Christmas in July Party Games

Christmas games for heat, water and ice, with no pool: press Pick 3 new games.

Christmas in July Party Games

  1. Hang the Ornament With a Fishing Pole1. Tie a string to a bamboo garden stake and a bent paper clip to the string: a pole with a hook. 2. Lay plastic ornaments with loops on the grass under a low branch. 3. Standing behind a line, each player lifts an ornament with the hook and hangs it on the branch. 4. One minute each. Count the ornaments left hanging when the minute ends. Players: 2 to 12. Time: 10 min. Props: a bamboo garden stake, string, a paper clip and plastic ornaments with loops.
  2. Trim the Patio Umbrella1. An open patio umbrella is the tree. Give each team a basket of summer things: sunglasses, pails, flip-flops, swim goggles, a beach ball. 2. In three minutes, teams take turns hanging one thing each from the ribs with clothespins and string. 3. Nothing may touch the ground when time is called. 4. Count what is hanging. The umbrella stays decorated for the rest of the party. Players: 4 to 16. Time: 10 min. Props: a patio umbrella, clothespins, string and a basket of summer things.
  3. Slide the Ice Cube to the Star1. Wet a smooth table top or a plastic tablecloth and stick a paper star at the far end. 2. Players slide one ice cube each with a single push from the near edge. 3. The cube that stops nearest the star scores a point. A cube that leaves the table scores nothing. 4. Play to five. The cubes get smaller and faster as they melt, which changes everything. Players: 2 to 8. Time: 10 min. Props: a smooth table, a paper star and a bowl of ice cubes.

Next step Add a gift swap to the party

How it works

Half of these Christmas in July party games need heat, water or ice; the rest dress Christmas for summer. No game needs a pool: the deepest water is a tub or a bucket.

Read the full guide

Start the day before

1. Freeze a plastic ornament in a tub of water for each team. 2. Fill the freezer with ice cubes and buy a bag of crushed ice. 3. Tape a pool noodle into a candy cane. 4. Wrap a few empty boxes, and one more for each team in plain brown paper for the sprinkler game.

Order of play in the heat

Run Yard games first, while guests are dry. Move to Water games with no pool and Ice games at the hottest hour, and keep Shade and table games for when everyone wants to sit down.

Tips
  • Bring the ice out one bowl at a time: a bowl left in the sun melts fast.
  • Ask guests to bring a towel and a dry shirt.

Questions and answers

What games can you play at a Christmas in July party with no pool?

All of them. The water games use sponges, a sprinkler, spray bottles and a tub: Sponge Snowballs Over the Rope, Keep the Gift Dry Through the Sprinkler and Wash the Sleigh soak everyone who wants to be soaked.

Which games suit guests who want to stay dry?

Everything in Shade and table games, and most of Yard games. Wrap a Gift in a Beach Towel, Sealed Until December and Make a Tree With Your Shadows involve no water at all.

How do you freeze an ornament in ice?

Put a plastic ornament in a food tub, fill the tub with water and leave it in the freezer overnight. Free the Ornament From the Ice needs one block for each team.

How long does the party's games part run?

Each game takes five to fifteen minutes by our estimate. Six games, two from each of three sets, fill about an hour with time to dry off between them.

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All 32 games

Water games with no pool 8

  • Fill Santa's Boot From a Leaking Cup 1. A leaky-cup relay with a rain boot at the far end. Poke three holes in the bottom of a paper cup for each team. 2. Runners fill the cup at the bucket, hold it over their own head and run to the boot. 3. Pour in what is left and run the cup back. 4. The first team to make its boot overflow wins. Name one adult as water watcher for the tub or bucket, and empty it when the game ends. Players: 6 to 24. Time: 10 min. Props: a rain boot, a paper cup with holes and a bucket of water for each team.
  • Foil Sleigh: How Many Presents Before It Sinks? 1. Each player shapes a sleigh from one sheet of kitchen foil in three minutes. 2. Float the sleighs in a tub of water. 3. Load them one coin at a time, taking turns, each coin a present. 4. The sleigh that carries the most presents before it goes under wins. Its builder shows how it was folded. Name one adult as water watcher for the tub or bucket, and empty it when the game ends. Players: 2 to 12. Time: 15 min. Props: kitchen foil, a tub of water and a jar of coins.
  • Keep the Gift Dry Through the Sprinkler 1. Wrap a small box in plain brown paper for each team and set a sprinkler running in the middle of the lawn. 2. Each runner carries the gift through the spray to a teammate on the far side, shielding it however they can with their body. 3. When every runner has crossed, lay the gifts side by side. 4. The driest paper wins. Dark patches show exactly where the water got in. Players: 4 to 20. Time: 10 min. Props: a lawn sprinkler and a box wrapped in brown paper for each team.
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Water games with no pool, continued

  • Ladle the Floating Ornaments 1. Float twenty plastic ornaments in a tub of water. 2. One player at a time has thirty seconds with a soup ladle in one hand and a stocking in the other. 3. Scoop ornaments out and tip them into the stocking. Hands may not touch an ornament. 4. Count the stocking, return the ornaments and pass the ladle on. Name one adult as water watcher for the tub or bucket, and empty it when the game ends. Players: 2 to 16. Time: 10 min. Props: a tub of water, twenty plastic ornaments, a ladle and a stocking.
  • Sponge Snowballs Over the Rope 1. A snowball fight with wet sponges, thrown over a line and never at a person. Stretch a rope across the lawn at waist height and give each side a bucket of water and ten sponges. 2. For two minutes, both sides dip sponges and lob them over the rope. 3. A sponge that lands is thrown straight back. 4. At the whistle, count the sponges on each side. Fewer wins. Name one adult as water watcher for the tub or bucket, and empty it when the game ends. Players: 6 to 30. Time: 10 min. Props: a rope, two buckets of water and twenty sponges.
  • Spray the Red Nose Off the Fence 1. Chalk two reindeer faces on a fence or a wall, each with a big red nose. 2. Each team has one spray bottle of water. 3. Players take turns of ten seconds, spraying only the nose from behind a line. 4. The first team to wash its nose away completely wins. Refill the bottles from a pitcher, away from the line. Players: 4 to 16. Time: 10 min. Props: chalk, two spray bottles and a pitcher of water.
  • Wash the Sleigh 1. Chalk all over two wagons or wheelbarrows: stars, stripes, the word sleigh. 2. Each team gets a bucket of water and three sponges. 3. On go, the team washes its sleigh until no chalk can be seen. 4. A judge from the other team inspects it. Any mark found sends the washers back for ten more seconds. Name one adult as water watcher for the tub or bucket, and empty it when the game ends. Players: 4 to 16. Time: 10 min. Props: two wagons or wheelbarrows, chalk, two buckets of water and six sponges.
  • Wring Out the Wet Mittens 1. A soak-and-squeeze relay, with knitted mittens in place of sponges. Each team has a bucket of water, a pair of mittens and an empty jar ten paces away. 2. The runner puts the mittens on, plunges both hands in the bucket and runs to the jar. 3. Wring the mittens out into the jar, with them still on. 4. Run back and hand them over. First jar filled to the line wins. Name one adult as water watcher for the tub or bucket, and empty it when the game ends. Players: 4 to 20. Time: 10 min. Props: a bucket of water, a pair of knitted mittens and a jar for each team.

Yard games 8

  • Candy Cane Ring Toss on a Pool Noodle 1. Ring toss, with a candy cane for the peg. Wind red tape around a white pool noodle, bend the top over and tie it, and push the straight end over a garden stake. 2. Players throw three plastic rings or rope rings each from five paces. 3. A ring that drops over the cane and reaches the grass scores 2. A ring that hangs on the crook scores 5. 4. Three rounds, highest total wins. Players: 2 to 12. Time: 10 min. Props: a pool noodle, red tape, a garden stake and three rings.
  • Cardboard Sleigh Pull in Flip-Flops 1. Flatten a large box for each team and tie a rope to it. Load it with three empty wrapped boxes. 2. One runner at a time, wearing flip-flops, pulls the sleigh around a cone and back. 3. A present that falls off is put back on before the sleigh moves again. 4. Hand the rope to the next runner. First team with every runner home wins. Players: 4 to 20. Time: 10 min. Props: a flattened box with a rope, three wrapped boxes and a cone for each team.
  • Hang the Ornament With a Fishing Pole 1. Tie a string to a bamboo garden stake and a bent paper clip to the string: a pole with a hook. 2. Lay plastic ornaments with loops on the grass under a low branch. 3. Standing behind a line, each player lifts an ornament with the hook and hangs it on the branch. 4. One minute each. Count the ornaments left hanging when the minute ends. Players: 2 to 12. Time: 10 min. Props: a bamboo garden stake, string, a paper clip and plastic ornaments with loops.
  • Jingle Bell Keeper on the Lawn 1. The keeper-of-the-keys game, played with sleigh bells. The keeper sits on the grass with eyes closed and a bunch of bells in front of them. 2. The others stand in a wide ring. The host points at one, who creeps in to lift the bells without a jingle. 3. If the keeper hears a sound and points straight at the creeper, the creeper goes back. 4. Whoever carries the bells out of the ring in silence is the next keeper. Players: 5 to 20. Time: 10 min. Props: a bunch of jingle bells.
  • Make a Tree With Your Shadows 1. This one needs the sun. Each team finds a flat piece of ground, a driveway or a mown lawn. 2. In five minutes, the team arranges itself so that its shadows join into one Christmas tree, a star or a snowman. 3. One teammate photographs the shadow from a chair. 4. Show the pictures side by side. The shape that needs no explaining wins. Players: 6 to 30. Time: 10 min. Props: a camera and a sunny day.
  • Presents Down the Chimney 1. Stand a tall narrow box on the grass and draw bricks on it: the chimney. 2. Players lob beanbag presents underarm from three paces. 3. Only a present that goes in at the top counts. 4. Ten throws each. Step back one pace after every present that goes in. Players: 2 to 12. Time: 10 min. Props: a tall narrow box and five beanbags.
  • Shovel the Paper Snow Off the Lawn 1. Scatter a hundred balls of crumpled white paper over a marked square of lawn. 2. Each team has one dustpan or toy shovel and a laundry basket at the edge. 3. Players take turns of fifteen seconds, shoveling snow into the basket. No hands. 4. When the lawn is clear, count the baskets. Then both teams pick up whatever blew away. Players: 4 to 16. Time: 10 min. Props: a hundred sheets of scrap paper, two dustpans and two laundry baskets.
  • Trim the Patio Umbrella 1. An open patio umbrella is the tree. Give each team a basket of summer things: sunglasses, pails, flip-flops, swim goggles, a beach ball. 2. In three minutes, teams take turns hanging one thing each from the ribs with clothespins and string. 3. Nothing may touch the ground when time is called. 4. Count what is hanging. The umbrella stays decorated for the rest of the party. Players: 4 to 16. Time: 10 min. Props: a patio umbrella, clothespins, string and a basket of summer things.

Ice games 8

  • Crushed-Ice Snowman Before It Melts 1. Tip a bag of crushed ice onto a tray for each team. 2. In five minutes, the team builds a snowman from it, with raisins, a carrot end and twigs for the face and arms. 3. Judges walk past at the five-minute mark and not a second later. 4. A prize for the tallest and one for the snowman with the most character left. Players: 4 to 16. Time: 10 min. Props: a bag of crushed ice, a tray and a handful of raisins, carrot ends and twigs for each team.
  • Free the Ornament From the Ice 1. The frozen treasure game. The day before, freeze a plastic ornament in the middle of a tub of water for each team. 2. Turn the blocks out onto trays on the grass. 3. Teams free their ornament using warm hands, cups of cold water and patience. No tools and no throwing the block. 4. The first team to hold up its ornament wins. Players: 4 to 16. Time: 15 min. Props: a block of ice with a plastic ornament frozen inside, a tray and cups for each team.
  • How Long Will the Ice Snowman Last? 1. Fill a clear cup with ice cubes, draw a snowman face on it and stand it in the sun where everyone can see. 2. Each guest writes their name and the number of minutes they think it will take to melt completely. 3. Carry on with the party. A timekeeper watches the cup. 4. When the last sliver is gone, call the time. Closest guess wins. Players: 3 to 40. Time: 5 min. Props: a clear cup of ice, a marker, paper and pens.
  • Ice Cube Down the Line on Spoons 1. Teams stand in lines, each player holding a tablespoon. 2. Drop an ice cube into the first spoon. It passes from spoon to spoon down the line with no hands. 3. A cube that hits the grass goes back to the first spoon. 4. At the end of the line, the cube goes into a cup. After three minutes, the team with the most cubes in its cup wins. Players: 6 to 24. Time: 5 min. Props: a tablespoon each, a bowl of ice cubes and two cups.
  • Mittens On: Stack the Ice Cubes 1. Each player wears a pair of mittens or oven mitts and has a plate and a bowl of ice cubes. 2. On go, stack the cubes into a single tower on the plate. 3. After one minute, hands off. 4. The tallest tower still standing after a count of five wins. Dry mittens for each round help. Players: 2 to 10. Time: 5 min. Props: mittens or oven mitts, a plate and a bowl of ice cubes each.
  • Name the Snow Cone Flavor 1. Ask about allergies first. Set out five syrups in plain numbered bottles and a bowl of shaved ice. 2. Each taster gets a spoonful of ice with a few drops of each syrup, one number at a time. 3. They write down the flavor they think it is. 4. Read out the real flavors. Most right chooses the flavor for their own full cone. Players: 3 to 16. Time: 10 min. Props: shaved ice, five syrups in numbered bottles, spoons, paper and pens.
  • Slide the Ice Cube to the Star 1. Wet a smooth table top or a plastic tablecloth and stick a paper star at the far end. 2. Players slide one ice cube each with a single push from the near edge. 3. The cube that stops nearest the star scores a point. A cube that leaves the table scores nothing. 4. Play to five. The cubes get smaller and faster as they melt, which changes everything. Players: 2 to 8. Time: 10 min. Props: a smooth table, a paper star and a bowl of ice cubes.
  • Three Cubes in a Row Before They Melt 1. Tic-tac-toe with pieces that vanish. The day before, freeze two trays of ice cubes with a drop of food coloring in each, one tray red and one green. 2. Chalk a tic-tac-toe grid on warm pavement in the sun. 3. Players take turns placing one cube of their color in a square. 4. A cube that has melted away no longer holds its square, and anyone may play there again. Three of one color in a row, all still solid, wins. Players: 2 to 8. Time: 10 min. Props: chalk and ice cubes in two colors.

Shade and table games 8

  • A Postcard From Santa on Vacation 1. Give each guest a blank card. They write a postcard from Santa on vacation, in exactly twenty words. 2. It must name one thing he misses about the North Pole. 3. Shuffle the cards. The host reads each one aloud. 4. The table guesses who wrote it. The writer of the last card guessed wins. Players: 4 to 16. Time: 10 min. Props: blank cards and pens.
  • Decorate a Sugar-Cone Tree 1. Ask about allergies first. Each guest gets an ice cream cone standing point up on a plate, a spoonful of green frosting and a few small candies. 2. In five minutes, frost the cone and decorate it as a tree. 3. Stand the trees in a row along the table, out of the sun. 4. Each guest names their tree. The trees are the table decoration until dessert. Players: 2 to 20. Time: 10 min. Props: a pointed ice cream cone, a plate, green frosting and small candies each.
  • Name the Summer Reindeer 1. Each guest invents one reindeer for the summer team and writes its name and its one special skill. 2. Names come from summer: Sprinkler, Sandal, Mosquito. 3. Read them all out. 4. The table votes by show of hands for the reindeer it would want pulling the sleigh in a heat wave. Vote for the reindeer, not for the writer. Players: 4 to 20. Time: 10 min. Props: paper and pens.
  • Rewrite the First Verse for the Beach 1. The carol rewrite. Each table chooses a carol that everyone knows and writes new words for its first verse. 2. Every line must be about summer: sand, sunburn, the ice cream truck. 3. Ten minutes to write and rehearse. 4. Tables perform in turn. The other tables hum along as soon as they know which carol it is. Players: 4 to 30. Time: 15 min. Props: paper and pens.
  • Santa's Vacation Outfit, Drawn 1. Each guest has five minutes to draw what Santa wears on a July vacation. 2. Add one line underneath saying where he has gone. 3. Pin the drawings on a fence with no names. 4. Guests walk the gallery and stick a star on the outfit they would least like to meet at the beach. Most stars wins. Players: 3 to 30. Time: 10 min. Props: paper, colored pens, clothespins and star stickers.
  • Sealed Until December 1. Each guest writes three predictions for the real Christmas: who will host, what the weather will do, which dish will run out first. 2. Fold the paper, write a name on the outside and drop it in a jar. 3. The host seals the jar and writes the date on the lid. 4. It is opened on Christmas Day, and whoever got most right is told by postcard. Players: 3 to 30. Time: 10 min. Props: paper, pens and a jar with a lid.
  • Winter Charades in the Shade 1. Charades, limited to cold-weather things, played in summer clothes. 2. An actor draws a winter card from our winter charades ideas: Shoveling snow, Ice skating, Putting on a coat. 3. One minute to act it with no words. 4. The team that guesses sends up the next actor. Acting cold in the heat is harder than it sounds. Players: 4 to 20. Time: 15 min. Props: winter charades cards.
  • Wrap a Gift in a Beach Towel 1. Each pair gets a box, a beach towel and four clothespins. No tape and no string. 2. In two minutes, wrap the box so that no cardboard shows. 3. The judge lifts each parcel by the towel. 4. A parcel that holds together and looks most like a present wins. Then try it with a beach ball. Players: 2 to 16 in pairs. Time: 5 min. Props: a box, a beach towel and four clothespins for each pair.

How this list was compiled: Our suggestions for a Christmas party held in summer heat, in a yard with no pool. The wording is ours, and the player counts and times are our estimates. No game is played in a pool or in standing water deeper than a tub or a bucket, and each game with a tub or a bucket names an adult water watcher, as the pool lists of this site do. Sponges are thrown over a rope and never at a person. The two tasting and decorating games ask about allergies first. No facts are stated. Licence: own work