see what kind of holiday performances kids come up with!
23. Elf on the Shelf Relay
Set up a relay race where kids have to carry an “Elf on the Shelf” (or similar stuffed toy) and pass it to the next player without dropping it. The team that completes the relay wins.
What’s great about this game? It combines physical activity with a fun holiday twist, and it’s sure to get everyone excited and active. It’s a fantastic way to wrap up a festive day!
Conclusion
With these 23 fun Christmas party games for school, you’ll have everything you need to make this holiday season one to remember. Whether you’re looking for creative crafts, active challenges, or fun team games, these ideas will keep kids entertained, laughing, and feeling the Christmas spirit. Ready to host your school’s most memorable Christmas party yet? Let the games begin!