Your friends and family are all in town for the holidays and you’re searching for something fun to do instead of watching TV. Need a few ideas? I’ve got you covered!
1. Go ice skating
Let’s be honest, there’s nothing more fun than watching each other try to not wipe out at full speed against the wall. There is always that one person in your group that you think secretly takes ice skating classes, but the majority of you are struggling to stay up on the ice. It’s a great activity and a great workout too!
2. Play Kahoot
Okay. I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t that the game we use to play in school on the Smartboard? Yes, it is, but it is so much fun when you get your family and friends together and turn it into a little friendly competition. You can make a fun Christmas quiz OR you can make a quiz about yourself to see how well your loved ones know you. Either way, it’s a fun game to play when you’re all sitting around after a big dinner!
3. Watch a few classics
For my family, I know that our Christmas movies are a big deal to us. Our favorites include "A Christmas Story" and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." "A Christmas Story" takes you on the journey of Ralphie Parker as he tries to make it to Christmas Day where he will hopefully get his dream present, a “Red Rider air rifle.” This movie happens to be what motivated my dad to buy a Leg Lamp just like the one in the movie which is displayed in our front window each year! "Christmas Vacation" gives you an inside look at what it’s like dealing with the Griswold family. This movie is full of one-liners from character like Cousin Eddie and Aunt Bethany that will leave you laughing on the floor.
4. Make a gingerbread house
If you need an activity that is fun but also teaches the skill of working together, this is for you. I tried this with my two brothers and although we struggled to have enough materials to build with (they tasted too good), it still turned out to be a very nice house!
5. Go look at Christmas lights
It’s always fun to load up everyone in the car and go on a tour of the lights! Find a neighborhood near you and see who has the best and tackiest lights of all!
6. Holiday karaoke
Find a few karaoke tracks to some of your favorite Christmas songs and see who can sing it the best-- or the worst! Some of your song options could be anything from "White Christmas" by Frank Sinatra to "All I Want I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey! You could also just do the whole Michael Buble Christmas album because for many of us, that is our favorite!
7. Christmas movie charades
See who is the best actor or actress in your family as you divide into teams to act out some classic Christmas movies! Need some movie ideas? Here are just a few: "It’s a Wonderful Life," :Elf," "A Christmas Story," "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," "Home Alone," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "The Santa Clause," "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "The Polar Express," and "White Christmas."
8. Watch the ball drop
Can’t be in New York to see the ball drop? Throw a fun party for all of your family and friends and ring in the New Year by watching it live on TV!