Who’s ready for some festive competition?

For some families, Christmas get-togethers can be more of a marathon than a sprint. Sure, there’s opening the gifts, preparing and enjoying a holiday meal, and then cleaning up afterward, but once the dessert has been served, it can be a challenge to figure out how to entertain everyone for the rest of the day. There’s only so many Christmas movies you can watch (and no one really wants to hear the same story Uncle Joe always tells for the hundredth time). And if you have guests with young kids that need to be kept busy staying over for a few days, it can be even more of an endeavor.

The solution? These fun Christmas games. Engage family and friends in a little competition to get everyone’s adrenaline pumping (and maybe even work off some of those Christmas cookies). Whether your crew is in the mood to go snowman bowling, get crafty with DIY activities, or try their luck with a few board games that will form new sibling and cousin rivalries, you’ll definitely want to set aside some time during the Christmas season for these holiday games for kids and adults.

Ring the reindeer antlers

Convince one person to don the antler headband then use pipe cleaners to create the rings, and you’re ready to play the holiday away. This game works great for indoors or outdoors, if you live in a warmer climate or want to have a little Christmas in July.

Christmas scavenger hunt

Come up with a list of items commonly found in and around the house during Christmas and send the family off on an exciting scavenger hunt. If you need help coming up with ideas, this deck of more than 200 cards has an indoor deck and an outdoor deck, so you can choose how far the family wanders.

Oven mitts game

Have you ever tried opening Christmas gifts while wearing oven mitts? It’s just as hard as you think, but can make for some hilarious results. Besides, it will also get your kids to slow down when opening presents on Christmas morning – which we call a win-win.

Snowman bowling

This activity is part craft, part game, and all fun. And because you have to create the parts first, it’s sure to keep the little ones busy all afternoon long.

Guess the Christmas smell game

If you’ve ever been to one of those interactive haunted houses, you already know what fun testing your senses can be. Put a selection of classic Christmas scents (peppermint, nutmeg, and pine needles work well) into separate jars. While they’re blindfolded, get participants to guess what the scent is without peeking.

Christmas jigsaw puzzle

Round up all your friends and family to tackle this 1,000-piece holiday puzzle together. The image features Santa Claus checking his list — twice, of course. This one makes a great bonding activity for grandchildren and their grandparents, who can share their love of puzzling with the little ones.

Christmas Bingo

What better way to keep the kids occupied before dinner than a rousing game of Bingo? Print out a handful of free Christmas bingo boards, filled with candy canes, snowflakes, and gingerbread men to get everyone in the holly jolly spirit.

What’s in Santa’s hat game

Can you guess what’s in Santa’s hat just by touching the outside? This guessing game even works for very young kids, but older ones will enjoy it, too. Round up all the Santa hats (stockings work, too!) in your house for some all-ages fun.

Candy cane hunt

If you already have candy canes lying around for decorating or eating, then you’re most of the way to this game. It’s just like an Easter egg hunt, but with wrapped candy canes instead. Happy hunting!

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