Wanting to plan an awesome party this winter? On top of being the perfect sweater weather, the season offers endless opportunities to try unique winter party themes that help you celebrate. Whether it’s a formal gathering or something more laid-back, a thoughtful theme will make your event stand out! Here are a few winter-themed party ideas to get your creative juices flowing — and some super helpful tips along the way of how event ticketing software can streamline the planning process!

1. Winter wonderland

Transform your venue into a frosty winter wonderland with snowflake garlands, fake snow, and shimmering icicle string lights. For an added "wow" factor, place an ice sculpture as the stunning centerpiece to greet guests as they arrive. To keep everyone warm, set up a hot chocolate bar stocked with marshmallows and an array of flavored syrups. If you're using an event ticketing platform like TicketLeap, you can even include custom questions at checkout, allowing guests to pre-select their favorite hot chocolate toppings and notify your team of any dietary restrictions.

2. Après ski lodge

Go for a cozy alpine vibe with faux fur blankets, wooden accents, and string lights. A hot toddy or mulled wine station will keep things warm, while a mini “ski slope” photo backdrop adds a fun activity for your attendees. You can even encourage guests to show up in their best ski gear to snap some funny photos with their fellow ski-enthusiast friends! For a seamless experience, offer multiple ticket types, such as general admission and VIP with a complimentary drink included. 

3. Polar Express party

Inspired by the classic holiday movie Polar Express, transform your event space with long tables adorned with lanterns and serve hot cocoa in festive mugs. Keep the cozy vibe going by playing this classic movie in the background to set the perfect mood this holiday season. Invite your guests to come dressed in their favorite holiday pajamas, and consider giving out a sleigh bell to each of them as a party favor at the end. To simplify event planning, consider offering different ticket options for adults and kids, or bundle hot cocoa with the ticket price for a seamless experience once your guests arrive!

4. Ice palace

Looking to host a glamorous winter event? Go with an ice palace theme featuring icy blues, crystals, and frosted accents! To get the most out of your decor, dim the lights to create a sparkling ambiance. Consider hosting a contest of your choice that chooses an ice palace king and queen towards the end of the event! To add an elegant touch, ice-themed cocktails or mocktails served in frosted glasses with winter berries will do just the trick. 

5. Winter carnival

Bring the fun of a carnival into the winter season with games, food trucks or catering, and festive booths. Traditional carnival games like ring toss and balloon darts can be given a wintery twist with snowball throwing or snowman bowling. And what’s a carnival without food? Station food carts around your venue that serve cotton candy, popcorn, or hot pretzels to give your attendees delicious treats to enjoy as they check out your attractions. This winter party theme works really well for large outdoor community events, where multiple ticket options (family passes or individual tickets) can streamline entry to your event!

6. Snow globe party

Create an intimate, magical setting with a snow globe theme. As far as winter party decoration ideas, clear and white balloons, fairy lights, and white fabric will give your venue the perfect snow globe feel, plus plush chairs and blankets to keep it cozy. The best part? Hand out mini snow globes as party favors so guests have a keepsake, or even have the needed craft supplies ready for your guests to build a snow globe of their own. To make things super simple, use an event ticketing platform to track RSVPs and manage limited seating for this smaller, intimate gathering.

7. Fire and ice

For a dramatic, contrasting theme, go with a “Fire and Ice” party! Set up separate areas with fire pits for warmth and ice bars for chilling drinks. Serve spicy food on the “fire” side and ice cream or chilled cocktails on the “ice” side. You can even add a nostalgic touch to this theme by adding references to the Snow and Heat Miser from the classic film The Year Without a Santa Claus. Don’t forget about entertainment! Fire dancers and ice sculptors can be a great choice for this theme.

8. Cozy cabin 

Going for a rustic and relaxed vibe? Turn your event into a cozy cabin with this winter party theme! Use plaid blankets, wooden accents, and fire pits to create an inviting space. S’mores-making kits and mulled cider are great refreshments that reinforce this relaxed setting. Whether this is a small or large gathering, consider adding some ice breaker activities or small games like an indoor scavenger hunt to engage your guests with each other. 

9. Holiday masquerade ball

Who doesn’t love a bit of mystery? Perfect for an upscale holiday event, a masquerade ball with winter-inspired masks combines a sense of mystery and elegance. Set the scene with chandeliers, glitter, and candlelight, and encourage your attendees to wear formal attire. To add a fun competitive edge, offer prizes for the best masks. For a super polished look, a branded event page could help you set the tone early, allowing guests to see all the event details (like location or dress code) and purchase tickets to your event directly from your page.

10. Arctic adventure

Invite guests on an Arctic Adventure with decor inspired by polar bears, penguins, and icebergs. Add cotton snow and educational signs about arctic wildlife to make this theme more unique. Incorporating a lively photo booth with arctic animal cutouts will surely make for unforgettable snapshots! Also, make sure to have activities that tie into the theme, such as a "find the hidden polar bear" scavenger hunt. 

11. Hot cocoa bar 

Embrace ultimate comfort and warmth with a hot cocoa Bar party! Let your attendees customize their drinks with a delicious array of toppings like whipped cream, peppermint sticks, chocolate chips, and even flavored syrups. To enhance the cozy atmosphere, create inviting seating areas with fuzzy blankets and pillows, ideally around a crackling fireplace or outdoor heaters to keep everyone toasty. You can also offer spiked hot cocoa options for adult guests to add a fun twist to this traditional favorite. 

12. Winter solstice celebration

Celebrate the longest night of the year with a winter solstice themed party. If you’re in an area where you can use natural elements like evergreens or pine cones, these would be perfect party decorations. Low lighting creates an intimate atmosphere, while mulled cider and a fire pit help honor the return of light! Consider having an activity like writing positive wishes for the new year on small pieces of paper and sticking it in the nooks of a pine cone to be tossed in a fire!  

13. New Year's Eve ice gala

Host a black-tie New Year’s Eve gala with shimmering ice sculptures, frosted glassware, and cool blue lighting. Want to take it a step further? An ice sculptor could even craft live pieces during the event. And the formal atmosphere isn’t complete without a champagne toast at midnight! Make event check-in as elegant as your venue by using TicketLeap’s handy free mobile check-in app! 

14. Christmas movie marathon

Set up a cozy Christmas movie marathon with plenty of blankets, popcorn, and holiday-themed snacks. For fans of Christmas movies, this may just be the best winter party idea yet! Set up a snack bar where guests can choose from festive treats, like Christmas cracker candy or gingerbread muffins. With a ticketing software like TicketLeap, you can send out a survey beforehand to gauge what movies your attendees love so you can include them in your marathon!

15. Gingerbread house competition

Tons of cookies and some friendly competition? Yes please! Host a gingerbread house contest where your attendees compete to build the most creative, festive houses. Provide pre-assembled gingerbread kits with candies and icing for decoration. Think about adding categories like "Most Creative" or "Best Structure" so there can be multiple winners. To help make the competition run smoothly, make managing event registration super easy by setting up different entry types for teams or individuals in your event ticketing system.

16. Frosted fairy tale

Transport attendees into a whimsical world with this event theme! Decorate with twinkling lights, faux snow, and woodland creature props. Soft pastel colors like lavender, pale blue, and silver will combine frost and fairies perfectly! Hand out fairy wings or crowns to guests to tie into the theme. Maybe even host a game throughout the duration of your event to see who can find the mini silver magic wand and win prizes or tickets to your next event!

17. Winter olympics

A Winter Olympics theme is perfect for incorporating fun winter sports like ice skating, snowball fights, or sledding. Set up mini competitions with medals or trophies for the winners. You can manage team registrations through your ticketing platform and include questions in your checkout process like t-shirt size for custom jerseys for each team. Be sure to have refreshments to keep your olympians energized and hydrated. 

18. Snowman-making contest

Bring out everyone's creativity with a snowman-making contest! If you’re located in an area with natural snow, this is a perfect outdoor event; otherwise, make sure you’re stocked up on artificial snow so guests have all they need! Provide guests with snowman-building materials like scarves, hats, and buttons. Have you ever heard of snow painting? Add some stations with multiple spray bottles mixed with food coloring for a fun addition. To make things easier, use ticketing software to manage entry fees and provide details on what materials will be available or what guests should bring.

19. Winter white party

This event theme is about embracing an all-white dress code and decor to create a sophisticated, cohesive look and celebrate the winter season. For winter party decoration ideas, think white flowers, crisp linens, and sparkling candles to set the tone for a refined atmosphere. Really want to embrace this theme? Adding a white wine-tasting activity to your event will surely engage your guests! Elevate the experience with white-themed treats like coconut macaroons, vanilla cupcakes, or even a white chocolate fondue fountain for guests to enjoy. 

20. Pajama party

You’re never too old for a pajama party! Encourage guests to wear their favorite winter pajamas, and create a warm atmosphere by transforming your seating to look like forts! Add tons of cushions and pillows to invite guests to bundle up and relax. Breakfast-for-dinner dishes like pancakes or waffles is a fun play on this theme too. Provide fun games like charades, board games, and karaoke, or even put on your favorite Christmas movie. Hosting a small gathering? Consider hosting a white elephant gift exchange to make your guests feel like it's Christmas morning!

21. Ugly sweater party

This casual, fun theme invites guests to wear their tackiest holiday sweaters! Make it competitive by offering prizes for categories like “Most Creative” or “Most Hideous”. To grab some hilarious snapshots, set up a photo booth with goofy props. For extra laughs, you could also host various holiday-themed games, such as having your attendees split into teams and have a limited amount of time to wrap one of their team members in wrapping paper. In addition to voting on the ugliest sweater, have your attendees vote on who did the best gift-wrapping job, then reveal the winners at the end for an extra layer of fun!

22. Frozen-inspired party

Channel the popular movie Frozen with icy blues, silvers, and snowflake decor. This theme is perfect for families with little ones. Encourage kids to dress as their favorite characters, and set up a sing-along station with songs from the movie. It’s not a proper party without treats! Consider offering Frozen inspired foods like snowflake decorated cupcakes with Elsa toppers or blue jello with marshmallow Olaf’s! Be sure to add a question during the checkout process about food allergies to make sure your treats are safe for all.

23. Snowflake ball

Hosting a formal event this winter? Try this snowflake ball theme! Imagine silver and white decor with glittering snowflake accents to set an elegant tone. Use a snow machine to create a magical entrance, give out snowflake-themed party favors, and play live music or hire a DJ for dancing throughout the night. Encourage guests to dress super fancy to truly make your event feel like a ball! Consider selling tickets so your attendees can secure their spot or even reserve a table at your awesome event..

24. Winter luau

Tired of the cold weather? Give a tropical twist to your event with a winter luau! Decorate with Hawaiian shirts, leis, and tiki torches, but still keep some of the winter vibe with snowy accents or icy cocktails. Serve tropical cocktails like coconut eggnog or pineapple-infused hot toddies. Set up online ticket sales through your event platform to offer early-bird pricing or group discounts for larger parties. If you’re looking for ways to engage your attendees, set up a snow-themed limbo contest, using a frosty bar as the limbo pole. You could also host a "snowball toss" into tropical-themed buckets or a ring toss with pineapples or tiki statues.

25. Reindeer games

Bring out everyone's competitive spirit with a reindeer games party! Band together with your attendees to play fun activities like a snowball toss, reindeer ring toss, or festive obstacle courses inspired by Rudolph and his crew. And be sure to reward your skilled attendees with cool prizes like stuffed reindeer animals or sleigh-bell keychains.  To take this theme up a notch, consider hiring someone to dress as Santa or a reindeer for hilarious photo ops. To keep things running smoothly, use your ticketing platform to handle registrations and have people sign your waiver for any physical challenges.

26. Winter beer & wine tasting

Elevate your holiday parties with a sophisticated beer & wine tasting event, showcasing seasonal craft beers and wines. Complement the drinks with perfect pairings like gourmet cheeses, rich chocolates, or savory pretzels. To leave a lasting impression, offer guests take-home tasting notes, wine glasses, or mini bottles as party favors. Use your ticketing platform to offer various ticket options, like general admission or exclusive VIP tastings, and include waivers for alcohol consumption to ensure everything runs seamlessly and safely.

Bundling up

By incorporating these winter holiday party themes into your seasonal event planning, you can create memorable and unique experiences for your attendees. Let TicketLeap handle the event logistics for you, from multiple ticket options to custom branded event pages, we got you covered. Whether you’re planning a cozy pajama party or an elegant ice gala, these tools make it easy to bring your winter event ideas to life!