Festive Family Fun: My Ultimate Christmas Games & Movie Night

If you’re looking for a way to bring a little extra magic to the run up to Christmas, let me share how I hosted a festive games night for my friends and their children. It was one of those evenings that felt like a Christmas film – full of laughter, a bit of chaos, and plenty of memories (plus a few faces covered in whipped cream).

I planned the night for my two friends, Tasha and Jess, and their kids: Thea, Bella, Noah and Tommy. To keep everyone excited (and to avoid the “What are we doing next?” questions every five minutes), I sent out a text with a proper itinerary ahead of time. Here’s what was on the agenda:

Five rounds of games (Davies vs Richards): Snowstorm Showdown, Antler Antics, Gift Grab, C is for Christmas, and Santa’s Smarty Pants
Secret Santa
Decorate your own Yule log
Christmas movie night
Jingle Jams karaoke (which, spoiler alert, we ran out of time for!)

I even made a printable poster and a digital version of the itinerary, so everyone knew what to expect.

Corrina’s Top Tip:
I made the game posters by wrapping cardboard in candy cane striped wrapping paper and sticking on a printed poster with double sided tape. No fancy frames needed, just a bit of creativity and it totally brought the Christmas vibes!

Round 1: Snowstorm Showdown

We kicked off the night with a burst of energy. Think egg and spoon race, but with a snowy twist!

Game 1: Snowball Scoop

Each team had a bucket of “snowballs” (I used cotton balls, but ping pong balls or scrunched up paper work too). The aim was to move as many snowballs as possible from one bucket to another using only a spoon, no hands allowed! I set a timer for 60 seconds. Each snowball in the bucket at the end scored a point.

The kids dashed back and forth, spoons wobbling, and the adults couldn’t resist joining in. There was plenty of competitive spirit (and a lot of screaming when someone dropped a snowball mid-sprint). Jess’s daughter Thea was so determined, and Jess couldn’t help but shout, “I thought you’d be better at this!”to – which Thea replied, “So did I!” Classic.

Game 2: Snowball Smash

Plastic cups were stacked into a tower (I did a 6-5-4-3-2 pyramid with 20 red cups). Each player got three “snowballs”. The goal was to knock down as many cups as possible but only cups that landed on their side or upside down counted. Everyone had a practice throw to find the right distance for their age.

The kids loved building the tower almost as much as smashing it down. I had to remind them to build it the same way each time!

Tasha and Jess surprised everyone by knocking down nearly all the cups, and things quickly descended into a full on snowball fight. (One snowball ended up with a suspicious tomato stain – thanks, Noah!)

Game 3: Lost in the Snow

I placed four white toffee bon bons (marshmallows would work too!) on a saucer for each player. I covered them with a mountain of whipped cream. The kids knelt with hands tied behind their backs and raced to find all of their “snowballs” using only their mouths.

This one was just for the kids, and it was hilarious! Tommy was a bit hesitant about getting messy, but Noah was all in. He licked his plate clean! Thea was the speediest, finding all her snowballs in seconds. (If you try this, don’t forget to snap a photo, faces covered in cream make for the best memories!)

Corrina’s Top Tip:
We had a mix of ages, so I gave the younger kids tablespoons and let the older ones use teaspoons for Snowball Scoop, and made the older girls stand further back when throwing in the Snowball Smash game. Don’t be afraid to adjust the rules or equipment to suit your group.

Round 2: Antler Antics

This round was all about reindeer games, literally! If you want to get everyone moving and giggling, these activities are a must.

Game 1: Reindeer Dash

I printed and cut out pairs of reindeer pictures (one for each of Santa’s reindeer, but only one Rudolph!). Then I hid them around the home… think under cushions, inside slippers, tucked in the Christmas tree, and even in the spoon drawer. Everyone raced to find as many reindeer as possible, scoring 1 point for each reindeer they found. The team with the most reindeer won!

I let the kids loose for this one, and they absolutely loved it. Some reindeer were easy to spot; others were sneakily hidden. Bella found the winning reindeer, out of sight behind a picture frame, she was so proud!

Game 2: Antlers

Each team were given a pair of tights and a bunch of balloons. They had to blow up the balloons (not too big!) and stuff them down the legs of the tights to create “antlers.” Once the tights were full, the designated “reindeer” put them on their head and did a silly dance. The fastest team to finish and perform their dance won the game!

It was pure chaos in the best way. Balloons were popping, flying across the room, and the kids couldn’t stop laughing. Even the adults got involved. Turns out, blowing up balloons was harder than it looked! The finished antlers looked hilarious, and the reindeer dances were a highlight.

Corrina’s Top Tip:
If blowing up balloons is tricky for little ones, nominate them as the designated reindeer! They’ll love showing off their head wobbles and dance moves once the antlers are ready, and it’s a great way to make sure everyone feels included.

Round 3: Gift Grab

By this point, everyone was in full festive mode and ready for some games that tested their brains (and their sense of touch!).

Game 1: Mystery Stocking

I filled a Christmas stocking with 10 random objects (the more textures, the better, think hairbrush, sponge, toy car, pop-it, spoon, soft doll, etc.). I blindfolded one team member, who then reached into the stocking and described each item without naming it. The rest of the team sat back to back with the describer trying to guess what it was they were touching. Note: if the describer accidentally said the name, that item was forfeited! I set a timer for 3 minutes (or until all items were guessed), and 1 point was scored for each correct answer.

We let the older girls, Thea and Bella do the describing as they were less likely to blurt out the answer! The rest of their team tried to guess, and it was hilarious when the describer got completely stumped. (Bella describing a soft doll as “tall” had us all in stitches.) To keep things fair, we prepped two bags with different items labelling them A and B, and the teams played rock, paper, scissors to pick between the bags.

Game 2: Sorting Santa’s Sack

I filled a sack with baubles and tree decorations in four colours (I used blue, silver, gold, and red). The aim was to sort all the items into clear colour groups as quickly as possible, with no mixing! There was a +5 second penalty for any item in the wrong group when the timer stopped. Fastest player won!

Jess was lightning fast, even with a sneaky silver bauble mixed in with the blues. After her round, everyone else double checked their piles to avoid the penalty!

Corrina’s Top Tip:
Before each person’s turn, give all baubles and decorations a once over for cracks or sharp edges. We had a little accident with a broken bauble, but having the vacuum handy meant it was sorted quickly. A quick check keeps the fun going and everyone safe!

Round 4: C is for Christmas

This round was all about Christmas TikTok challenges! These games brought out everyone’s silly side.

Game 1: Christmas Candle

I set up a row of tealight candles (I used 20). Each player sat in front of the candles and, using only their voice, tried to blow out as many as possible by whispering or shouting “Merry Christmas!” No blowing or puffing allowed, just the power of your festive cheer! 1 point scored for each candle blown out, and the team with the most candles out won.

This game was absolutely hilarious. Noah went first and instantly tried to cheat by blowing (caught red handed!). I quickly made a “no blowing” rule. Tasha’s attempt was the funniest. She barely managed a few candles, but the way she held her elf ears and whispered “Merry… Christ… massss!” had us all in fits of laughter. Bella didn’t manage to blow out any, but gave it her best shot. Even as the games master, I only managed two! It was much harder than it looked.

Game 2: Candy Cane Catch

Each player put a candy cane in their mouth with the hook end up. The aim was to hook as many other candy canes as possible from a pile and drop them into a bowl, no hands allowed! I set a timer for 2 minutes, and they scored 1 point for each candy cane hooked.

This was trickier than it sounded! I laid the candy canes out on the floor (a table might have worked better in hindsight). All you could see was a sea of heads bobbing up and down. No one managed to hook any of the mini ones, but there was plenty of jokes trying!

Game 3: Cups

I stacked plastic cups using only candy canes, no hands allowed! They used the hook of the candy canes to pick up and stack the cups, one on top of the other. First to complete their cup tower won.

I reused the candy canes and cups from the previous game for this speedy head-to-head. It was a fast and funny challenge, especially with everyone cheering each other on.

Corrina’s Top Tip:
All three of the “C is for Christmas” games were TikTok finds. A perfect place to discover what’s trending right now! If you’re looking for new party ideas, TikTok is full of creative, up to date games that kids (and grown ups) will love.

Round 5: Santa’s Smarty Pants

For the final round, they put their brains to the test! These games were perfect for winding down the evening.

Game 1: Wrong ‘Uns

I asked quick fire festive questions (e.g. “What colour is Santa’s suit?” “What do you open on the 1st of December?”). The aim was to answer with as many wrong (but sensible) answers as possible in 60 seconds – no repeats, and no correct answers allowed! 1 point as scored for each wrong answer, and the team with the most wrong answers won.

This game was my favourite! The kids’ answers always seemed to involve “poop” or “bum” (standard). I’ve created a printable sheet with 150 festive questions for you to use, so you’ll never run out of ideas.

Game 2: Christmas Movie Quiz

Four rounds: General knowledge, emojis, anagrams, and movie covers (with a twist, the covers are close ups, so guessing was extra tricky!) The teams competed to answer as many as possible. Arguments over whether “The Grinch” or “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was the right answer added to the fun, honestly, either version counted!

Would you believe it ended in a 30-30 draw? That’s what I call festive teamwork!

Corrina’s Top Tip:
If you’re not doing surname vs surname teams, let the kids come up with their own team names, it adds an extra bit of fun and helps everyone get into the spirit!

Secret Santa

After all the games, the kids were buzzing for Secret Santa. We set a £10 limit and each child secretly picked and bought a gift for another. Since they don’t usually go shopping for each other, this was a real highlight. They kept asking, “When are we doing Secret Santa?” (Note to self: next time, do this first!)

One of the most memorable gifts was a jellybeans game where you spin the wheel and have to eat whatever flavour you land on, sometimes delicious, sometimes… not so much.

We all took turns, and Tommy’s face when he realised, he’d just eaten a “dog food” jellybean was priceless! (Honestly, I think that photo might be my favourite from the whole night.) There were shrieks, giggles, and a lot of suspicious sniffing before anyone dared to try another.

Watching the kids give and receive gifts was honestly the sweetest part of the night. They were so proud of their choices and genuinely delighted to see their friends happy. It was a lovely reminder that the act of giving is what makes Christmas so special.

Corrina’s Top Tip:
If you’re hosting a kids’ Secret Santa, set a budget and let them choose the gifts themselves. The excitement and pride they feel is worth every penny, and don’t be surprised if the silliest gifts end up being the most memorable!

Prizes & Costumes

Before handing out the prizes, we had to crown our “Style Sleigh-er” – the best dressed! The kids went all out: Noah was a green and red elf, Tommy rocked a red and white Christmas jumper and Santa hat, Bella was a plush reindeer with a painted red nose and antlers, and Thea wore a stripey reindeer onesie. Tasha dressed as an elf, Jess improvised a Mario inspired Christmas look (complete with a DIY tree headband and festive apron), and I was the ice fairy games master in fluffy pyjamas and a light up icicle crown.

Since there was no clear winner, we played our regular “Dress to Impress” game, where the kids raid the wardrobe and create themed costumes. Bella won with her Buddy the Elf look, and again as the doll from Squid Game, her creativity was next level! Tommy, who’d been ill all week, showed such a positive attitude and helped everyone out, so he won the “Spirit of Christmas” award.

The Dream Team winners (Jess, Thea, and Noah) got a festive hamper packed with colouring books, sweets and chocolate, Christmas tree drinking glasses, plush elves, and a Santa shaped biscuit tin.

As you can see the Dream Team Winners hamper went down a treat! Runners up received striped gift bags filled with colouring books, lollipops, selection boxes and plush elves, which were labelled “Jolly Good Try!”

Craft Time: Decorate Your Own Yule Log

I set out boards wrapped in candy cane paper and baskets overflowing with decorations: holly, pine needles, berries, mini baubles, festive picks, and more. Everyone got creative (and a little bit messy).

Want to make your own?
For step by step instructions, decorating ideas, and loads of photos, check out my full yule log decorating guide!

Corrina’s Top Tip:
For a realistic “wood” effect, simply run a fork through the melted chocolate after spreading it on your yule log. It’s quick, easy, and makes your log look extra festive, no fancy tools needed!

Christmas Movie Night

To finish, we snuggled up for a Christmas movie. I set the scene with a chalkboard sign, a wooden sleigh for snacks, glass milk bottles tied with gingham ribbon, and popcorn tubs in classic red and white.

We watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, an oldie but a goodie, and the kids loved it as much as the grown ups!

We didn’t get to karaoke (the games took over!), but honestly, everyone was so tired and happy by the end that it didn’t matter.

Corrina’s Top Tip:
We didn’t get to every activity on our list (karaoke will have to wait for next time!), but that’s part of the fun. We even added in a round of “Dress to Impress” to help decide our Style Sleigh-er, since it’s become a tradition whenever we all get together. Don’t be afraid to swap things around or add your own family favourites as you go!

Printables Library

Want to make your own Christmas Games Night easy and extra special? Download all my free printables below!

Games & Activities

Extras

Want More Festive Inspiration?

Loved the sneak peek of our yule log decorating and movie night above?
If you want to dive deeper, I’ve created two special posts packed with extra details, tips, and free printables to help you recreate the magic at home.

Yule Log Decorating – The Full Guide
Get step by step instructions, my favourite decorating ideas, and plenty of photos in my dedicated yule log post. Perfect if you want to make this craft activity the star of your own festive fun day!

Christmas Movie Night – Set Up, Snacks & Printables
Want to host a movie night just like ours? Check out my separate post for setup inspiration, treat and snack ideas, a list of must watch festive films, and a bundle of free printables (posters, milk bottle labels, popcorn tubs, treat labels, and the movie quiz game)!

Already inspired? These posts will help you take your own celebration to the next level!

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