11 Christmas parties to host that aren’t a turkey dinner

Maybe you hate turkey. Maybe you’re a vegetarian. Maybe you just don’t want the struggle of carefully roasting the bird for hours on end. Whatever the case may be, turkey and stuffing don’t have to be the be-all-end-all of Christmas parties.  

If you’re hosting, don’t be afraid to get creative. With a little inspiration, some DIY projects, and plenty of holiday cheer, your quirky gathering is sure to bring joy and festive fun to your guests.  

Need some ideas? Here are 11 holiday party ideas for your gathering, no turkey required.  

Cookie exchange

The ultimate Christmas dilemma: wanting to eat a dozen different kinds of cookies but only managing to bake a batch or two. Luckily, you don’t have to follow endless recipes to sample all your favourites. A cookie exchange means everyone brings one kind of cookie, then swaps until each guest brings home some of every kind. Gingerbread, shortbread, sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, Linzer tarts, chocolate crinkles—you'll get to try them all.  

Ugly sweater party

Don your campy Christmas apparel with this theme idea, where everyone shows up wearing their ugliest holiday sweater. To add a little more structure to the night, you can include a contest to see who has the most out-there outfit. Silly prizes (like a trophy to hang from the tree or a medal shaped like a wreath) are optional.  

Gingerbread house competition

This tasty tournament will give everyone the opportunity to show off their inner baker—or architect. Encourage guests to get creative with details like icing icicles or gumdrop gables. If you have any kids (or uncoordinated adults) attending, consider pre-assembling the structures so you don’t have any frustrated contestants. 

Gamified gift exchange

When you have so many people to shop for, your list can get overwhelming and expensive—and your guests probably feel the same way. Instead of having to buy for every single person at the party, turn gift-giving into a game. Pull names from a hat for a classic Secret Santa or have each person bring a gift and do a white elephant, where gifts can be selected (and stolen!) before they’re unwrapped.  

Tea party 

With so many gatherings to attend, evenings can fill up fast during the holiday season. That's why afternoon tea might be the right way to go. Guests can come dressed in their holiday best, and you can serve delightful fare like finger sandwiches, scones and Christmas cookies. If you plan to bake, incorporate seasonal flavours like cranberry, peppermint or ginger for an extra cozy feel.  

Holiday games night

Peace on earth doesn’t mean there can’t be some healthy competition, right? Whether you’re a board game buff, a trivia fiend or a Minute to Win It champion, you can customize this theme to your guests’ abilities. Just be wary... when you’re playing reindeer games, things can get intense! You could also set up a puzzle table for those who just want to chill.  

Potluck

If you don’t want turkey but would still like to gather everyone around the same table, tell your friends and family to each bring a dish to share. If you’re worried about duplicates, assign guests a category—such as appetizer, main, salad, or dessert—to ensure a balanced table. Make sure to remind everyone of dietary restrictions or allergies so all are included.  

Christmas crafts

This is your perfect opportunity to make something from your Pinterest board. Adults will love decor crafts like DIY wreaths, dried orange garlands, hand-painted candles, collaged cards or needle-felted ornaments. If there’s a skill you and your friends have always wanted to try, like pottery or soapmaking, try it out with a Christmas twist. This is a great theme for parties with kids, too, to keep them occupied while the adults chat.  

Christmas around the world

Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world, with hundreds of cultures observing different traditions each year. Have each guest pick a region and bring a dish from their traditional Christmas feast, whether that’s Swiss fondue, Mexican tamales, Armenian ghapama, or food from their own cultural background. Pick games from each culture as the night’s entertainment, like the German tradition of hiding a pickle in the Christmas tree for revellers to find.  

BYOB (bring-your-own-board)

Bring-your-own-board parties have been trending, and for good reason. Each guest brings a charcuterie board to share, resulting in a true feast of finger foods for the party. It doesn’t all have to be meat and cheese—picture a cookie board or a hot chocolate board with marshmallows, candy canes and sprinkles.  

Pyjama party movie night

Tell everyone to come wearing Christmas PJs and serve popcorn, hot drinks and some nibbles. If there’s a holiday movie your friends and family especially love, you could even incorporate it into your decorations or snacks, such as serving spaghetti while watching Elf or creating coconut snowmen for your screening of Frosty the Snowman. For Hallmark fanatics, pick a random flick out of a hat and play Hallmark bingo, checking off all the tropes as you go.  

Save on party planning with CAA

Need some help to plan a holly jolly time? CAA has your back for all your hosting needs. Use your Membership at stores where you can save or earn CAA Dollars, like Bouclair, Simons, Party Expert and more to make your night merry and bright.