11 Festive Christmas Eve Party Ideas

Searching for unique and sweet Christmas Eve party ideas to kick off your Christmas day celebrations right? At Peerspace, we understand. Christmas may be one of the most festive days of the year, but for many people, the true magic happens on Christmas Eve. December 24th is when you dress up in your holiday best, then celebrate with your friends and family late into the evening. The best part of Christmas Eve parties: they don’t have to revolve around gift-giving.

Maybe your family traditions include a Secret Santa gift exchange or an ugly sweater contest. Or, maybe you’re on the lookout for a few new traditions to incorporate into your holiday parties. Well then, you’ve come to the right place! So gather your closest friends and family and get your party vibes warmed up. Here are 11 festive Christmas Eve party ideas to inspire you this holiday season.

1. Rent a unique Peerspace venue

If hosting a Christmas Eve party at your home sounds like too much work — or if you just want a more festive atmosphere — search for a holiday venue on Peerspace to host your event. With a variety of spaces to choose from — including cozy cabins, giant warehouses, and stylish party halls — you’ll find plenty of options to suit events of all sizes and budgets.

To get you started, here are some of our favorite Christmas Eve party options:

• This Christmas tree farm in Redmond, WA (pictured above) with an on-site pavilion for sipping hot cocoa
• This grand ballroom house in Stowe, VT with a spacious ballroom, a fireplace, an atrium, a movie theater, and a sauna
• This multi-purpose event hall in Norcross, GA with two bars, a sound system, mirror walls, tables, and chairs
• This suburban luxury Alpine cabin in Sherman Oaks, CA with a mid-century modern aesthetic, a spacious backyard, and Christmas decorations
• This modern industrial event venue in Chicago, IL with an open layout, a commercial kitchen, A/V equipment, and seating
• This beautiful event gallery in London, UK with a blank-slate design, a grand piano, tables, chairs, and optional catering

As you can see, Peerspace has plenty of Christmas Eve party-worthy venues in cities across the globe. Some venues are best for setting up your own event from scratch, while others come with furniture, A/V gear, and other decor that will make planning your Christmas Eve party a breeze. All spaces are owned by local hosts who can also lend support for anything you may need, so be sure to reach out to them with any questions or suggestions!

2. Make it a costume party

One of the best ways to add some fun to your Christmas Eve party is to choose a theme ahead of time. And believe us, you don’t have to stick to the traditional red-and-green color scheme. You can pick a Nightmare Before Christmas theme, an all-white Winter Wonderland theme, or even make it a masquerade ball. The important thing is that you give your guests a heads-up so they have enough time to pick a costume and come up with some food and drink ideas that fit the theme.

3. Plan a murder-mystery party

Just because it’s Christmas Eve doesn’t mean things can’t get dark and mysterious. Choose a holiday-themed murder-mystery game — you’ll find plenty of downloadable scripts online — for a festive Christmas Eve party idea that will keep everyone guessing.

If you want something that’s appropriate for the whole family, there are Santa and Rudolf-themed mysteries, too! You can even host your Christmas Eve murder mystery party at a creepy mansion that you found on Peerspace!

For example, the photo above is of a magical gothic castle in Woodstock, CT. But we happen to think it would also make a sensational hangout space for your Christmas Eve party ideas that incorporate a murder mystery theme!

New to murder mysteries? Then you need to check out our guide on hosting a murder mystery party next!

4. Serve holiday Jell-O shots

Not a fan of eggnog? That’s okay. Make your own Jell-O shots using holiday-shaped molds to give your guests something festive to enjoy throughout the evening. You can also make classic holiday cocktails if you do not like Jell-O. Try using spiced rum, cider, and other seasonal flavors and colors. Just be sure to keep these drinks away from the kids!

Would you rather have someone else do the work while you party in a gorgeous setting? Then check out all the Peerspace bars near you that you can rent for your Christmas Eve party. Delicious, professional drinks in a lovely setting sounds like the perfect recipe for an unforgettable gathering!

5. Arrange for a photo booth

Holiday photos don’t have to be awkward. Instead of lining everyone up for a family portrait, set up a DIY photo booth so that your guests can take their own photo when they’re in the mood.

If you need a camera and lighting gear, you can often rent equipment when you need a Peerspace professional photo studio. We recommend bringing along some props and costumes to get your guests inspired!

6. Sing Christmas karaoke

Ditch the Christmas carols for some more interactive fun with this festive Christmas Eve party idea. You don’t need a karaoke machine to make it happen — just look up a Christmas karaoke playlist on Spotify. But if you do want to set up a professional PA system, you can book a Peerspace event space outfitted with karaoke equipment, such as this swanky private reception bar in Winter Park, FL.

7. Make s’mores — outdoors!

Depending on where you live, it may be warm enough to spend some time outdoors. If you don’t have a fire pit or campfire of your own, search on Peerspace for properties that have one. In fact, while you’re at it, why not search for a space that has an outdoor hot tub, too? This is one of those rare, irresistible Christmas Eve party ideas that center on some pampering!

8. Set up a crafting station

If you’re looking for festive Christmas Eve party ideas that don’t involve alcohol (or karaoke), host a DIY crafting party. While it’s too late to craft items for this year’s gifts, there’s no harm in getting an early start on ornaments for next year’s Christmas tree or making some last-minute stocking stuffers. Decide on a project that’s easy to assemble, set up a workstation, and have all of the materials you’ll need on hand. This way, guests of all ages can participate.

9. Make it multicultural

Christmas is celebrated differently around the world, and there is no shortage of traditions — and treats — to choose from. The yule log cake is a popular French tradition, while piñatas are found in many Mexican festivities. Italian Americans celebrate the Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, and Filipinos make a star-shaped lantern called a parol.

Even if all of your guests share the same cultural background, chances are everyone’s family has slightly different holiday traditions. Ask your guests to bring a story, dish, or ornament that reminds them of the Christmas Eve of their childhood. Of course, guests who celebrate other seasonal holidays, such as Diwali or Hanukkah, can share their traditions, too.

Speaking of, check out these festive Hanukkah party ideas to celebrate the festival of lights right!

10. Enjoy a snowball fight (with marshmallows)

If you weren’t lucky enough to have a White Christmas, or you don’t live somewhere that gets snow, you can have an indoor “snowball” fight with marshmallows. Break up into small teams and decide on the rules. You can play dodgeball-style — in which if you get hit, you’re out — or have a free-for-all. This is something the whole family can enjoy!

11. Host a pet party

If your family and friends are all dog lovers, throw a Christmas Eve party for your pets. Send out invites addressed to your furry relatives, along with a plus-one (or more) for their humans. Make sure they know it’s a dress-up party and that they’ll be expected to wear an ugly sweater and/or reindeer antlers. Come up with some holiday-themed treats and contests for your pets to enjoy and, of course, don’t forget to set up a photo booth for family photos!

Christmas Eve party ideas: conclusion

There’s something about Christmas Eve that makes it a bit less intimidating than other holidays. Maybe that’s because you aren’t expected to sit around the dinner table for hours. Instead, you get to play games, work on arts-and-crafts projects, and enjoy creative Christmas cocktails or Jell-O shots. It can be as family-friendly or as adults-only as you choose.

Just be sure to start it off by booking the perfect Peerspace venue! Regardless of how big or small your gathering is, you can use these 11 Christmas Eve party ideas to make it memorable.

Find unique event venues on Peerspace