Christmas game ideas for youth groups focus on bringing energy, teamwork, and holiday cheer to young participants through creative, faith-centered, and fun-filled activities. These games are designed to help youth connect, laugh, and celebrate the season’s message of joy and togetherness. Examples include Christmas Scavenger Hunts, where teams race to find festive items or complete challenges related to the Nativity story or Christmas traditions; Wrap the Mummy (Christmas Edition), where players use toilet paper or wrapping paper to turn teammates into “snowmen”; and Christmas Charades or Minute to Win It: Holiday Edition, featuring silly seasonal tasks like stacking candy canes or balancing ornaments. Another meaningful option is Gift of Kindness Bingo, encouraging youth to perform acts of kindness such as complimenting someone or donating to charity.
These activities not only keep the group engaged and entertained but also help build community spirit, teamwork, and reflection on the true meaning of Christmas. Whether held during a youth night, church event, or holiday retreat, these games ensure that everyone feels included and inspired by the festive season.
Christmas Game Ideas for Youth Group
Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Credit @bartmillard
Description :
Turn your youth group into merry detectives! Hide Christmas-themed items around your venue and give clues or riddles leading to each one. The first team to find all items wins a festive prize!
How to Play (100 words):
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Divide players into small teams of 4–6.
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Prepare a list of Christmas items (ornament, candy cane, Santa hat, etc.) hidden around the room or building.
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Hand out the first clue to each team—each clue leads to the next location.
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Add riddles or Bible-related Christmas questions to make it more fun.
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The team that finds all items first or completes the list wins!
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Reward them with candy canes, hot cocoa, or Christmas treats.
Wrap Battle Challenge
Credit @realcaseyjay
Description:
A hilarious game of skill and speed! Teams race to wrap oddly shaped gifts using wrapping paper, tape, and creativity. The neatest and fastest wrapper wins festive bragging rights!
How to Play (100 words):
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Split into groups of 3–4 players.
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Give each team wrapping supplies and a few oddly shaped objects (like a basketball, water bottle, or shoe).
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Set a timer for 5 minutes.
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Each team must wrap their items neatly, completely covering them.
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Add challenges like “wrap with one hand” or “wrap behind your back” for extra fun.
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Once time’s up, judges vote on neatness, creativity, and speed.
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Award small prizes for “Best Wrapper” and “Most Creative.”
Christmas Charades
Credit @dr.karenkassabian
Description:
Classic charades with a festive twist! Players act out Christmas phrases, songs, or movie titles without speaking while their team guesses. Endless laughter guaranteed!
How to Play (100 words):
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Write Christmas-related words, phrases, and movies on slips of paper (e.g., “Frosty the Snowman,” “Silent Night,” “Wrapping Presents”).
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Divide into two teams.
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One player from each team acts out a word while their team guesses within one minute.
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No talking or pointing at objects allowed!
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Correct guesses earn one point per round.
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Rotate players each round.
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The team with the most points after all clues are used wins.
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Optional: play Christmas music softly in the background for atmosphere!
Stocking Guess Game
Credit @partygames4kids.com
Description:
Test everyone’s senses with this Christmas mystery challenge! Players guess the hidden items stuffed inside a stocking by touch alone.
How to Play (100 words):
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Fill a Christmas stocking with 10 random small items (e.g., candy cane, ornament, pinecone, small toy, spoon).
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Without letting anyone peek, pass the stocking around.
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Each player reaches in and feels one item without looking.
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They must write down their guess.
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Once everyone has had a turn, reveal all items and tally correct guesses.
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The person with the most right answers wins.
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Make it trickier by adding unusual textures like marshmallows, tinsel, or bells!
White Elephant Gift Exchange
Credit @gabbycusmir
Description:
A crowd favorite filled with laughter and surprises! Players exchange quirky, funny, or thoughtful wrapped gifts in a playful swapping game.
How to Play (100 words):
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Everyone brings a wrapped gift within a set price range.
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Place all gifts in the center of the room.
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Players draw numbers to determine gift-picking order.
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The first player selects and opens a gift.
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The next player can choose a new gift or “steal” an opened one.
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If a gift is stolen, the player chooses another unopened one.
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Limit the number of steals per gift (usually 3).
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Continue until all gifts are opened.
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End with laughs and group photos of everyone’s prizes!
Human Christmas Tree
Credit @10awesome.com
Description:
Turn your friends into walking Christmas trees! Teams decorate one volunteer with tinsel, ornaments, and garlands for the ultimate holiday fashion show.
How to Play (100 words):
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Divide the group into small teams.
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Provide each team with tinsel, garlands, tape, ribbons, and ornaments.
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Choose one volunteer per team to be the “tree.”
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Set a timer for 5–7 minutes.
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Teams must decorate their human tree as festively as possible.
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Once time’s up, each “tree” walks the runway.
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Judges (leaders or peers) rate them based on creativity, neatness, and theme.
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Give awards like “Most Festive Tree” or “Funniest Design.”
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Capture the moment with photos!
Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest
Credit @racheljeffsofficial
Description:
A deliciously creative activity! Youth decorate Christmas-shaped cookies with icing, sprinkles, and candies to design edible masterpieces.
How to Play (100 words):
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Provide plain sugar cookies in festive shapes (stars, trees, snowmen).
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Set out icing bags, food coloring, candies, and sprinkles.
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Give each participant 10–15 minutes to decorate.
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Encourage creativity—funny, elegant, or themed designs all count.
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Have judges (leaders or peers) evaluate cookies on appearance and creativity.
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Award prizes like “Most Creative” or “Best Holiday Spirit.”
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After judging, everyone can enjoy eating their cookies together with hot chocolate!
Christmas Minute to Win It
Credit @sierramead
Description:
Fast-paced mini challenges inspired by holiday themes! Compete in silly one-minute games for points and Christmas glory.
How to Play (100 words):
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Prepare 5–10 Christmas-themed mini-games (e.g., stack marshmallows, toss ornaments into a bucket, unwrap candy with mittens).
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Divide the group into teams.
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Each player or team competes in 60-second challenges.
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Award points for completion or speed.
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Keep score on a board.
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Add upbeat Christmas music to keep energy high.
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After all rounds, tally points and crown the winning team.
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Optional: give candy canes or small prizes for winners of each round.
Snowball Fight (Indoor Version)
Credit @justforkidsyoga
Description (3 lines):
Bring the winter fun indoors! Use paper “snowballs” for a safe, hilarious Christmas battle between teams.
How to Play (100 words):
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Crumple white paper into “snowballs” (about 50–100 total).
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Divide the room into two sides with tape.
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Split the group into two equal teams.
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When the music starts, players throw snowballs at the opposing side.
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No crossing the line!
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After 3 minutes, stop and count how many snowballs are on each side.
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The team with fewer snowballs wins the round.
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Play 3 rounds for the ultimate snowball champion.
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Finish with Christmas snacks and laughter!
Gift Wrap Relay
Credit @totswyckoff
Description (3 lines):
Speed meets silliness in this holiday relay! Teams race to wrap and unwrap gifts using limited supplies and wacky challenges.
How to Play (100 words):
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Divide the group into equal teams.
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Provide each with wrapping paper, scissors, and tape.
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Place boxes at one end of the room.
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Players take turns running to wrap a box, then tag the next teammate to unwrap it.
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Add challenges like “wear oven mitts” or “wrap while blindfolded.”
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Time each team.
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The fastest to complete the relay neatly wins.
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Optional: have judges rate the final wrapped boxes for extra laughs.