Indoor Themes
Although the cold weather might prompt you to stay inside, that doesn’t mean there aren’t fantastic opportunities for socializing. There are a number of cozy party themes you can have within the four walls of your home!
Bad Movie Party
Perhaps you and your friends have watched a lot of good movies. Possibly even some great movies. However, how often do you watch the worst movies?
If it’s been a while, consider setting aside an evening dedicated to bad movies. You don’t have to watch the each full movie, but a few minutes on each film will give you the experience you’re looking for. You’ll definitely find the bad movies bring out the best friend bonding and tons of laughter.
Make the movie list anonymous then take turns picking a movie to watch. You’ll probably be able to guess which person picked which movie, but sometimes someone will surprise everyone else by choosing something super weird or bad.
A build-your-own Pizza Party!
Pizza is almost always a good-time party option. Lean into the customizability and have guests live their culinary fantasies!
It can be expensive to buy enough ingredients for all your guests at once—but you could opt for some basic ingredients (cheese, sauce, and dough) and ask guests to bring their own exotic options (Thai sauce, fancy cheese, prosciutto, etc.).
When all is said and done, everyone will go home full of lots of cheese and creative juices!
Storytelling Night
Storytelling is best initiated in a dimly lit room with lots of hot chocolate & blankets. Tell guests ahead of time that they should come prepared to read or tell a story of a certain theme type.
Here are a few theme options:
- Scary stories
- Urban legends
- Conspiracy theories
- Tell a story about a time when you were happy.
- Tell a story about a time when you were sad.
Game Night
Make it a game night! Playing games is one of the best ways to pass the time. If you’re going to invite people over, you can’t go wrong with a mix of card games like hearts and spades, board games like chess and checkers, and video games like Dungeons & Dragons. Invite your friends, your family, your coworkers—whatever floats your boat! Just make sure you have a great time.
Play online! If that doesn’t work for you or if you prefer not to leave the house, consider playing online with strangers instead of friends. There are plenty of online gaming platforms where you can connect with other people who love games as much as you do. It’ll be just like meeting IRL without having to leave the comfort and warmth of your home in the middle of winter.
Pajama Party
If you want to host the most cozy social cold weather party possible, the best option is a pajama party.
Make it clear on the invitation that the theme is “Pajama Party,” and encourage your guests to dress in their warmest, most comfortable pajamas.
In order for the night to be successful, though, you need more than just pajamas. Make sure there’s plenty of food, drinks, and snacks.
Also think about having a movie playing on TV; choose something appropriate for the tone of your party (e.g., sweet romances are good if it’s a Valentine’s Day party) so that people have something interesting going on while they mingle with each other over appetizers or cards games at tables set up around the room.
Outdoor Themes
There are many themes you can use for an outdoor cold weather party. However, if you live in a place that gets very cold, it may not be a good idea to have the party outside for a long period of time. Here are our best, fun outside party themes:
Bonfire Party
A bonfire party is a great idea for fall or winter. Have everyone bring their favorite blanket and extra layers. Set up some side tables with snacks, drinks and whatever else people might want to munch on during the evening. You should also have something to roast over the fire, like hot dogs, marshmallows or even potatoes. If you have someone who can play an acoustic guitar, you can pass it around the circle so people can play songs they know!
Winter Solstice Party
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. It’s a great time to throw a party, because everyone is looking forward to longer, brighter days! Here are some traditions you can incorporate into your own celebration:
- Eat food that ties into the season. Some examples include sausage and sauerkraut (which symbolize good luck), head cheese (also known as brawn; made by cooking and pressing parts of an animal’s head), oatmeal cakes, spiced cider or warm tea, roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes.
- Go for a walk in nature if possible (weather permitting). If it is not feasible to take a walk outside, use audio recordings or photographs to incorporate various nature sounds such as wind blowing through trees or chirping birds.
- Light candles throughout your home as a way to celebrate the return of sunlight after the shortest day of the year. Use beeswax candles if possible—they cleanse the air while they burn!
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