Festive Face-Offs: Holiday Games for the Beautifully Competitive Family
Because nothing says “peace on earth” like an intense round of trivia before dessert. Whether your crowd leans bougie, beachy, or borderline feral after too much peppermint bark, these games will keep everyone laughing (and low-key trying to win).
Ornament Auction
Supplies: A few mismatched ornaments, Monopoly money, and your most charming cousin as auctioneer. Everyone gets $100 in fake cash to “bid” on wrapped ornaments. The twist? Some are stunning (hand-blown glass penguin), others are ridiculous (a glittery pickle). The mystery keeps the bids climbing. Whoever gets the pickle is automatically required to make the next cocktail round.
Holiday Movie Speed Quotes
Teams compete to finish famous movie lines:
• “Every time a bell rings…” (—someone yells “an angel gets its wings!”)
• “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is…” (—by screaming ‘singing loud for all to hear!’ in unison) Bonus points if someone delivers their line in full cinematic drama.
White Elephant, But Make It Local
Skip the Amazon trinkets. Everyone brings something that screams South Bay:
A gift card to Yellow Vase, a bottle from Koi Spirits, or a “Reserved for Malaga Cove Parking” fake placard. The trading chaos is half the fun. Whoever ends up with the Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel Seasoning Sampler must display it proudly all year.
The Hallmark Pitch
Divide into teams. Each has three minutes to invent a fake Hallmark movie set in the South Bay.
Requirements:
A confused city girl (from Torrance)
A mysterious artist (from PV Art Center)
A holiday miracle (the peacocks start caroling).
Best tagline wins. Bonus points if someone acts out a scene.
Guess the Gift Wrap
Wrap everyday household items—hairbrush, avocado, stapler—in elegant paper. Players guess what’s inside without shaking. It’s oddly suspenseful. Grandma’s poker face becomes suspiciously effective.
The Carol-Off
Split the room into two sides. Each team must perform a holiday song—but remixed.
Examples:
“Jingle Bell Rock” as an operatic ballad.
“Santa Baby” as a slam poem.
“Deck the Halls” as a 90s boy band number.
The louder and more committed, the higher the score. (Costumes = automatic bonus.)
The Leftover Cookie Heist
Bake-off meets tactical strategy. Everyone bakes or brings cookies, then places them on the “exchange table.” Using a deck of cards, each person can steal, swap, or lock in a cookie tin per round. By the end, alliances have formed, friendships have crumbled, and one aunt leaves with an entire tin of chocolate crinkles like a victor returning from war.
The Resolution Roast
After dessert, go around the table: each person writes one fake “resolution” for another family member (“Mom vows to stop buying throw pillows in 2026”). Read aloud. Try not to cry laughing. Then—if you dare—share your real resolution. (Wine helps.)
Whatever you play, remember: the holidays aren’t about gifts—they’re about crafting the stories you’ll laugh about next year when someone inevitably says, “Remember when Grandpa rapped ‘Feliz Navidad’ into the karaoke mic?”
Now refill the cocoa, re-sparkle the lights, and let the games begin.
