The halls will be decked, cookies baked, and mistletoe hung—December is just around the corner, which means your calendar will soon be bursting with holiday cheer! As you gear up for all the merrymaking, think beyond the usual entertainment and traditions. Get ready to amaze your guests with creative holiday party activities that will ensure unforgettable memories. From holly jolly artists to belly-laugh-inducing performances, here is a treasure trove of ideas to make your festivities shine brighter than ever.
Enhance Your Celebration with Iconic Holiday Characters
- Santa Claus
Hiring a Santa Claus for your holiday event is a surefire way to create excitement and joy. A real-bearded Santa brings the spirit of Christmas to life, as he engages with guests by asking what gifts they want under the tree and poses for special photos. Everyone will cherish the time with Kris Kringle, making your function truly exceptional. - The Grinch
A Grinch costumed character adds a delightful mix of fun and drama to your holiday event. This beloved but grouchy holiday staple represents the power of Christmas spirit to transform hearts. Whether played by a non-speaking, mascot performer or a speaking, interactive actor, the Grinch will entertain partygoers with his playful attempts to thwart Christmas cheer. Plus, everyone will love a photo opportunity with this iconic figure. - Living Statues, like the Ice Queen
Elevate your holiday event with captivating Living Statues, also known as Human Statues. These “living set pieces” don elaborate costumes and makeup to create stunning visual displays, posing like statues but moving periodically to surprise and delight passersby. Perfect for “Winter Wonderland” or “Fire & Ice” themes, the Ice Queen shown above is a fantastic example of how a Living Statue can amplify your party atmosphere. - Elf Craft Stations
Santa’s elves can add tinkering and crafting to your get-together with engaging holiday activity stations. Whether the elves lead cookie decorating, ornament designing or Christmas card making, your attendees will enjoy the enthusiasm and cheer they bring to the task. These interactive stations not only spark creativity but also guarantee that everyone stays engaged in the festive fun. - Elves as Santa’s Helpers
Elves can also serve as Santa’s assistants to enhance your holiday event. If you are bringing in Saint Nicholas, consider adding some elf performers, too. These holiday helpers will make sure your event runs smoothly by interacting with your guests and managing the line for Santa. Additionally, they can take photos and distribute gifts while spreading Christmas cheer at every turn. - Gingerbread Man
Costumed characters such as a Gingerbread Man add delightfully sweet fun to any holiday celebration. Whether your event features a gingerbread house-building station or simply evokes the playful imagery of holiday treats, a mascot dressed in holiday garb will create unique memories that everyone will enjoy. - Mrs. Claus
With her rosy cheeks, warm smile, and a heart full of cheer, Mrs. Claus is the perfect addition to your holiday event—either solo or alongside Santa. A Mrs. Claus performer can assist Santa, pose for photos or engage party attendees with activities like reading a story or leading a craft station. Bring the enchantment of the North Pole to your get-together with Mrs. Claus.
Dazzle Your Guests with Captivating Performances
- Christmas Contortionists
If you’re looking to spotlight a featured act at your holiday event, contortionists are an exceptional choice. These talented artists transform themselves into human pretzels, delivering a visually stunning spectacle that captivates audiences. With costumes and music tailored to your theme, contortionists enhance the atmosphere and leave partiers in awe of their incredible skill and flexibility. - Jolly Jugglers
Add a touch of excitement to your holiday get-together with a featured performance from a professional juggler. These masters of precision are able to entertain people of all ages with a wide variety of juggling props, including fake snowballs, clubs, rings, scarves, or other fun props. Some jugglers even combine other incredible talents, such as unicycling, rola bola or plate spinning for a truly dynamic production. A juggler dressed in theme-appropriate costuming is the perfect way to bring energy and enjoyment to your soirée! - Aerialists
Aerialists are masters of pushing physical limits while soaring above the crowd, delivering breathtaking presentations that captivate everyone. Whether you opt for a featured show or ambient entertainment, these acrobats add a dramatic flair to any holiday party as they pull off mesmerizing feats with fluid grace. Tailored to fit your celebration’s needs, aerial acts are sure to leave your partygoers talking long after the event ends. - Magicians
Magicians make the impossible seem possible with their expert sleight of hand and enthralling performances. Entertaining for all audiences, these illusionists will leave your crowd wondering, “How DID they do that?!” Not only do they deliver mind-blowing tricks, but their interactive shows also engage your group, inviting brave volunteers to participate in the fun. If you are looking to add a sense of wonder to your festive gathering, hiring a magician is a fantastic choice.Quick Tip: Many magicians offer the options of featured stage shows or strolling magic, where they mingle with guests and perform close-up tricks for small groups throughout your event. If a featured show isn’t right for your setup, consider strolling close-up as an entertaining alternative. - Fire Dancers
For the ultimate “Wow!” factor, add fire dancers to your holiday activity lineup. These skilled performers expertly wield a variety of flame-lit tools, including poi, batons, hoops, swords, fans, and more. Twirling fiery instruments, the dancers create mesmerizing patterns as they paint the air with arcs of fire. Whether you’re hosting a “Fire & Ice” themed event or simply want everyone to leave in awe, fire dancers are sure to be a show-stopping hit. Just don’t try to roast any chestnuts by their fire! - Musicians
Make live music the highlight of your December party by hiring a band or solo musician. Whether you’re looking for jazz, classical, holiday classics, or modern hits, you can find plenty of talented musicians to suit your event and crowd in and around the “Live Music Capital of the World!” Musical acts add energy to your shindig, creating the perfect atmosphere for everyone to mingle, dance, sing along and enjoy.
Provide Fun with Festive Activities and Photo Ops
- Petting Zoo with Nativity Animals
Who could resist spending time with adorable animals like camels, donkeys, sheep, and cows? When you hire a petting zoo featuring Nativity animals, your party guests have the chance to connect with the types of creatures that may have been present at the very first Christmas. With trained handlers ensuring the animals’ well-being, everyone can enjoy petting and posing with these friendly, furry companions, adding a unique touch to your holiday celebration. - Photo Booth
Strike a pose and create distinctive moments with a photo booth at your holiday party! Your attendees will love using fun, festive props to snap memorable photos with friends, family, or coworkers. With an on-site operator to ensure everything runs smoothly, everyone can enjoy the fun and take home a keepsake, too! Photo Booth printed strips can be customized with your logo, text, colors and background design to match your holiday theme and preferences. - Stilt Walkers
If you want to immediately catch people’s attention, stilt walkers are the perfect choice for holiday entertainment. Standing 8-10 feet tall, they are impossible to miss, especially when dressed as elves, giant candy canes or nutcrackers from the classic ballet. Whether the stilters are stationed in one area or roam your venue, they will engage folks and pose for photos. These towering performers are sure to add a fun, larger-than-life element to any event. - Snowglobe Ballerina
Add a touch of elegance and surprise to your festive celebration with a roaming snowglobe ballerina—a dazzling dance performance inside a giant, inflatable snowglobe. Partygoers will be mesmerized by the ballerina’s graceful movements, and they’ll love capturing photos with this wintry feature. A snowglobe ballerina is the perfect way to spark your guests’ imaginations and create a one-of-a-kind experience at your soirée. - Balloon Twisters
Balloon Twisters bring interactivity and joy to your holiday event with their custom creations, tailored to each individual. Top-tier balloon artists can craft just about any design you can imagine, including Santa hats, reindeer, candy canes, Christmas trees, and a wide variety of balloon animals. Watching these intricate balloon designs come to life is amazing, and partiers will be thrilled to take home one-of-a-kind creations. - Caricature Artists
Hiring a caricature artist for your holiday event guarantees fun for your guests, along with a treasured keepsake they’ll cherish. Everyone will love seeing their likenesses transformed into playful, exaggerated caricatures. Plus, some artists can customize the paper used with pre-printed artwork that has your logo, text or holiday-themed imagery. Whether you choose black-and-white sketches or colorful portraits, these custom creations are sure to be a highlight of your gathering! - Ice Sculptures
Partner with a talented ice sculptor to create a stunning work of art made from blocks of ice, adding an unbelievable visual statement to your holiday party. Designed to match your event’s theme and aesthetic, this one-of-a-kind ice sculpture will be a showstopper that celebrants will admire and eagerly snap photos of—before it melts away! - Christmas Carolers
Few things capture the magic of the holiday season like the sound of Christmas carolers. Elevate your celebration by hiring a professional vocal ensemble to perform your favorite holiday tunes. Whether you prefer traditional carols, contemporary holiday hits, or a mix of both, Christmas carolers can deliver the perfect soundtrack to your event. You can also choose a group that aligns with your theme, from classic Victorian attire for a nostalgic Christmas vibe to 1950s crooner outfits for a retro flair, or even ugly sweaters for a modern, playful twist. - Living Red Carpet
Make your holiday party guests feel like celebrities with a Living Red Carpet! Everyone will strut down the red carpet, only to discover they are walking on the train of a performer’s dress. This stunning act sets the tone for a glamorous and fun event. Plus, it provides a remarkable photo opportunity right from the moment people arrive.
As you plan your celebration using this guide, you’ll quickly realize there are so many fun holiday party activities to choose from that it’s hard to fit them all into just a few hours. Now, that’s a sign of a memorable event in the making!
Need help narrowing down the perfect activities for your gathering? The experts at EPIC Entertainment are here to help. Contact us today for personalized recommendations that will suit your crowd, venue, and theme.