Christmas Banquet Game Ideas for Festive Gatherings

Christmas banquet game ideas are all about bringing energy, laughter, and connection to a festive gathering. These games transform an ordinary dinner into a joyful celebration filled with fun and camaraderie. Popular ideas often include interactive and team-based challenges that encourage guests to mingle and engage with one another. For example, a “Christmas Trivia” game can test everyone’s knowledge about holiday traditions, songs, and movies, while a “Guess the Carol” game can involve snippets of familiar tunes played for guests to identify. Another favorite is “Holiday Charades”, where players act out Christmas-related words or movies without speaking. For a more personalized touch, hosts might organize a “Christmas Scavenger Hunt” around the banquet hall, hiding festive clues that lead to small prizes or treats.

These games not only entertain guests but also create shared memories that make the celebration more meaningful. They can be tailored for both formal and casual banquets, ensuring that everyone—from coworkers to family members—feels included and immersed in the holiday spirit.

Christmas Banquet Game Ideas

Christmas Gift Wrap Relay

Credit@thewellakron.com

Description:
Teams race to wrap gifts as neatly and quickly as possible using festive wrapping paper. The twist? They must do it wearing oven mitts! It’s fast-paced, hilarious, and perfect for laughter-filled banquets.

How to Play (Steps):

• Divide guests into equal teams with a table, wrapping paper, tape, and a small box per team.

• Give each first player a pair of oven mitts.

• On “Go!”, the first player starts wrapping the box as best they can.

• After 30 seconds, pass the mitts to the next teammate.

• Continue until the gift is fully wrapped.

• Judges score neatness and speed; the best-wrapped gift wins!

Christmas Carol Charades

Description:
Players act out classic Christmas carols while their team guesses the song title. No singing or humming allowed — only silent acting!

How to Play (Steps):

• Write carol names (e.g., Silent Night, Jingle Bells) on slips of paper.

• Split into two or more teams.

• One player from Team A draws a slip and acts out the carol using only gestures.

• Team A has 60 seconds to guess correctly.

• If they fail, Team B gets one chance to steal.

• Rotate turns and keep score.

• The team with the most correct guesses wins the round!

Ornament Balance Challenge

Credit@gettishow

Description:
A fun coordination game where participants balance ornaments on popsicle sticks — one wrong move, and Christmas crashes down!

How to Play (Steps):

• Each player gets a popsicle stick and one ornament ball.

• Place the stick in your mouth like a balance beam.

• On “Start!”, players must walk across a set distance balancing the ornament.

• Add obstacles (like a tinsel tunnel or chair) to increase difficulty.

• If the ornament falls, the player restarts.

• The first player to reach the finish line without dropping wins.

• Play multiple rounds for more festive laughs!

Reindeer Antler Toss

Credit@orientaltrading.com

Description:
Players toss rings onto inflatable reindeer antlers worn by teammates. It’s a holiday version of ring toss with tons of giggles and chaos!

How to Play (Steps):

• Divide guests into pairs — one wears inflatable antlers, the other gets 5 rings.

• Mark a throwing line 5 feet away.

• On “Go!”, the thrower tosses rings aiming to land them on the antlers.

• Each successful ring earns points.

• Swap roles after one round.

• Keep score over several rounds.

• The pair with the most total points wins a festive prize!

Christmas Cookie Face Race

Credit@evanrosenman

A hilarious game where players move a cookie from their forehead to their mouth — using only facial muscles!

How to Play (Steps):

• Give each player a small Christmas cookie.

• Players tilt their heads back and place the cookie on their forehead.

• On “Go!”, they must move the cookie down to their mouth without using hands.

• Only facial movements allowed — eyebrow lifts, cheek wiggles, and smiles!

• If the cookie falls, they restart.

• First to eat their cookie wins.

• Perfect for photos and guaranteed laughter!

Secret Santa Scavenger Hunt

Credit@windycityfieldhouse.com

Description:
Guests search for hidden “gifts” using riddles or clues. It’s part mystery, part Christmas adventure!

How to Play (Steps):

• Beforehand, hide small wrapped gifts around the banquet area.

• Write clever riddles or clues for each location.

• Divide guests into teams or individuals.

• Give the first clue to everyone; each clue leads to the next hidden spot.

• Teams collect gifts as they go.

• The first team to find the final gift wins.

• All found gifts can be kept or shared as party favors!

Christmas Pictionary

Credit@artofit.org

Description:
Players draw festive words or phrases while teammates race to guess — think snowmen, Santa, or “Twelve Days of Christmas!”

How to Play (Steps):

• Prepare a bowl with slips of holiday-themed phrases.

• Split into two teams and set up a whiteboard or large notepad.

• One player draws the word while their team guesses.

• No talking or writing letters allowed!

• Teams have 60 seconds per turn.

• Alternate between teams and track points.

• The team with the most correct guesses after several rounds wins!

Snowball Toss

Credit@Raising Memories

Description:
A friendly throwing game where players aim to toss “snowballs” (cotton balls or marshmallows) into buckets from a distance.

How to Play (Steps):

• Line up buckets labeled with different point values.

• Give each player 10 cotton balls or marshmallows.

• Mark a throwing line 5–10 feet away.

• Players take turns tossing snowballs into the buckets.

• Add festive music and cheering to boost energy!

• Count scores after all throws.

• The player with the highest total wins a Christmas treat!

Santa’s Belly Balloon Race

Credit@The Tus House

Description:
Players race to pop balloons using their “Santa bellies” — pure silly fun for all ages!

How to Play (Steps):

• Inflate red balloons and place them in a basket.

• Divide players into pairs.

• On “Go!”, one holds a balloon at waist height, and the other pops it by pressing bellies together — no hands allowed!

• Continue until all balloons are popped.

• The team that pops the most within one minute wins.

• Add Christmas music for extra excitement!

Name That Christmas Tune

Credit@The Mountain Buddies // Tiny Mule

Description:
A festive musical guessing game — players identify Christmas songs from short snippets or hummed tunes.

How to Play (Steps):

• Prepare a playlist of Christmas songs.

• Play only 3–5 seconds of each track.

• Players shout or write their guesses.

• Award points for correct answers.

• Bonus points if they can sing the next line!

• Keep score through several rounds.

• The person or team with the most points wins a small prize.