Christmas Party Ideas with Nestlé Confectionery

Nothing sparks creativity and giddy excitement quite like rolling up your sleeves and curating a memorable Christmas party for loved ones of all ages! The reward – beyond spreading joy and cheer – is year-long praise, nods of approval and honourable mentions. And the best part? We’ve got just the right Christmas party ideas to make yours a memorable success.

10 Fun and festive Christmas party ideas

1. DIY hot chocolate station

A Christmas party idea that's as fun to make as it is to sip on! Set up a hot chocolate bar with mugs, different toppings and mini marshmallows. Kids and adults alike can build their own mugs with a dash of whipped cream, chopped nuts, freeze-dried berries, desiccated coconut or even a teaspoon of Smarties® or Milkybar® buttons. Any KitKat® fans coming? If you’ve got a blender, our KitKat® gingerbread hot chocolate may change the way you make hot chocolate forever!

2. Christmas movie marathon with themed treats

This one's a winner for older children and a clever way to keep visiting family occupied and out of debate mode! Simply pick a few festive movie favourites and transform your lounge into a cosy cinema with fairy lights and floor cushions. Don’t forget themed treats such as cookies and other Christmas baking recipes, which are great for sharing, and can be made and stored ahead of time. Kick off the evening with family-friendly films like The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Elf or The Christmas Chronicles. Then, once the kids are in bed, enjoy more adult movies, whether Die Hard or The Holiday. This is your Christmas movie night, after all.

3. Pass the Parcel with a festive twist

Classic meets silly in this go-to game for Christmas parties. Add little surprises or mini challenges between each layer, like singing a line from a carol or doing a festive dance. You can even line up and turn this into a game of over and under, if there’s space in your living room! It’s great fun for mixed age groups and helps keep things moving during the gaps between activities.

Girl passing a parcel to the viewer, with a Christmas tree in the background

4. Christmas jumper contest

Nothing gets guests giggling like a showdown of outrageous Christmas jumpers. This idea works well with any guest list and adds energy to the whole event. Bonus points if you add some fun categories, such as Best Charity Shop Find, Upcycled Decoration, Pet Jumper or even Homemade Knit! Why not make some Christmas biscuits shaped like little jumpers to hand out as prizes?

5. Holiday craft corner for kids

This is one of the most hands-on children’s Christmas party ideas, keeping little ones busy while the adults catch up. Set out blank cards, glue sticks, bio-glitter and kid-safe scissors for some festive fun. Get the kids to design their own Thank You cards for the main event, leaving space to write their names and messages inside. When the time comes, they’ll be more keen to write their thank-yous after creating the cards in the first place! As a special touch, they could stick a Quality Street® chocolate onto their cards. Just make sure to hand them out before the holidays finish!

Nothing brings everyone together like Christmas party games with passionate participants screaming their guesses out loud enough for Father Christmas to keep score.

6. Secret Santa gift exchange

Easy to organise, suitable for kids and adults alike and always full of surprises, Secret Santa is a game that never gets old. Kids, can create homemade gifts or personalised decorations, whereas adults can decide how much to spend on gifts – although there’s nothing stopping them from making chutneys, jams, brownies or cookies instead!

7. Festive photo booth with props

Why should posing for festive photos be restricted to work parties? Happily, you don't need to hire a photo booth especially for this – simply hang a white sheet in the corner of your room with a bench or sofa in front of it and set up a camera on a tripod! Grab some props (Santa hats, antlers, candy canes) and let your guests strike a pose. Kids will especially love this! Later, you could print the photos and include them in your thank-you cards as a fun keepsake.

Two friends laughing together at Christmas with tinsel and a santa hat, with one holding a paper cut-out of joke lips to her

8. Cookie decorating competition

This activity gets kids crafty and having loads of fun . Lay out plain cookies or gingerbread shapes on your kitchen counter or the dining room table, together with some piping bags of icing and little bowls of sprinkles, chopped nuts, desiccated coconut, Smarties®, Milkybar® buttons and Jelly Tots®. Then it’s game on for a special prize!

9. Name that Christmas tune game

What’s Christmas without a little music? Turn up the fun by getting everyone to guess Christmas tunes from just a few notes (or hums). This game is easy to organise, guarantees loads of laughs and all ages can join in! Why not add a few novelty or homemade instruments for extra giggles? A kazoo here, a rice shaker there – or line up glass bottles filled with different amounts of water for a homemade xylophone! Musical talent doesn’t have to win – you can award prizes for Most Original Version Best Impression or Funniest Performance.

10. Christmas quiz or trivia night

A Christmas Quiz is brilliant if you’ve got a mix of ages to entertain. Create a few fun rounds from movies and music to random Christmas facts. Add a few prizes (like chocolates, candy canes or even just bragging rights) and wrap up the night on a high note.

A group of friends playing a guessing game in a living room, wearing Christmas antlers

Fun Christmas party ideas with Nestle Confectionery

1. Sweet treat stations with Nestlé favourites

From classics like Quality Street®, Fruit Pastilles, Rolo® and Rowntree’s Randoms®, to favourites including Aero® Peppermint Bubbles, Milkybar® Giant Buttons and Smarties®, curating a sweet sharing table filled with your favourite Nestlé Confectionery treats will always go down well. Going for a sophisticated vibe? Don’t forget the After Eights®. Of course, you can up the ante here with your Christmas baking; perhaps arranging a few Christmas biscuits on a plate, or making an Aero® chocolate yule log your centrepiece. Why not add an interactive element with a Guess How Many Sweets in the Jar challenge?

2. Easy DIY decorations using chocolate wrappers

‘Crafts’ don’t have to mean glitter glue and expensive acrylic paint pens! Anything has 'upcycle' potential, and a collection of saved Nestlé Quality Street® wrappers can bring a little DIY magic to the table. Get the kids in on the fun and have them make pretty ornaments for the Christmas tree! Cut out snowflakes and simple Christmas shapes and stick them onto coloured paper cards for maximum impact and bling for the tree!

3. Christmas party games with a chocolate twist

Nothing brings everyone together like Christmas party games with passionate participants screaming their guesses out loud enough for Father Christmas to keep score. Now imagine swapping gameboard tokens for different Quality Street® flavours? Everyone wins.

Here are a few game ideas to incorporate into the festive magic:

Get a variety of Nestlé chocolate treats and have your guests guess the correct product using their slogans.
Strategically hide your guests' favourites and launch a chocolate treasure hunt.
Pair up, set up a timer, and have competing teams build chocolate towers. Highest chocolate tower wins.

4. Creative kids’ activities with Nestlé treats

We all love Christmas and all the warm and cosy magic it brings, but for kids it’s especially exciting. . There's no better way to channel this excitement than giving their little hands something to do. How about creating edible art for everyone to share?

Lay out their aprons and create a kid-friendly station with some Christmas cookie dough (add fun cookie cutter shapes), and all their favourite treats like Smarties®, Jelly Tots® and Rolo®. Let them get arty, give them marks (all good marks, of course) with extra points for a little show-and-tell.

5. Takeaway gift ideas using Quality Street® or Smarties®

Sending your guests home with a little something sweet is a great way to spread the Christmas cheer beyond the party. And with Nestlé's iconic Quality Street® and Smarties®, you’ve got everything you need to make their takeaway treats extra special.

Fill up cute little jars or clear bags with a mix of Quality Street® chocolates and tie them off with festive ribbon for an attractive gift.

6. The Guess How Many Sweets in the Jar challenge

Now here's a classic that'll keep your guests engaged and guessing their way to sweet festive victory! Guess How Many Sweets in a Jar is simple and fun to play . All you need is a jar (or a few, depending on how many guests you have) and a generous selection of your favourite Nestlé sweets, like Smarties®, Jelly Tots®, and Fruit Pastilles. Fill the jars to the brim and let the guessing begin.

7. Christmas Sweet cone station

Getting a Nestlé treat hamper to take home is one thing, but getting to personalise your own sweet cone? Top tier! Sweet cones are about letting your guests of all ages, create their own colourful takeaway classic. Our easy step-by-step guide on How to Make Sweet Cones lists everything you need to make your sweet cone station a success.

8. Christmas quiz for kids

We all know that children ask the funniest questions, so why not use our Christmas quiz for kids template to fuel their curiosity and keep them entertained? A Christmas quiz is a fantastic way to get the little ones involved and teach them some fun holiday facts.

9. Christmas jokes for kids

We're all for treats and games, but nothing says ‘it's Christmas’ like the laughter of children. They add a magical layer to the festivities and remind us just how the simplest things bring the greatest joy. So, while the little elves might have a few jokes up their tiny sleeves, we've also curated a fun list of kid's Christmas jokes to keep the laughter going, all season long.

Group of friends in Christmas jumpers holding indoor sparklers and laughing

Tips for hosting a memorable Christmas party

Throwing a memorable festive party is all about creating fun experiences and bringing everyone together. Here are a few simple tips to ensure your event is a hit:

Plan your theme

Choosing a fun and inclusive theme sets the tone for a truly special gathering, and whether you go traditional or quirky, there’s no shortage of ideas available online. Pick a colour and decorate your space as if Father Christmas himself will be joining you for dinner!

Mix food, fun and games

Christmas isn't just about the food, Rudolph jumpers, and gifts; it's an experience. Offer a mix of games, a variety of dishes, and a playlist of classic sing-alongs and upbeat sounds for all your guests to enjoy.

Cater to different age groups

Make sure that you're considerate of all age groups when planning meals, drinks, games, treats, and activities. While the aim is to please your guests and host a Christmas party to remember, it's important that everyone, kids and adults alike feel included and catered for.

Think a craft corner for the little ones, a themed photo booth for teens, and a festive movie marathon for the adults.

Keep things stress-free and festive

Avoid stress by preparing ahead of time and coordinating dietary requirements, activity preferences, and themes with your guests. Make a to-do list if you like, but most importantly, enjoy the lead-up to the big event!

It's party time!

At the heart of every great Christmas party are the memories that last long after the tinsel comes down. It’s about sharing laughter, enjoying festive treats, and making sure everyone, young and old, feels the magic of the season.
From the first bite to the last laugh, Nestlé adds that little something special to every holiday gathering.
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