Try these fun virtual party ideas for extra holiday fever!

Kimpoy Albalate

Did the news about the cancellation of physical Christmas parties bum you out? If that is so, don’t let this pandemic be the grinch that stole your Christmas! There are still plenty of ways to celebrate the holidays with your loved ones and colleagues from afar.

Now is the time to think about how you can take your Christmas party to the next level. You can organize a fun online party event that creates a yuletide spirit for everyone. All you need is a pinch of creativity and especially, a Zoom account.

However, it can be slightly overwhelming to pick an ideal holiday party idea. This is where we can help! To give you a head start, we’ve compiled some of the best virtual activities for this season, which we guarantee you’ll enjoy.

Online Christmas Bingo

We can all admit that we love a game of bingo. It is fun, engaging, and can get competitive; and that’s exactly why it is one of our favorite ice breaker games. Have you ever played a Christmas-themed bingo, though? Keep reading if you still haven’t!

Fill the bingo cards with Christmas phrases, words, or actions that all participants will need to look out for. Then, play the game throughout the whole virtual party and see who among your group is the most attentive.

Of course, the first person to mark all squares in a row wins. Make sure to play a ‘blackout round’ and give a prize to the player who can cover every square on their card.

Guess the Christmas Carol… with a Twist!

Online Christmas parties would be nothing without music. So, we can’t forget the classic “Guess the Song” game, but with a modern and festive spin! You just need to select a moderator and create a playlist with Christmas tunes, then split yourselves into teams and start the fun!

The first team to guess the title of the Christmas song correctly gets a point. But, here’s the catch: the songs must be played in reverse and at 1.5x speed! You must start by playing 1 second of the song.

If nobody knows the answer, the moderator will then play another 15 seconds of the song, at which the teams must either guess or give up. If one team guessed it wrong, the other team will have a chance to answer. The team with the most points at the end of the challenge wins.

Here are some Christmas song suggestions:

“All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey
“Last Christmas” by Wham!
“Christmas in Our Hearts” by Jose Mari Chan
“Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano
“Boom Tarat Tarat” by Willie Revillame
“Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms

You can throw a couple of unexpected songs into the mix, such as “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande and “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber to add an extra challenge among the typical Christmas carols.

Paint with Bob Ross: Winter Edition

Trying to refine your painting skills? Why not learn from the maestro himself, Bob Ross! Have your friends and colleagues grab a canvas and painting supplies from their homes for this one. This epic painting party will definitely pulp your creative juices and have you giggling for hours!

To add an extra flair, follow Bob Ross’ “The Joy of Painting” Christmas tutorial without its visuals– just the audio. Yes, you’ll be following along as precisely as possible without seeing anything else going on. You will also need a little bit of unbiased help by letting someone pick an episode for you. From there, paint away! When everyone is done, show off your masterpieces and see which one of you can come closest to a Bob Ross original.

Drinking game with a holiday sitcom

Nothing gets us in the Christmas spirit like a festive cocktail and a good holiday flick. Just sync your Netflix account, grab a case of cheap beer, and get started! As always, drink responsibly and refrain from riding sleighs after consumption.

The concept of this drinking game is relatively simple. It only gets complicated the more you drink, mostly because you’re drunk. Every time the laugh track comes on? Take a sip! Every time someone does incredibly funny? Take another.

Watch an iconic holiday sitcom like Friends or The Office, and drink every time a quirky phrase or mannerism is repeated. You can also decide your own rules as you go, adding on as you delve deeper into the show. This is also a good way to end the fun event!

Now you’re ready to throw the best virtual holiday party! For now, allow your guests to experience the human connection that we all crave with a virtual bash right from the comfort of their own homes. And remember, being apart doesn’t have to mean you’re totally isolated. You can get much closer to them from miles away while wishing for a better Christmas next year.