Winter can often be a depressing time of the year for many people. With the lack of sunlight, many people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD. Because many people get the winter blues this time of year, now is the perfect time to host a winter party. Winter parties allow friends and family to gather together and have fun. If you are interested in hosting your own winter party this year, read on. In this article, I’m going to go over the top tips for hosting a winter party of your own. Hopefully, these tips help you understand more about hosting a party this time of year. Let’s get started.
Tips For Hosting A Winter Party
Send Winter-Themed Invitations
Begin by sending out winter-themed invitations. You can make your own invitation cards, or you can purchase winter party invitations. Remember to write down the time of your winter party, where it will be located, and any other important information that your guests should know about. Make sure you look at the weather forecast before you send out invitations so that you can change the date if there is going to be a snowstorm. If there will be a snowstorm, it is best if you change the date, as many people won’t want to drive on the roads during a snowstorm.
Take the Party Outside
If the weather is nice enough, it may be fun to take the party outside. The fresh air will do everyone good, and there are so many fun activities you can do outdoors. Of course, if the weather is very cold or snowy, you may not be able to have your winter party be outdoors. But, if it is possible, try to have some of the activities at your winter party be outdoors. We’ll take a look at some fun winter party activities to do later in this article.
Start the Party Early While There’s Still Light
During the winter, the sun sets much earlier in the day. That way, your guests can drive to your winter party while it’s still light out. As it gets darker out, have some lanterns lit up so that guests can see. Decorate your home with decorative lanterns and candles. Solar lights are a great option if you want them to not use electric or batteries. Solar lights come in many forms, so decide which solar lights will work best for your needs. You can also use string lights to light up your home. There are so many string light options to choose from. Snowflake lights are a great option if you are wanting to decorate your home with winter-looking lights. Although some people associate snowflake lights with Christmas, snowflake lights can be used anytime during the winter.
Be Creative When Decorating Your Home
There are so many ideas for decorating your home for a winter party. As I mentioned above, string lights are a great way to decorate the exterior of your home. Other ideas include to put out a winter wreath, decorative pillows on your outdoor furniture, and even potted plants as long as the weather will be nice. If you’ll be inviting guests inside your home, use winter garlands to decorate your furniture. Use pinecones and candles for centerpieces on your table. Don’t forget to put a winter-themed tablecloth on your table. Blue tablecloths are great for winter parties, as are plaid tablecloths and tablecloths with snowflake designs on them. Be creative when decorating your home for a winter party.
Light Up A Bonfire
If you happen to have a fire pit, lighting a bonfire in your yard may be a great idea. If you don’t have a fire pit in your yard already, you can create your own fire pit by removing any vegetation and make a circle with sticks or stones. Set up chairs or hay bales around the fire pit so that your guests can sit by the fire. If it will be cold outside, you may want to put blankets on the seats. Bonfires provide both warmth and light at your winter party. Also, guests may enjoy roasting s’mores over the fire. If you are looking for some delicious fire pit desserts to make, click here. There are so many ways to make s’mores beyond the traditional marshmallows roasted with graham crackers and chocolate. Such ideas include banana boat s’mores, s’mores in a bag, and ice cream cone s’mores.
Provide Warm Clothes For Your Guests
The winter weather can be chilly, and the last thing you want is your guests to be standing outside shivering. In case your guests don’t dress well for the weather, have some extra jackets ready for your guests to borrow. You can find cheap sweaters and jackets at army surplus stores. You may also want to provide blankets for your guests. If you have no need for the extra clothes, you can give them away as the party favors.
Serve Hot Food
Soups, lasagna, and casseroles are all great food ideas. Hot food will help keep your guests warm as they stand out in the chilly air. Hot finger foods are also a good idea, as you don’t have to provide silverware. If you want, you may want to provide food that can be roasted over the fire pit. Campfire kabobs, hot dogs, and vegetables are all great foods for roasting over a fire pit.
Set Up A Hot Cocoa Bar
Not only should you serve hot foods, but you should also serve hot drinks at your winter party. A hot cocoa bar is a great idea for your winter party. There are so many creative ways to set up a hot cocoa bar in your yard. To begin, set up a table in your yard. Place a decorative table cloth on it, along with other decorations. Next, make your hot chocolate by either using hot cocoa powder or making your own homemade hot chocolate. Either line up cups of hot chocolate on the table or have one large pot of hot chocolate for your guests to scoop hot chocolate out of. Don’t forget to provide plenty of delicious toppings for the hot cocoa. Great topping ideas include marshmallows, candy canes, coarse sea salt, and toffee bits. If you want, you can also make some desserts out of hot cocoa powder to serve along with the hot chocolate. There are so many desserts you can make from hot cocoa powder, from hot cocoa pudding to hot cocoa cookies to hot cocoa cheesecake. Get creative! Your guests will enjoy the extra sweetness at your winter party.
Be Inspired To Serve Foods That Are In Season During the Winter
There are many vegetables and fruits that are in season during the winter. Such fruits and veggies include kale, winter squash, brussels sprouts, pomegranates, carrots, cranberries, and kiwi. Consider having a vegetable tray at your winter party so you can serve these winter fruits and veggies. Not only do these winter vegetables and fruits taste delicious, but they are also very nutritious. Since these fruits and veggies are in season this time of year, it shouldn’t be difficult to find them at stores. Another benefit of serving these foods is that they are easy to eat without the need for silverware.
Provide Lots Of Outdoor Activities
Don’t forget to provide outdoor activities at your winter party. If your guests will be bringing their kids, they may become bored if there is nothing to do. Great activities to include are sled riding, snowshoeing, and skiing. If you don’t have enough land or hills for these activities, no worries. Your guests can still have fun in the snow by making snowmen, snow forts, or even simply having a snowball fight. As for indoor activities, there are so many fun winter crafts your guests can make. Popsicle stick snowflakes, paper plate snowmen, and snow slime are all great craft ideas for kids. Click here to be inspired by other great winter crafts for kids.
Give Out Party Favors
As your guests leave, give some winter-inspired party favors such as candles or winter decorations. You could also give a simple dessert such as cookies or fudge. If you bought sweaters for your guests to wear during the party, they would also make great party favors.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article has inspired you to host a winter party. Winter parties are so easy to host once you know how to have one. Make sure you keep your guests warm by lighting a fire, providing warm clothes, and serving hot food. Be creative when planning your winter party. Decide what kind of decorations you want to use when preparing your home for a winter party. If you want, you can invite your guests to come inside, or you can keep your party as an outdoor party. Whatever you choose to do, I’m sure you and your guests will have a fun time. Remember that planning a winter party doesn’t have to be stressful. Just because you are the one hosting the party doesn’t mean you can’t have fun too. I hope this article has answered all your questions about how to host a winter party, and I hope your winter party is a success. Have fun!
