15+ Of The Best Backyard Christmas Party Ideas

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Selection of backyard Christmas party ideas that are easy to implement and fun to enjoy.

Regardless of the weather, a backyard Christmas party will be an unforgettable experience for all.

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As the holiday season approaches, it’s a great time to be getting all the Christmas celebrations in order.

Any kind of gathering, whether it is indoors or outdoors requires some preparation, and hosting a holiday celebration is always a little bit extra challenging.

But challenging doesn’t have to be stressful.

With a little bit of preparation and planning with a “to-do list”, you will be able to host an unforgettable outdoor Christmas party.

Just because it’s cold, it doesn’t mean you can’t use the outdoor space.

Use these backyard Christmas party ideas to plan a party that will allow everyone to have a very Merry Christmas.

How Do You Hold A Christmas Party Outside?

Holding a Christmas party outside might initially seem like a daunting idea, but with a little preparation it could end up being the best Christmas party you have ever had!

The first thing to consider is your space. Do you have an undercover area? If not can you create some if the weather turns bad?

Shelter of some kind is important to protect from the snow, rain and even the sun in warmer climates.

Once you determine your space, you can consider what to include at the party, such as the decorations, food and activities.

Use these backyard Christmas party ideas to help plan your celebration with ease.

Outdoor Christmas Decorations Ideas

1. Put Up An Outdoor Christmas Tree

If you have a large enough back yard, then a great way to set off an outdoor party is to set up an outdoor Christmas tree.

This would be the focal point of your party.

With some Christmas music playing and hanging Christmas lights, it will hard for guests not to instantly feel the holiday spirit.

2. Hang Christmas lights

Whether you decide to decorate with a Christmas tree or not, it is always a great idea to use some Christmas lights.

Literally everyone loves fairy lights and they help to create the perfect Christmas ambiance.

Decorating with Christmas lights doesn’t need to be difficult. You can literally throw them over trees and bushes, or drape them over the garden to form a canopy.

The best thing about adding string lights to the decor is that you can leave them up for the entire Christmas period (or even longer).

Lights can often be a permanent feature in a backyard, so a little effort now can ensure that you have a beautiful ambiance in your garden all year round.

Choose from either

White Christmas lights
Multi colorful Christmas lights
Mixture of both

If you celebrate Christmas in the summer time, then you could probably get away with using solar string lights.

Otherwise it might be a better idea to use power lights to ensure that they shine bright.

3. Use Candles

Candles are another great way of providing some easy decoration and are perfect to scatter around open spaces.

Candles look stunning scattered around the party area, and can be kept completely safe by placing them in a glass jar or lantern.

4. Decorate With Red Ribbons

It’s not uncommon to see red ribbons tied to trees and poles around Christmas time.

They therefore make an easy and pretty Christmas decoration which is perfect for the outdoor setting.

Backyard Christmas Activity Ideas

5. Fire Pit

A fire pit is a good idea to use for both warmth and as a central gathering point. For outdoor gatherings that are held in the cold, a fire pit is a fun and easy idea.

Ensure that you also leave out some throw blankets, so guests can really cosy up. It will also encourage them to stay at the party longer.

To keep with the Christmas vibe you could choose red or green blankets, but really anything would be fine.

6. Wear Ugly Sweaters

The perfect way to keep warm at an outdoor Christmas even is to wear ugly Christmas sweaters.

It keeps everyone warm, plus it’s a great way to have some fun.

There are a lot of ugly Christmas sweaters party games that can be played by all family members and friends.

7. Snow Games

Having a white Christmas?

This would be a great time to have a snowball fight.

Ensure that any snow games are played away from the main seating and food area, but otherwise let guests enjoy a little good old fashioned snow fun.

The kids (and big kids at heart) will love playing some snow games, and you could even encourage building a snowman or two!

8. Visit From Santa Claus

Have some kids that need entertaining?

Having a visit from Santa Claus will really bring some extra fun to the party. The kids will be excited and it’s a lot of fun for the adults too.

Before the party starts, choose someone to be Santa Claus, and coordinate a Santa Suit for him. Then make a big entrance ringing a bell with a few “HO HO’s”.

The kids will come running.

One of the best things about having a Santa visit, is that it doesn’t need to be an event that is turned into something bigger than Ben Hur.

Kids will simply love having Santa present at the party, and it doesn’t mean Santa has to hand out lots of expensive gifts.

The kids can all enjoy a photo with Santa, a quick chat and Santa can hand out a lollipop to each child.

This will allow for some gorgeous photos to be taken (especially if the Santa seat is next to the outdoor Christmas tree).

If you want to bring some Christmas cheer, this is the perfect and easy way to do it!

9. White Elephant Gift Exchange

A white elephant gift exchange works well at any Christmas party. It really doesn’t matter whether that party is indoors or outdoors.

This simple Christmas party game is a great way to easily bring some holiday cheer.

Not sure how to play?

It’s super easy.

Before everyone arrives, ask them to bring a small fun wrapped gift to a certain value. This could be anything as small as $5 or $10.

Everyone places their gift in a pile and numbers are written up to the number of guests present.

Everyone picks a number

Number 1 goes first and picks a present from the pile and opens it.

Number 2 can chose to either steal the opened present or choose another present from the pile to open.

Each player goes in turn according to their number. As soon as a player has their gift stolen, they can choose another present from the pile.

The game continues until all the presents have been opened or stolen and everyone is holding a gift. The more people involved in this game, the more fun it becomes.

10. Set Up Activities For The Kids

If kids are present at the party, it is always a good idea to set up some activities for them. Remember that adults love to chat, but kids need entertainment.

Depending on the space (and the weather), you could set up some lawn games for them.

Alternatively put on some Christmas movies with some huge bowls of popcorn and lollies.

11. Hold a Christmas Carol Singalong

To really get everyone into the Christmas spirit, how about having a Christmas carol singalong.

Everyone can sing around the campfire whilst sipping on their hot chocolate. It’s festive, it’s fun and it’s a great Christmas activity that everyone can enjoy.

12. Holiday Photo Booth

Photo booths are always a fun activity at parties, and this would be a great addition to your Christmas party.

A photo booth doesn’t need to be complicated. It can literally consist of a simple party backdrop (colored red, green and white), with some Christmas photo props. Then set up a camera or an ipad and let your guests do the rest.

It is a fun way to capture guests throughout the party and you will have some funny photos to look back on at the end of the event.

Food Options For An Outdoor Christmas Party

DIY bars are a super easy idea for Christmas parties.

This way you set up the areas before the party and then you can enjoy the party rather than spending lots of time preparing food.

13. Hot Chocolate Bar

A hot cocoa bar literally screams Christmas, and is perfect to serve guests if it’s cold outside.

The easiest way to undertake this is to make up a large batch of hot chocolate. Ensure that it is placed in a hot water urn to keep hot for the entire party.

Then simply set up lots of toppings for your guests to choose from. Toppings can include:

Mini marshmallows
Whipped cream
Chocolate or caramel sauce
Chopped nuts
Crushed candy canes
Toffee pieces

14. Egg Nog Bar

Christmas means Egg Nog and setting up an egg nog bar would be a fun idea for your guests.

There are many egg nog recipes to choose from to suit all tastes. Leave out several ingredients and let guests determine how they would like their egg nog to be made.

15. Charcuterie Boards

Christmas Charcuterie boards are simple, fun and perfect for entertaining.

Create several boards that are savory and sweet and guests will be indulging all night long. Ensure that the boards are prepared at least an hour before the party starts, so you can then relax and simply enjoy.

There are lots of charcuterie board ideas to look at for inspiration.

Warmer Climate Backyard Christmas Party Ideas

Believe it or not, but not everywhere is cold at Christmas time. If you celebrate Christmas in the warm weather, then it makes holding a backyard Christmas party that little bit easier.

The above ideas can all still be utilised except maybe for the firepit!

And instead of wearing ugly Christmas sweaters, you could ask guests to wear ugly Christmas t-shirts or shirts.

Just change the spin slightly to adapt for the warm weather.

Other ideas could include:

Have a backyard Christmas picnic. Set up numerous picnic rugs and cushions so everyone can relax.
Incorporate a pool party into the celebrations. Team it with a BBQ, and don’t forget to have some pool party games arranged.
Set up a cocktail bar and allow guests to make their own cocktails.

Whether you are having a warm or a cold Christmas, outdoor Christmas parties can be a whole lot of fun.

Hosting a backyard Christmas party may not immediately be something that springs to mind, but using these backyard Christmas party ideas you can be confident that you can create an unforgettable Christmas party that everyone will enjoy.

Need some more Christmas ideas? Check out these easy magical Christmas ideas the whole family can enjoy. You will find more printables, simple recipes, decorations and more.

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