This Post: 22 Fun & Festive Slumber Party Ideas to Celebrate with Besties
Co-Written By: Morgan Hill & Nancy Reynolds
Winter break is almost here and our kids are itching to spend quality time with their besties minus all the distractions of school, homework, sports, and clubs. And, what better way to hang out and have fun with your friends than by hosting a festive holiday slumber party?
With a little planning, your teen can be the hostess (or host) with the mostest! From baking cookies to caroling, there are a bunch of fun ideas here for your teen to enjoy a night to remember with their BFFs! And, the cool part is that none of these ideas are too childish or “cringy” and they won’t break the bank!
22 Fun & Festive Slumber Party Ideas to Celebrate with Besties
1. Movie Marathon – Holiday Style
Your teen and their friends can slip into their coziest jammies and settle in for a fun night of hot cocoa, festive snacks, and all their favorite holiday movies. Whether they watch sappy movies on The Hallmark Channel, old-time faves like “Elf” or “Frosty the Snowman,” or non-traditional holiday movies like, “Die Hard” or “Gremlins,” it’s ALL about hanging out and being together.
2. Hot Cocoa Bar
Speaking of hot cocoa, why not set up a festive hot cocoa bar to wow your friends? Of course, whipped cream and marshmallows are a must, but get creative by offering an array of different toppings! Sprinkles, candy bits, stirrers like Pirouette cookies or cinnamon sticks, peppermint pieces, Christmas Peeps, red licorice straws, and more. The possibilities are practically endless! Bring it up a notch with holiday-themed mugs for your friends to take home.
Here are MORE Hot Cocoa Bar Ideas!
3. Secret Santa
What better way to show your besties how much you care than by gifting small, thoughtful presents? And, the cool part is, with apps like Elfster, it’s never been easier! Your teen can hit the mall, Target, or even the Dollar Store if the budget is tight (set a cost limit for gifts so everyone stays in the same price range) and sit around drinking warm cocoa and exchanging gifts.
4. Holiday Scavenger Hunt in the Neighborhood
Selfie with Santa? Frolicking with Frosty? Nutty with a Nutcracker? The crazier the better! Come up with a list of silly pics each group has to take in the neighborhood (be sure to be respectful of property). The first group back with all of the pictures wins a holiday gift of your choosing. Use this list we found on Etsy that you can download for $1!
5. Do a Fun Holiday Craft (or Two!)
Plan one or two holiday crafts (so your teen’s friends can choose which one they want to make) and have fun crafting a fun Christmas ornament, a silly snowman, or a festive peppermint sugar scrub like the one shown here! The possibilities are endless AND it doesn’t have to cost a fortune!
Check out this post for a bunch of fun DIY Holiday Craft Ideas!
6. Gaming Galore Night
When school is in session most parents fight to get their teens to stop gaming so they can focus on homework and getting enough sleep. Well… why not host a fun “Get Your Game On” Slumber Party that involves everything teens love – friends, gaming, and food … lots of food! Spring for pizza, pick up a bunch of Chick-fil-A nuggets, or offer a bunch of inexpensive snacks your teen and friends will love and let them GAME AWAY!
7. Sleep Under the Tree
Break out the sleeping bags, it’s time for indoor camping holiday style! Nothing is more magical than the soft glow of lights on the tree. Make it fun by ordering a pizza (or making your own pizzas!), popping some popcorn, and rolling out your sleeping bags while basking in that late-night magic that only this time of year brings. Oh… and turn off the tech and play card games, board games, or have a fun trivia night Here are 50 Fun Christmas Trivia Questions with Answers!
8. Create an Epic Popcorn Bar
While you’re watching movies, there’s nothing better than popcorn. Instead of the same old melted butter, customize your creation with all sorts of add-ins — your favorite candies, nuts, marshmallow fluff, or anything else that sounds festive and yummy! Sick of all the Christmas sweets? Go gourmet with flavored seasonings like kettle corn, nachos, or cheesy jalapeno!
Check out how to create this fun Popcorn Bar HERE!
9. White Elephant Gift Exchange
What’s Christmas without a weird gift? Set a dollar amount (say, $10 max) and set out to find the strangest, possibly most undesirable but funny present you can find. Have each friend do the same and bring them to the sleepover. Enjoy as each person opens every crazy gift! Or, you can set a theme if you want more desirable presents.
Check out the Official White Elephant Gift Exchange Rules for more information!
10. Bake & Decorate Christmas Cookies
Mmmm, warm Christmas cookies straight from the oven can’t be beat! Choose a couple of easy (just a few ingredients) cookie recipes and enjoy a night of baking and decorating! Then, pass out festive containers to your friends (a winter-themed container is nice!) so they can take a few cookies home to enjoy! (That is if you don’t eat them all!)
11. Create a Festive & Delish Holiday Snack Board
We all know how much teenagers love food, right? But when you serve up a festive holiday-themed snack board like this one, they’ll love it even more! It doesn’t have to be expensive, either – just head to the dollar store for cookies and snacks and add a little fruit and salami if you like. Oh, and don’t worry if it’s not picture-perfect. Teens don’t care about that! Just have fun with it! Image: Pinterest
12. Choreograph a Holiday Dance and Post on TikTok
Whether your teen and their friends recreate the latest TikTok dance craze or create their own, there’s no better way to get their holiday boogie on than by cranking up the music and dancing the night away! They can pick their favorite holiday song and get to making their moves!
13. Decorate Gingerbread Houses
Decorating gingerbread houses at a slumber party is a teen’s chance to channel their inner architect – with a glue gun made of frosting and an endless supply of candy “building materials.” It’s all fun and games until someone eats half the decorations and the roof collapses in a sugary avalanche. Seriously though… it’s a lot of fun! Be sure to crank up the music!
14. Holiday Spa Night
A spa night gives teens the perfect excuse to pamper themselves while laughing at the chaos of DIY face masks gone wrong. Between cucumber slices slipping off their eyes and attempting to paint each other’s nails without smudging, it’s equal parts self-care and comedy show. Add some fluffy robes, soothing music, and maybe a few ridiculous selfies, and you’ve got a night of relaxation and unforgettable fun.
15. Christmas Game Night
They might not be playing Chutes n’ Ladders anymore, but don’t let ’em fool you… teenagers still love board games. And, the holiday season is the perfect time to get their game back on – with Christmas games that is! Here’s a fun one we found on Amazon that has 12 games!
16. Host a Retro-Style Slumber Party
Break out the neon scrunchies, flannel PJs, and mixtapes (or just a playlist of 80s, 90s, or early 2000s hits), and let the nostalgia flow. They can watch classic 80s movies, play throwback board games, or have a Polaroid photo session to capture all the vintage vibes. Add snacks like popcorn and root beer floats, and they’ll be laughing at how big our hair was back in the 80s!
17. Play the Hilarious Saran Wrap Game
Add a ton of laughs to your slumber party by playing a few crazy fun games like the Saran Wrap Game! There’s nothing more fun than unwrapping Saran wrap game prizes one layer at a time wondering what the next layer will bring! Plus, add in printable coal cards for an added layer of fun!
Visit Play Party Plan for the full tutorial on HOW TO PLAY!
18. Go Caroling
It doesn’t matter if you can harmonize or even sing on key. Festivity is the key here, and bringing unexpected holiday cheer to neighbors or friends. Bundle up, put on your Santa hats, and hit the road after choosing a few songs. When you get home again, cozy up with some hot cocoa to soothe cold throats and laugh about your adventure into the entertainment industry.
19. Ugly Sweater (or T-Shirt or Sweatshirt) Decorating Contest
It’s time for an ugly sweater showdown! Have each friend bring a plain sweater(or t-shirt or sweatshirt) to decorate. Buy decorative holiday supplies on a budget at the dollar store. Model them on Insta and maybe grab a parent to judge which is the best- which, of course, means the worst! (A hot glue gun is helpful here for the best adhesion.)
Click HERE for lots of fun ideas!
20. Make Copycat Starbucks Drinks
Teens LOVE Starbucks! But can we all agree, they’re expensive! Well… guess what? Now they can make their own (copycat) Starbucks drinks that taste the same, but they’re a whole lot less expensive! And, they can be made without without caffeine!
Check out these awesome Copycat Starbucks Drink Recipes!
21. Whip Up a Festive Mocktail
What better way to enjoy a fun evening with besties than by sipping on a festive non-alcoholic drink that’s sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit? Not only are they delectable, but they’re fun! Need ideas?
Check out these 18 Fun & Festive Mocktail Recipes!
22. Outdoor Snowy Fun
If the weather outside is snowy, head out with your cozy coats and mittens and build a snowman, have a snowball fight, go sledding or just take a stroll around the neighborhood while you admire the glistening of the snow. It’s the perfect way to add a touch of winter wonder to your slumber party!
Your teen’s slumber party can be fun and festive without breaking the bank or having to put in too much effort! Tap into our ideas or come up with your own… just let your creativity flow and have a blast celebrating with besties!
About Morgan Hill:
Morgan Hill is an essayist and humorist. She has written for many online and print publications including Insider, Your Teen Magazine, Revel, and MASK Magazine. She is the mother of freshman and senior sons in high school. When not writing, she can be found at flea markets, in her garden, photographing architecture, taking cooking classes, or eating the stinkiest cheese she can find. You can also find her on Twitter @MorganHWrites or Instagram @MorganHillWriter
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