EventPro Magazine - Spring 2015 EventPro Magazine Fall 2016 | Page 26

What the Pros Know
Holiday Fun & Games
By: Shana Vessel

Planning games and activities for a Christmas party
can be a challenging task. Food and drinks are easy.
Decorations are usually already done. But, finding
games and group activities can be a chore for the average party planner. Once the guest list, location and
menu have been chosen, attention can be directed to
preparing games for entertainment.
Awarding a prize is not necessary but may get more
of your guests involved. It can be something as
nominal as a $5 gift card to a coffee shop or a simple
non-gendered gift.
Playing games encourages your guests to move
around, mingle, laugh and enjoy themselves. Many
of these activities can be done with food or drink in
hand also. Here are some game ideas that will make
your party a hit.

Ornament Scavenger Hunt
Before guests arrive, strategically place 10 -12 similar
ornaments around the gathering or party area. Try to
select an ornament that blends well and doesn’t catch
the eye quickly. Choosing the same style/shape in
gold, silver, wooden or clear ornaments allows them
to be hidden “in plain sight”. Keep a detailed list of
where each ornament is hidden. When guests arrive,
hand them each a numbered slip of paper with a line
for “found” location and a pencil. Give them simple
instructions. It is helpful to either point out the first
ornament or save one from you collection to show
the guests what they are
looking for. Putting a
time limit of 10-15
minutes on this game
helps to keep it slightly
competitive but not
impossible. After time
is up, have guests
mark correct answers
as you go through the
area and point out each
location. Award a prize
for most ornaments found.
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Gingerbread Man
This game is best for couples,
but as long as there is an even
number of people it will work.
Prepare game by printing off,
decorating and cutting out
severalgingerbread men. Use
brown cardstock and adhere
decorations. Once
completed, creatively cut
with scissors or rip “cookie”
in half. Put the upper half in one small mixing
bowl and the lower half in another. Mix well with
a wooden spoon and leave it resting in the bowl
for a cute touch. If you want to take this game
up a notch, play the part and wear a Christmas
apron dusted with flour at the door. When guests
arrive, ask them to “catch the Gingerbread man” by
having each person select one part out of either bowl.
Make sure the pieces go out evenly. Now instruct
your guests to match up their gingerbread man with
another guest’s piece. The winning match gets a prize.

What’s in Santa’s Bag
Prepare game by finding a Santa’s bag
or sewing a simple one. Next, collect
roughly 12 to 15 items that a person
might find related to Christmas or
the holidays. Examples might include:
cookie cutters, candy canes, tape,
jingle bells, ornaments, film,
batteries, and wrapping paper.
Place all items in the bag and
then tie it up tight so there is
no opportunity to peek. Guests
can play individually or as a
team. Give them a numbered
sheet of paper, hand over the
Santa bag and start the timer
with a limit of 5 to 10 minutes.
Players must feel and/or
shake the bag to decide which
items are in it. The guest or team
with the most correct answers
receive a prize.