Winter is all about celebration. It doesn’t matter whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Festivus—love and laughter are in the air, and it’s a great time to throw a party.
But with so many different holidays and activities going on during the winter months, finding the perfect winter party theme can be difficult. Don’t worry—because we’re here to inspire you.
The Eventbrite community is home to more than 850,000 amazing event creators, so we know a thing or two about organizing one-of-a-kind themed events and holiday bashes.
That’s why we’ve created this guide to explain why winter party themes are a great idea, give you 13 amazing winter party theme ideas, and zoom in on some event creators who are nailing the brief when it comes to all things winter.
13 winter party themes your guests will love
7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Why choose a winter party theme?
Honestly, a party can be great without a theme. However, studies show that themed parties offer a unique atmosphere unmatched by random decor and entertainment.
Party themes serve as an anchor for your event. Party decorations, entertainment, food, location, sights, sounds, and smells can all be tied back to the central theme. This creates an immersive experience for your guests in which they aren’t just “showing up” to an event — they’re having an experience.
That’s why two-thirds of event creators who took part in our Event Trends Report told us the most important part of their role isn’t event logistics but creating memorable experiences for attendees.
When it comes to winter, themes are an absolute must. Winter offers an abundance of special traditions and elements that make selecting a theme a delightful challenge for party planners. Not only does choosing a winter party theme help you create a special party atmosphere, but it’ll also simplify the planning process.
For example, you’ve instantly got plenty of potential food and decoration ideas if you know you’re planning a party with a Santa’s grotto theme.
But winter party themes can also help you better communicate your event’s goals and objectives. Returning to our Santa example, let’s say you’re hosting this Christmas party as a charity toy drive for a local hospital.
Using the Santa Claus theme, you can invite guests to don the red cap and make a child’s holiday season brighter—creating a unique experience for your partygoers while ensuring you achieve your party objective.
Curious to learn more about what to consider when planning a party (and how Eventbrite can streamline the process)? Let’s take a look.
13 winter party themes your guests will love
Now that we’ve covered why winter party themes are a great way to engage with guests and help you achieve your event goals, let’s dive deeper into some unique winter party theme ideas.
To help you get started on your party planning mission, here are 13 winter party themes that we absolutely love (and we think you’ll love, too).
1. Winter wonderland
There’s something incredibly elegant about cold weather. The winter season is cool, crisp, and minimalist—which can be the perfect way to style a party.
Enter the winter wonderland party theme.
It’s all about capturing the cool elements of winter. Imagine a palette of white, dark blues, and purples. This is an excellent opportunity to hire a local ice sculptor to create works of art as table centerpieces—you could even book a live ice sculpture demonstration for your guests. You could also consider hiring a snow machine to impress your party guests with real snow as they enter your venue.
To maintain the elegant mood you’ll want a menu in keeping with the upscale theme. Petit fours, cakes, and finger sandwiches are wise. Some classy entertainment could include a live jazz band, a piano concert, or a DJ spinning Christmas classics and seasonal favorites.
Need some inspiration? Look no further than rooftop venue Truss Cleveland’s annual Kandy Kane Ball and toy drive. Embracing this year’s Winter Wonderland theme, the venue will be transformed into a glittering snowscape, with signature-themed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and live entertainment. Guests are instructed to attend in “festive cocktail attire,” and, as a final luxurious touch, complimentary valet is provided for all attendees.
Or take inter wonderland and make it romantasy. Winter wonderland with a fairy tale twist is what guests can expect from Lark Escapes’ Winter Fae Ball. The immersive night out features a costumed Fairy Court, enchanted elixirs, and a dress code that will have guests resplendent in their winter fae and snowy sprite ensembles.
If that’s not nailing the brief, what is? You may also want to check out our holiday event planning guide for more tips on transforming your party into a winter wonderland.
2. North Pole
Nothing screams “winter” more than Santa Claus and his elves. This winter party theme is a hole-in-one—you can make it as memorable as you want.
Go for decorations that capture the magic and spirit of the North Pole. That means plenty of reds, greens, whimsical patterns, toys, candies, and sweets.
Unlike the winter wonderland theme, a North Pole party can be more homey and simple regarding the type of food and drinks you’re serving. Think hot cocoa, candy canes, Christmas cocktails for adults, and hearty stews for a sit-down menu.
Take Culinary Arts’ Candyland-themed North Pole Edition event. The sit-down dinner invites total sensory immersion for attendees, from the shimmering icicle backdrops that set the scene to the smell of freshly baked gingerbread greeting guests as they enter the venue. With candy-cane martinis and Candyland-inspired dishes served all night, this event offers an example of how to merge two complementary themes and commit to both.
A winter wonderland is the perfect theme if you’re planning a party for families with children, but it can also be adapted for a fun adults-only bash.
Easy entertainment ideas include everything from performers dressed as elves to a visit from Santa or a handler bringing in live reindeer to create a small petting zoo.
If you’re looking for best practices, it’s worth checking out Apex Specialty Planning Group’s ‘Adventure to the North Pole Family Christmas Light Festival’. This family-focused event includes reflective light and mirror displays, as well as crafts, festive movies, and story time. Attendees can sample Mrs. Claus’s cookies, chat with Santa, and even go roller skating before leaving the North Pole.
3. Winter sports
If you’re planning a party for sporty people, a winter sports or Winter Olympics theme is definitely a winner.
Your decor should match the Olympics’ vibe and feature sporty patterns, skis and snowboards, flags of the world, and ski lodge garb throughout. Meanwhile, menu options could be 80s-inspired to capture the golden age of Aspen — or you could take guests across the pond for a Scandinavian potluck.
Your entertainment will depend on your venue, but exciting options might include a winter sports display or the chance for guests to go ice skating.
One Eventbrite creator who knows how to do the theme well is Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton. The hotel’s rooftop transforms into a European-inspired ski lodge through the festive season, where guests can build their own S’mores, enjoy fireplace cocktails, and even try that wintriest of sports: curling.
4. White elephant party
If you’ve ever participated in a white elephant gift exchange, you know it’s a great way to get guests up, moving, and laughing. They’re also often called “Yankee Swaps” or a “Dirty Santa” party, but they all work the same—each guest brings a present, and then you make a game of swapping those gifts around.
This theme is easy because the main entertainment for a white elephant party is the game itself. You’ve just got to look for decor that captures the gifting vibe, like bows, packaging, or decorated Christmas trees. It’s that simple.
Although this is a Christmas classic, you can also put a unique spin on the white elephant theme to better align with your venue or event’s style.
For example, look at event creator PHX Fest and their Mezcal White Elephant party. They served each party guest a cocktail on arrival with a number on the bottom. After everybody got their numbers, the games began—with each person opening a wrapped bottle and others getting to choose another gift or steal one already opened.
These types of games are the best way to engage party guests. But if you’re looking for more interactive event ideas, we’ve got you covered.
5. Christmas in July
The Christmas in July theme is a fun and flirty take on a traditional Christmas party. Instead of decking the halls with evergreen trees and fake furs, Christmas in July is all about capturing tropical summer vibes.
Best of all: You can hold a Christmas in July party in December or July. The theme works no matter the season.
That means decor that fuses summer fun with Christmas classics. For example, you can greet guests with Hawaiian leis on arrival, decorate palm trees with lights and baubles, break out pool furniture, or even bring in some natural sand.
For a menu, this one is great for summer BBQ staples alongside more traditional Christmas belly warmers and cocktails—while entertainment options could include a reggae or ukulele band, hula hooping, or even a limbo contest.
Pubcrawls.com has its own take on how to do Christmas in July. Using their tried-and-tested bar crawl premise, their ‘Christmas in July’ event comes to life thanks to festive costumes, themed bars with holiday decorations, Christmassy entertainment, and Yule-themed cocktails.
If you’re looking for more ideas to boost your Christmas party beyond just the theme, we can help. Check out our Christmas party event checklist.
6. Ugly sweater party
Who doesn’t love an ugly Christmas sweater? This is a super simple and affordable winter party theme.
By encouraging your guests to show up in their worst Christmas sweater, you can engage guests on arrival. The dress code can even double as your entertainment—host a best (or worst) sweater contest.
All you’ve got to do is source some traditional holiday decor and let your guests do all the hard work.
If you need some ugly Christmas sweater inspiration, check out event creator A Murder Mystery Dinner and their Murder and Cocktails: Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. Attendees don their finest festive sweaters and team up over cocktails to solve an immersive murder mystery. What’s not to love?
And for promotion? Think about running an early bird discount with Eventbrite’s discount tool. Events with promotions get 2x the views and a 15% boost in sell-through.
7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
If you’re looking for whimsical winter party themes, you can’t do better than Dr. Seuss and The Grinch.
It’s a Christmas classic, and this one is largely about the decor. Go for a vibrant color palette, wacky illustrations, and unique animals or gadgets to capture the sights and sounds of Whoville in the holidays.
You can even encourage guests to dress up like Whos and host a costume contest—or do a film screening of The Grinch.
Need inspiration? Event creator Charles Village Pub and Patio Towson has an annual “Breakfast with the Grinch” event each December which provides a perfect example. The brunch buffet has two seatings, set prices for kids and adults, and plenty of excitement thanks to appearances from the Grinch, Buddy the Elf, Santa, and more. Their success is partly thanks to using the right tools—in this case, they listed their event on the largest events search engine in the world: Eventbrite.
Or try Grinch-themed crafting with La Bella Fiori’s Grinch Tree Workshop, which teaches attendees how to make their own festive foliage, inspired by the meanie himself. This event promises to take your Christmas decor to storybook levels.
Create your winter events with Eventbrite
8. Pajama party
Sometimes the best winter party themes are the simplest — and nothing’s more simple than asking party guests to dress down and show up in their PJs.
A holiday pajama party is all about creating a cozy and warm scene. Think tartan blankets, loads of pillows, and an open fire. You could even set up a hot chocolate bar, do a breakfast buffet, and set up a contest for the best (or worst) pajamas. If you’ve got children, a festive storytime will be a nice addition, too.
Premiere on Broadway’s Christmas Pajama and Ugly Sweater Party has festive cocktails, a DJ on the night, prizes for best outfits, and gives attendees an excuse to dance the night away in their reindeer slippers.
And Noroc from Me, LLC turns the pajama party into a fundraising event for kids and adults of all ages with their “PJ Dance Party with Santa.” Complete with photobooth, North Pole themed festive truck, and hot chocolate bar, there are also prizes for best PJs, of course.
If you need help promoting your own pajama party, take a look at our guide on how to promote holiday-themed events.
9. Winter adventure party
If you’re after something a bit more exciting, a great option could be to go for a winter adventure theme. Think Mount Everest-chic.
Your decor should revolve around snow and ice, winter animals like polar bears or penguins alongside mountain climbing gear. Set a mountain explorer dress code and go for a menu of belly warmers. This would be another great opportunity to rent a snow machine or set up an ice carving demonstration to entertain your party guests.
For a more literal take on this theme, check out event creator Life’s 2 Short Fitness and their Women’s Winter Adventure Retreat event. Instead of dressing up as winter adventurers, this event gives attendees a chance to bundle up and do it all for real — with the line-up including snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowbiking.
Or sign up for one of The Best Races’ Christmas Jingle Rudolph Runs, which cater to all paces and ages with 5K, 10K, and half-marathon runs. Costumes encouraged.
10. Ice bar
If you’re looking for a sleek and trendy winter party theme, an ice bar is the perfect theme. You’ll want to match your cool party vibe with Scandinavian decor like faux furs, blankets, and white and silver tones throughout.
This one is adults-only because the main attraction is going to be your ice bar, although Creamery ice cream shops have launched a kid-friendly take on the theme. Expect heated igloos that seat up to six, make-your-own-sundaes, and a hot chocolate bar experience.
11. Black tie New Year’s Eve
Winter doesn’t end after Christmas Day — and New Year’s Eve is a great excuse to throw a fancy party. Go for a black tie theme and encourage your guests to keep it formal.
In terms of decor, you can keep things elevated with a Gatsby-esque vibe, party cocktails, and canapés. Your entertainment lineup to ring in the new year could include a jazz band, a fireworks display, or ballroom dancers.
As a point of reference, look at event creator I Am Legaci and their upcoming Tailor Made Black Tie New Year’s Eve Gala. Set in a popular Atlanta hotspot, it promises to be an evening of flowing champagne, live DJ sets, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and dancing to ring in the new year.
12. The Nutcracker
When you think of winter, The Nutcracker is on many’s list of favorites. The famous ballet and its score are almost synonymous with the holidays — which makes it a brilliant party theme.
This one is ideal for hiring classical musicians, ballet performers, or even hosting a Nutcracker decorating contest.
Your theme menu could center on the more traditional Christmas treats like macaroons, chocolates, candy canes, or chocolate mice. The decor should feature nutcrackers, plenty of greens and reds, and traditional German and Scandinavian patterns.
Event creator San Antonio Youth Ballet hosts a Nutcracker-themed tea party to coincide with their performances of the ballet. Embracing the theme with sweet treats, a chance to meet Clara and friends, and the opportunity to dance with the Sugar Plum Fairy, there’s even a special visit from Santa for the occasion.
Event creator Ballet Legato’s Nutcracker Tea invites guests to spend an afternoon in the Land of Sweets. There will be complimentary tea, hot chocolate, and cookies to nibble on. Families can also enjoy crafts, face painting, and balloon-making, as well as having their photos taken with the Sugar Plum Fairy and other Nutcracker characters.
13. Fire and Ice Festival
Take inspiration from the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma to craft an unforgettable celebration.
Their annual Fire and Ice Ball is an exercise in meticulous attention to detail and a study in contrasts. Guests are invited to explore a “Fire” realm with bold decor, blazing beats, and sensory cocktails. The “Ice” kingdom, by contrast, is all frosty elegance and chilling drinks. The evening includes a plated dinner, games, and entertainment.
The dress code invites guests to “dazzle,” whether they want to “channel the intensity of fire” with “fiery reds and golds” or prefer “the icy allure of blues and silvers” and the “serene elegance of ice.”
Take your winter party themes to the next level
It’s important to note this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are lots of amazing great party themes—and once you’ve found the perfect theme to create a unique guest experience, we’re here to help.
With Eventbrite, you can set up custom party event pages, create seating plans, sell tickets, and promote your holiday party using email marketing integrations, social ads, and more.
