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If there’s one thing I look forward to all winter long, it’s hosting cozy, joy-filled gatherings with my closest girlfriends. These creative holiday girls’ night theme ideas for a festive & fun winter gathering have become a highlight of my season, and trust me, once you start, it’ll become your favorite tradition too.
Whether you’re sipping mulled wine in fuzzy socks, laughing over sugar cookie fails, or swapping secret Santa gifts by the glow of twinkle lights, there’s something magical about creating space to celebrate with your favorite people. Over the years, I’ve tried and loved all of these party themes (some multiple times!), and I’m sharing my absolute favorites here, plus a few Pinterest-worthy touches like printable wine tasting scorecards and gift tags to help you host your own unforgettable night in.
Table of Contents
1. Winter Wine Tasting Night
Vibe: Cozy, elevated, and a little bougie, but still relaxed enough for slippers.
A winter wine tasting is one of my go-to holiday girls’ night ideas. It’s a fun twist on the classic dinner party and gives everyone a chance to discover new wines (and snacks!). I like to pick a theme, reds from California, cozy whites, or even mulled wine night.
Tips to make it magical:
- Decor: Think candlelight with mini tealights, wood cutting boards, mini trees, and garlands. I usually add printable wine tasting scorecards (you can download my favorite here).
- Food Pairings: A festive charcuterie board with brie, cranberries, fig jam, and rosemary crackers. Bonus: homemade chocolate truffles.
- DIY Element: Let each guest bring a bottle of wine with the label covered or wrapped in wrapping paper for a blind tasting.
- Make it easy with this DIY holiday wine tasting kit from Etsy (complete with festive holiday wine charms)
2. Holiday Cookie Decorating Party
Vibe: Whimsical, colorful, and full of sugar (and maybe a little chaos).
I’ve hosted cookie decorating parties since college, and they’re always a hit. Everyone loves showing off their piping skills. It’s creative, hands-on, and leaves you with edible party favors.
Ideas to sweeten the night:
- Decor: Think candy-cane striped napkins, trays of sprinkles, and a DIY hot cocoa bar with mini marshmallows, crushed candy canes, and peppermint sticks.
- Activities: Provide sugar cookies in various holiday shapes, plus piping bags, edible glitter, and stencils.
- Encourage guests to bring home their creations with to go holiday cookie boxes
🎶 Music Idea: A playlist of upbeat holiday songs keeps the energy playful (I always throw in Mariah Carey, of course).
3. Gift Wrapping Soirée
Vibe: Productive meets Pinterest-perfect.
If you’re like me, you always plan to wrap gifts early, and then scramble on Christmas Eve. Hosting a gift wrapping party turns a solo chore into a creative and festive night with friends.
How to pull it off:
- Decor: Cover the table with kraft paper, scatter spools of ribbon, and gift tags. Add bowls of snacks and mini bottlebrush trees for flair.
- Food & Drink: Serve sparkling rosé or cranberry mimosas with a grazing board of sweets and savories.
- Encourage guests to label their wrapped presents right away so presents don’t get mixed up.
💡 Helpful Hint: Have each guest bring their own wrapping paper and a roll to swap!
4. Clay Ornament Making Night
Vibe: Artistic, tactile, and perfect for gifting or memory-making.
I tried this last year, and it instantly became a favorite. Air-dry clay is super affordable, and with a few cookie cutters and some gold paint pens, everyone goes home with handmade holiday treasures.
Set the scene:
- Decor: Festive linen tablecloths, artificial pine branches, bowls of clay tools, and cups of cocoa.
- DIY Tips: Set up a simple tutorial or inspiration board of shapes (trees, stars, initials). Provide ribbon for hanging and fine-tipped markers for custom messages. You can use holiday cookie cutters for the ornament shapes
- Have Air dry clay glaze to give the ornaments a glossy finish.
- Food Pairing: Warm brie with cranberries and crackers + sparkling cider or red wine.
✨ Bonus Idea: Package finished ornaments in cellophane bags with a tag. Instant handmade gift!
5. Pajama & Holiday Movie Marathon
Vibe: Relaxed, nostalgic, and cozy to the max.
There’s nothing quite like snuggling up in holiday PJs and binge-watching your favorite Christmas movies with your girls. This is the easiest one to plan, and maybe my personal favorite when I need a slower, restful evening.
Make it cozy:
- Decor: Blankets, floor cushions, fairy lights, and candles. Let everyone BYO fuzzy socks.
- Movies to queue: Elf, The Holiday, Love Actually, Home Alone, Little Women.
- DIY Element: Set up a popcorn bar with festive popcorn bowls. Set out mix-ins like white chocolate chips, crushed peppermint, and caramel drizzle. Add printable movie bingo cards for fun.
🎁 Little Touch: Send everyone home with a mini self-care kit or DIY them with a sleep mask, mini lotion, and a candy cane.
6. Holiday Cocktail-Making Party
Vibe: Spirited, slightly fancy, and a total icebreaker.
Who doesn’t love a themed cocktail night? I once made this a competition, each friend had to invent their own holiday cocktail and name it. Let’s just say “Sleigh All Day” and “The Naughty List” were crowd favorites.
How to mix it up:
- Decor: Festive cocktail napkins, cranberries, rosemary sprigs, festive drink stirrers.
- Drink Stations: Set up a “Make Your Own” bar with mixers, garnishes, and recipe cards.
- DIY Element: Provide blank recipe cards for each guest to write and take home their signature drink.
🍹 Drink Ideas: Cranberry margaritas, spiked eggnog, peppermint espresso martinis, or mocktails with pomegranate and lime.
7. Holiday Cookie Bake-Off Night
Vibe: Friendly competition, full ovens, and big laughs.
Want to mix baking and a little drama (the fun kind)? Host a bake-off night where everyone brings a batch of homemade cookies, and you vote on categories like “Best Taste,” “Most Festive,” and “Most Likely to Burn Down a Kitchen.”
Here’s how to host it:
- Decor: Line the counter with cookie platters (i love these 3 tiered ones), mini chalkboard signs for names, and a festive garland backdrop.
- Food & Drink: Hot toddies or spiced cider + mini snack boards between cookie bites.
- DIY Element: Print out ballots with judging categories. Award small prizes, like cookie cutters or holiday mugs.
🏆 Hot Tip: Let everyone vote anonymously, it’s way more fun and keeps it lighthearted.
8. Gingerbread House Making Competition
Vibe: Whimsical, messy, and full of sugar-fueled laughter.
A gingerbread house making competition is the ultimate blend of holiday creativity and friendly chaos. I hosted one last year and it was hilarious, some houses were architectural masterpieces, others were more… abstract. Either way, it’s guaranteed fun.
How to build the fun:
- Decor: Set up a “construction zone” with baking sheets or trays at each place setting, bowls of candy, and tiny twinkle lights for ambiance.
- Supplies: Use gingerbread kits or DIY graham cracker houses. Provide lots of frosting, icing bags, gumdrops, candy canes, pretzels, and mini marshmallows.
- DIY Element: Print out judging cards and let everyone vote on “Most Creative,” “Most Structurally Sound,” “Best in Show,” and “Sweetest Disaster.”
🍭 Pro Tip: Hot glue the bases ahead of time for easier decorating (just don’t eat those parts!).
Tis The Season
Whether you’re sipping wine, crafting ornaments, or laughing in your holiday pajamas, these creative holiday girls’ night theme ideas for a festive & fun winter gathering are all about slowing down and making meaningful memories with your favorite people.
Don’t feel pressure to make it Pinterest-perfect, just pick a theme, set a cozy mood, and let the good times roll.
Happy hosting, and cheers to a season full of joy, glitter, and girlfriends! 🥂
With Love,
Bri & Cat
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