How to Host a Christmas In July Party

We look for any excuse to celebrate Christmas at Old World Christmas. We think Christmas ornaments aren’t only for Christmas trees and Christmas can (and should!) be celebrated again on Christmas’ half birthday. It’s Christmas in July and we couldn’t be happier to share some of our best tips on hosting a Christmas-in-July party. 

1. Guest list. Create a guest list of people who love to have fun and throw in a few people who are known to think outside the box. Christmas in July is a very non-traditional, made-up holiday so if you only invite people who are rule followers, it just won’t be as much fun. Add people to your guest list who might have a birthday near Christmas and might want a little time in the spotlight. Maybe there are people who have been overseas and have missed celebrating Christmas all together. This might be their big chance. 
2. Set the attire. We’ve all heard of ugly Christmas sweater parties, but in July, an ugly bathing suit theme fits the bill. People will come up with wild and hilarious ideas. 
3. Set a menu. Trade a turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce for easy-to-eat turkey roll ups, potato chips and Christmas fruit-tree. Summer food is a lot less pressure than a traditional Christmas dinner. Watermelon Christmas trees are easy to make and yummy to eat. Sweet treats with a Christmas theme conveniently use in-season fruit. 
4. Decorate. Decorations are fun for a Christmas in July party. Summer pool theme is always a winning look. A big green inner tube wrapped with wide Christmas ribbon and topped off with a bow makes a fun unconventional wreath. Red and green pool noodles purchased at the dollar store can be threaded with wire, wrapped with white ribbon and shaped into over-sized candy canes. Pineapples can be fashioned into an easy table-top decoration (that can be eaten!) and we’re partial to a clear, sand-filled vase accented with some Christmas in July-themed ornaments such as the Snowman on Beach and the Sand Snowman ornament or the Surfer Santa and Sunning Santa ornament. The Christmas Palm Tree ornament is wrapped with lights and stacked with gifts, and Old World Christmas has so many straight-up summer ornaments too: Sea Shells, Sailboat, Lobster Trap and many, many more. Another wreath that is colorful, festive and easy to make is the drink-umbrella wreath. Pop open the umbrellas and stick them into a foam circle and voila, a wreath. 
5. Games and activities. If you have a pool then you have activities built right in. No sweat if you’re pooless. How about a friendly game of “flip the flip-flop”? One person flings a flip flop from their foot, up into the air, and their partner tries to catch it in a Santa hat standing a good distance away. A water balloon fight with red, green and white water balloons would be fun. If you have a pool a “swim in” movie on Christmas-themed floaties, rafts and inner tubes would be a great way to end the night and a Christmas classic like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf or The Grinch would be crowd pleasers. 
6. Party favor. When your guests have celebrated Christmas in July to the max and it’s time to head home, a summer and Christmas-themed cookie, individually wrapped and ready to go is a fun party favor to take home. Red, green and white flip flops would be another fun thing for guests to take home, and they’d be cute sitting in a bucket or basket near the front door. 

Don’t underestimate the fun of a Christmas-in-July party. It’s a great theme for everyone’s favorite holiday during the time of year void of many holidays. It will probably become a tradition, and might let you off the hook of hosting people for dinner on Christmas Day.