Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Ideas: Contest, Games, Awards

By Cedar & Ledger

An ugly sweater party works because the dress code does the entertaining for you. Guests arrive with a built-in conversation starter, and a short contest gives the night a natural high point. Here is how to plan one at home, at the office or in a classroom, with ideas for the contest, games, food and prizes.

Plan the basics first

1. Pick a 2 to 3 hour window. Long enough for food, a game and the contest, short enough to end on a high.
2. Send invites 3 to 4 weeks out. December weekends fill fast. Say "ugly sweater required" in the first line so nobody shows up in a nice cardigan.
3. Offer a DIY option. Not everyone owns one. Suggest a plain sweatshirt plus tinsel, felt shapes, pom-poms and safety pins, or set up a 20-minute "decorate your own" table at the start.
4. Set a budget per guest. Food, prizes and supplies for a home party of 15 usually land around $5 to $10 per person if you keep prizes small.

Run a contest people remember

1. Number every sweater at the door. A sign-in sheet with numbers makes voting fast and anonymous.
2. Use categories, not one winner. Ugliest Overall, Most Creative DIY, Best Lights and Bling, Funniest, Best Couple or Team Match, and Most Festive Pet or Kid. More winners means more laughs and fewer hurt feelings.
3. Paper ballots, 4 per page. Guests write a number for each category. Count with a simple tally sheet while dessert goes out.
4. Add a judge's scorecard for offices. Score ugliness, creativity, festive spirit and lights from 1 to 5 to break ties fairly.
5. Hold a runway walk. One lap of the room per contestant, with a holiday song playing. It takes 10 minutes and gets the best photos of the night.

Games that fit the theme

1. Sweater-spotting bingo. Squares like "reindeer," "real lights," "pom-poms," "someone's pet on it." The first full row wins.
2. Minute-to-win-it rounds. Stack cups, unwrap a candy cane with oven mitts, or move ornaments with chopsticks. See 60-second Christmas party games for printable game cards.
3. Christmas charades. Quick and loud; our Christmas charades ideas list has words ready to go.
4. Would you rather. Easy for quiet guests. Try these Christmas would you rather questions.
5. Left right gift pass. A short story and a few wrapped gifts; see the left right Christmas game story.

Food and drinks that match

1. Sweater cookies. Bake plain cut-outs and let guests decorate them with icing and sprinkles.
2. Hot cocoa bar. Marshmallows, peppermint sticks and whipped cream. Cheap, and it doubles as a craft table.
3. Potluck by category. Ask guests to sign up for mains, sides, desserts or drinks so the table stays balanced. A free Friendsgiving potluck sign-up sheet works for any holiday potluck.
4. Label allergens. Small cards next to each dish save a lot of questions.

Prizes that cost almost nothing

1. Printed award certificates. One per category, signed by the host. People keep them more often than you would think.
2. Dollar-store trophies. Spray-paint a cheap trophy gold and glue on a mini ornament.
3. First pick at the gift exchange. A free prize everyone wants.
4. Bragging-rights photo wall. Print winners' photos for the fridge or the office board.

A simple 2-hour run of show

• 0:00 Arrivals, sweater numbers and DIY table
• 0:30 Food and drinks
• 1:00 Bingo or a game round
• 1:20 Runway walk and voting
• 1:40 Dessert while votes are counted
• 1:50 Awards and photos

Printable kit

If you want everything printed and ready, the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Kit has the party plan, budget, numbered sign-in sheet, ballots, judge scorecard, tally sheet, sweater-spotting bingo and 6 award certificates. Hosting more than one event this season? The Christmas Party Pack 2026 bundles 8 party kits, including this one.

Printables are made with AI assistance and reviewed before release.

Related template: Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Kit. Also see: Christmas Party Pack 2026 · 60-Second Christmas Party Games

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