Christmas Party Planning > Christmas Party Themes

Christmas Ornament Exchange Party

One great Christmas party theme that's fun for kids and adults alike is an ornament exchange party. As the name suggests, guests bring an ornament which they end up trading for another guest's ornament. Check out our ideas for a fun ornament exchange party that will be a hit with parents and their kids!

Invitations

Try fun ornament shaped invitations. Either make your own using construction paper, marker and glitter, or try premade invitations. Make sure you write the date, time, location and theme of the party. Direct each guest to bring a gift wrapped ornament, either store bought or handmade.

Decorations

Miniature Christmas trees adorned with various ornaments, of course! Evergreen boughs, poinsettia and mistletoe are also fantastic holiday decorations for any party. Try placing cute Christmas-themed snowglobes around your home, or use snowmen or Santa figurines. Adorn tables with festive red and green tablecloths and use pretty centerpieces that feature items with a holiday flair like candy cane striped candles or scented pine cone arrangements.

Menu

Great ideas for appetizers include: crudites with various dips, bacon wrapped scallops, cheese balls sculpted into the shape of snowmen, Swedish meatballs, party mix made with various types of cereal, sliced ham and biscuits, and an assortment of sweets. Candy canes are a must, as are Christmas cookies! If you like, bake plain sugar cookies and create a cookie decorating station where guests can apply their own colored icing and sprinkles. Make red and green punches (perhaps cherry and lime flavors?)

Games and Activities

The highlight of the party, of course, is the ornament exchange. Place all wrapped ornaments on a table or under a Christmas tree and let guests come up one at a time and choose a package. Then, allow guests the opportunity to trade with each other so everyone gets an ornament they love. When the exchange is done, try Christmas games like the Gift Unwrap Race, where contestants race to unwrap gifts that are covered in layers of paper, tape and ribbon. The first player to unwrap their gift gets to keep it!

Other Ideas

Designate a committee to help you plan, host and clean up after the party. This makes things much easier on you and gives you a chance to chat with those friends or relatives that are helping you. Forgo fancy china and use plastic plates and cups for easy clean up. Send guests home with goodie  bags filled with Christmas candies or some small, inexpensive gift like scented candles in red or green.

By planning ahead and using some creative thought, you can have an amazing Christmas ornament exchange party that everyone will love!