25 Gift Exchange Party Ideas for Christmas Guests of All Ages
There are many approaches to throwing a successful Christmas party. Obviously, creating a beautiful winter wonderland, devising the perfect guest list, and plying everyone with festive cocktails goes a long way. But there are other ways to ensure the vibe doesn’t go cold at your next yuletide soirée. First, set the stage for fun with a hardcore ho-ho-holiday theme. Then prevent your nearest and dearest—or your boss—from bringing up any unsavory topics by keeping their mouths busy with an abundance of holiday appetizers. Keep conversation lulls at bay—and find out who the office Mariah is—by tickling the keys of the piano or firing up the karaoke machines for a little caroling.
But perhaps the easiest way to add to the lights (of the twinkling variety) and cameras (hello, Instagram!) at your next party is to bring some action, specifically a gift exchange. That could mean signing everyone up for beforehand for Secret Santa, asking them to bring weird objects for White Elephant, or making them share their best beauty finds at a My Favorite Things Party. Turns out, when you gift folks with fun and games that allow them to brag about what they brought, engage in steals, and leave with a parting favor, everybody wins!
Gift Exchange Ideas for Work
White Elephant
For our money, this game is the most fun when people get imaginative and bring oddities that cost very little—we’re talking lint from the dryer, a mixtape made back in 8th grade, something particularly weird sourced via lost and found, or even a portrait of Justin Bieber from eBay. However, you can go the non-funny route and set a price limit for brand-new, less funny items. From there, the rules are simple: Everyone shows up with a wrapped gift draws a number, and then picks a gift in order or “steals” from someone who has chosen something they want. After everyone is done, Picker Number 1 gets the option to steal one last time.
Secret Santa
A week or two before the office party, write down everyone in the department’s name on slips of paper, and then have everyone draw names. From there, set a dollar limit so that everyone can shop for an appropriate gift for the chosen recipient. Try to keep it all secret so everyone can witness when giftees are both dazzled and surprised.
Mug Exchange
Upgrade the cup selection at the office with this fun game. Everyone brings a wrapped mug that has a little personality—maybe it’s just plain pretty, a little sassy, or downright hilarious. Provide everyone with a number, and then mugs are picked in order. Engage the White Elephant rules in order to allow people to “steal” and spark some office drama.
Gift Card Trade
Establish a dollar amount and encourage folks to think outside the box and purchase a gift card from places that are different and fun. Each gift card should be placed in a plain envelope. Draw numbers and then pick envelopes in order. If every single one of you ends up with an Amazon card at the end of the game, your office is banned from ever playing this again.
Swag Swap
Do you get a lot of free stuff at your job? Take the best of the best (or the worst) t-shirts, candles, towels, and other branded objects, wrap ’em up, and start trading via White Elephant-style rules. Bonus: This game rules because it allows you to get down to the business of cleaning out your desk—at least until you’re “gifted” someone else’s freebies.
Salty Snack Soirée
Spread the word about all the merits of your favorite afternoon treat while allowing them to savor the deliciousness. Put out a sign-up sheet wherein everyone signs up and volunteers to bring a sampling of their favorite salty snack—be it a chip, nut, trail mix, cracker, jerky—for all attendees. If you're an over-achiever, try our Spicy-n-Sweet Snack Mix. On the day of the party, everyone gets a turn to wax poetic their chosen snack (but keep it short, people!). Then co-workers get to judge after it’s all said and tasted. Winner gets bragging rights.
Candy Exchange
Share the gift of M&Ms, Nerds, Werther’s, or any other tasty delight that makes it possible to get through your work day. Don’t worry about a sign-up sheet. This is about public service. All participants need to bring enough of whatever makes them happiest for everyone to have a secret stash of their own.
Ready, Reset, Recharge Party
Do you have a little something that allows you to take five and come back to work refocused and refreshed? Maybe it’s a whiff of a very specific aromatherapy oil or a beautiful notebook where you can write down your deepest darkest thoughts. Share the secrets of your success by wrapping it up and bringing it to the group. Everyone draws numbers and once your present is picked, you get to explain how it can bring serenity now and in the future.
My Favorite Lunch Exchange
There are meals that make Hump Day a little better. For some, it’s a salad from a local bistro; for others it might curly fries from Arby’s or even a Big Mac from McDonald’s. Arrive to the party with a gift card from the location as well as a written menu of what makes up your own personal happy meal. Draw numbers and pick accordingly.
Secret Santa Sock Swap
Nothing adds levity to the work uniform like some wacky socks. Set a cash limit, draw names, and then shop ’til you drop for something snazzy, fun, and fit for your co-worker’s feet!
Friends & Family Gift Exchange Party Ideas
Ugly Christmas Sweater Swap
Invite your besties over for a night of good wine and bad fashion. Ask guests to bring an ugly sweater—the scarier the better. Place all the sweaters in a Santa bag and pass it around. Whatever you pick, you wear. Doesn’t matter if it fits or not. The silver lining? The poor soul wearing the ugliest sweater—as well as the person who brought it—receive prizes!
Cookie Exchange
Everyone wins at a cookie exchange. Invite guests and ask them to RSVP and note the type of cookies they plan to make. Once everything is settled—and you’ve made sure not everyone is bringing chocolate chip—let everyone know how many people are attending so that make enough. Typically, it’s fun to leave with at least a dozen cookies. The host can either supply fun takeaway containers or encourage folks to bring their own.
My Favorite Book Exchange
As the year comes to an end, invite everyone to share a highlight of the previous 12 months—specifically, the best book they’ve read all year. Guests should bring a title that touched them profoundly—laughter, tears, frustration. Place all the books in a Santa bag. After a little wining and dining, pass the bag so everyone can select a tome. And while each person should have a chance to explain why they loved their book, avoid spoilers please!
DIY Gift Exchange
If your social circle includes a lot of artists, give them the opportunity to shine—and even make connections for future collaborations—at this creative affair. Everyone brings something they’ve painted, sculpted, embroidered, drawn, written, or made by their own hand in any way. Make things more exciting by asking everyone to wrap their masterpiece, and then use White Elephant rules for picking pieces.
Ornament Exchange
Ask your friends and family to arrive with a wrapped ornament. Place all the packages on a table, draw numbers, and then choose packages in order. People are allowed to “steal” an ornament from a previous picker, but once an item has been stolen twice, that’s it. It can’t be stolen again. Picker No. 1 gets to keep whatever they have at the end or steal any “unsafe” ornament.
Favorite Things Exchange
Channel your inner Oprah by making your inner circle share some of their most-prized products. If you choose to keep the guest list small, ask everyone to bring enough for everyone. Got a bigger party—or a bigger price point? Guests can bring a single product and simply use White Elephant rules to distribute.
Wine Exchange
Get the party started by telling guests that they have to arrive with two bottles of their favorite wine—one unwrapped for sampling and another wrapped for a post-sipping gift exchange. Once numbers are drawn, vintaged are chosen in order. Feel free to allow folks to “steal” as necessary.
Recipe Exchange
Throw a tasteful affair by asking guests to bring a special homemade dish (like Holiday Salsa!)—along with copies of the recipe and the “secret” ingredient that makes it extra delicious. Not only will everyone have the chance to sample some family favorites, they’ll be able to make it part of their own celebrations for years to come.
Plant Exchange
Christmas is all about green and red. Lean into the former and allow the gifts to be the true life of the party. Ask guests to bring a potted plant—you can either be specific and ask for succulents or herbs or get keep things loose. Allow everyone to draw numbers and then choose accordingly.
Accessory Swap
Keep things sustainable and stylish with a party that celebrates both. Here’s how it works: Ask your most fashion-forward friends to bring a prized accessory that’s gently used. Place them all in a Santa bag and pass it around so that people can choose. Wear the belt, boa, scarf, or purse during the party and trade as you like.
Regift Trade
Not every gift is a hit. How many of us have a closet filled with not-so-great scented candles, ill-fitting shirts; and kitchen gadgets that will never be unboxed? This party will help you get rid of one of those items. Simply wrap it up, draw numbers, and then distribute using White Elephant rules. When it’s time to go, here’s hoping your best friend’s trash happens to be treasure. On a positive note, you’ll already have room carved out for it in the closet.
Gift Exchange Party Ideas for Kids
Crafty Exchange
Elves aren’t the only ones who should be upping their gift production—your children should be getting to work, too. Put together a table filled with craft supplies and encourage children to work on drawings, paintings, collages, or multi-media pieces that they can give to grandparents on December 25. For extra credit, you can even offer frames sourced from Ikea. Celebrate their accomplishments with sweet treats and cocoa.
Toy Trade
Before you attempt this party, set a dollar amount, and make sure everyone adheres to it. The last thing you want is one kid to go home with an Xbox while other children, well, lose their marbles because they’re going home with marbles. Otherwise, it’s simple: Everyone shows up with a wrapped gift, places it in a Santa bag, draws numbers, picks something from the bag, and goes home with something they did not bring.
Baked Goods Exchange
Allow kids to get their hands dirty in the kitchen. With Mom’s help, encourage them to make two dozen of their favorite holiday treats before this soiree. In addition to attending with their confections, the should also bring a container large enough for a sampling of their friends’ goodies.
Letter To Santa Party
Allow kids to experience the gift of sharing by asking them to arrive with one unwrapped, brand-new toy that will be donated to a child in need. After a day of sipping cocoa, eating cookies, and writing letters to Santa, each kid can show off what they brought and why they chose it.
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