As Aussies, we aren’t going to let searing heat put a halt to our festive celebrations… so we brought Christmas forward several months to take advantage of cooler weather. In fact why not celebrate Christmas twice a year. We’ve got our top tips for hosting Christmas in July parties and the best Xmas costumes. If you want to extend the party… or just crash someone else’s… we’ll give you some tips on how to celebrate. Enjoy the Christmas festivities!
You’re the host of the Christmas in July party, so it’s your job to set a festive tone. So make it Christmassy, serve festive food, and get your guests dressed up in their Christmas clobber. It’s way more fun to have a fancy dress party though… we’ll give you some ideas.
Getting into the Christmas spirit
Whether you go for plastic or real, you need a Christmas tree. Decorate with baubles and tinsel, and giftwrap some empty boxes to stash under the tree. Go one step further and organise a Kris Kringle and get the guests to bring pressies to put under the tree. Make sure to decorate your home with twinkling fairy lights and candles. Or to go all out, why not put lights and tinsel on your garden trees for a festive vibe as your guests arrive.
Fake snow on windows is always a hit, and if you’re bothered to get an artificial snow machine to spray outside (or even inside!) with faux snowflakes, kudos to you! A couple of papier-mâché snowmen aren’t out of the question. Lastly, holly wreaths and shiny banners wishing everyone a merry Christmas should do the trick.
Your party needs some upbeat Christmas classics to inspire some crazy dancing, and Bruce Springsteens “Santa Claus is coming to town” is perfect. Try downloading this Spotify playlist if you’re stuck.
Food and drinks that are Christmassy
Make eggnog cocktails with a shot of strong liquor to make this Christmas childhood favorite, into the ultimate party drink. Get into the Christmas spirit with some sparkling wine mojitos… or, since Christmas often becomes a booze fest, just set up a bar full of spirits – that’s more than enough!
Don’t worry if you don’t have the energy for a full-on Christmas roast. Nobody wants sleepy and stuffed guests on the carpet by the end of the night! It’s probably enough to put out the usual buffet feast but add some traditional Christmas faire like an iced up fruitcake and mince pies. Also, we love carving Christmas trees out of fruit and serving sweets and chocolates.
Costumes for Christmas in July
You and your guests can pick from all kinds of fun Christmas costumes. There’s nothing like a Christmas party to let the angels cast their halos aside and get their boogie on. And what’s Christmas without Santa Claus showing up to guzzle all the whiskey?
Don’t forget to invite Santa’s little helpers, the elves, and the poor snowmen. You can even be charitable to Ebeneezer Scrooge if he decides to knock on your door. You also can rock up in a ugly Christmas jumper if you can’t get enough… the Christmas costume list goes on!
Competitions and party games
You can give out a prize for the best Christmas costume during Christmas in July. Once you’ve crowned the Christmas costume champ, give them a gifts from under the tree.
You can play Christmas carol charades with your friends; simply act out the carols and have them guess them for points. Play ‘name that carol’ with synonyms; you can’t use the actual words, but you can use alternatives. Think “A Dozen Twenty-Four Hour Yule Periods” instead of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”.
Why not Christmas trivia? Create a list of Christmas-related trivia questions and divide your guests into teams. The team with the most correct answers at the end of the game wins a novelty prize.
Last but not least, drinking games keep the festive spirit going well into ‘Boxing Day’.
Don’t want to Host your own party?
It’s easy… just go to someone else’s! Get your friends together and have them host while the rest of your group brings the food. Create a tradition with your friends and celebrate every year. You can rotate hosting every time, and everyone can bring one dish or decoration. So you can really let it all hang out with your friends with a mid-year Christmas feast.
Our Christmas in July suggestions are sure to inspire you – feel free to share photos on our Facebook page if you’re dressed up! Happy July Christmas, everyone.
Meet Dale Pruser, our fabulous blogger who lives and breathes costumes! With boundless enthusiasm and a knack for turning heads, she’s the perfect guide to unleash your inner alter ego. Dale’s 30+ years experience in the costume and cosplay industry, make her the go-to source for finding the perfect costume. Her passion and knowledge shine through her blog posts, where she shares helpful tips on finding the perfect costume, DIY hacks to make your outfit stand out, and even delves into the fascinating history behind some of the most iconic characters. Her writing is as vibrant and colorful as the costumes she adores. With a twinkle in her eye and a wardrobe bursting with creativity, Dale dives headfirst into the realm of costumes. She lives for those magical moments when you put on a costume and become someone entirely different—whether it’s a mighty superhero, a swashbuckling pirate, or a glamorous 1920s flapper.