For thoughts on hosting an adult holiday social, look no further. This is the ultimate guide for Christmas, New Year's, or any time grown-up parties.
The holiday season is the perfect time to celebrate with friends and colleagues. But why stop at the holidays? Any time of year is a good time to spend with cherished ones. Whether the goal is to eat and be merry, scrapbook those old pictures, raise awareness for a charity, or chill out after a hectic week, there are many reasons to host/attend a good party.
Food and Drink Parties
- Cookie swap - Come with one type of cookie, leave with many!
- Pie tasting party - Perfect for Thanksgiving.
- Online recipe swap - Don’t forget long distance friends. Host an online recipe swap and make some new contacts too!
- Wine tasting - Great for couples, this party may be just what the doctor ordered.
- Beer brewing party - Many breweries will host adult birthday parties or work group gatherings. Choose a favorite brew from the menu and concoct a batch to take home!
- Pot luck recipe tasting - Want to try a new recipe out? Why not let friends taste-test it first.
- Dips and chips contest - The host provides the chips and guests bring the dips to this fun-filled food judging party. Everyone casts a vote for her favorite.
Charitable Gatherings
- Adopt-a-family - Contact a local Good Neighbor organization and adopt a family in need. Ask friends to help purchase, gather, and wrap items for delivery.
- Letters to soldiers party - Provide some hot cider or cocoa, holiday music, pens and paper and let guests express their deepest thanks to the men and women risking their lives overseas.
- Charity basket assembly - Make beautiful baskets full of toys, nonperishable food items, paper products, pet items, or anything else that might be in need around the holidays (or any day).
Craft Decorating Parties
- Scrapbooking party - Dust off the shoebox full of holiday, vacation, or other photos to bring to this gathering.
- Holiday card-making party - Get some nice paper, inkpads and stamps, ribbons, and markers and have fun creating holiday, birthday, or seasonal greeting cards for loved ones.
- Ornament party - Provide an example and spend a few hours crafting with friends.
- Tea and tree - Host an afternoon tea party and enlist the help of friends to decorate a Christmas tree.
- Green yard decorating - Decorate an outdoor eco-friendly tree or snowman with friends for nature’s little critters.
Gift Parties
- White elephant swap - Bring your tackiest, unused items to this entertaining holiday party.
- Book review or swap - Read a classic holiday novel such as A Christmas Carol and attend a book party. Or, host a book gift exchange.
- Toy swap for kids - Have toys in good condition that the children are sick of? Bring them to this holiday gift swap and come home with “new” toys for the kids: they’ll never suspect a thing!
- Family photo day - Know a good photographer? Invite him or her as a special guest and provide a holiday photo service for couples or families.
- Sexy teddy exchange - Got books, games, nighties, or mugs with sexy sayings? This is a wildly entertaining gift exchange for adults.
Gatherings to Relax By
- Classic Christmas movie night - Relaxing with a touching Christmas film after working hard or shopping is the perfect way to spend an evening with friends.
- Massage/pamper party - Recruit a massage therapist and offer massages to party guests for a cheaper fee.
Take a moment to enjoy important adult friendships during the holidays or any day. Host a social gathering or suggest a good party theme to another and help out with the arrangements. Get re-acquainted with old friends and make some new ones along the way.
The copyright of the article Holiday Party Ideas for Adults in Holiday Entertaining is owned by Karen Plumley. Permission to republish Holiday Party Ideas for Adults in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
