I’m atheist, the boss of me isn’t, therefore we’re having a holiday party at the house on December 7. Yes, she’s calling it a Christmas party, but she’s obviously delusional since it’s actually a non-religious, end-of-year gathering with carols and gifts and a tree and a manger and…damn it!
Anyway, the invitations have been printed and sent. The jazz band has been booked, and the arduous, and obscenely expensive, task of decorating has begun.
The party is scheduled to be from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. The band will play 45 minute sets with breaks at 7:45 and 8:45 for fifteen minutes each.
Evita Peroncita has invited 42 people. Based on the RSVPs rolling in we’re anticipating there will be approximately 30 guests when it all shakes out. The invitees are comprised of physicians, nurses, and crisis care therapists, approximately 50 percent of whom have never been to the house before.
So, my question is, during the band’s downtimes, what types of games can I get the attendees to participate in that won’t be too hokey, or trite, or cliche, or religious in any way, yet fun? Charades is O.U.T. …been there, went over like a lead balloon.
I appreciate all suggestions…especially creative ones.
We have a pretty good-sized house, with 18 foot ceilings on the main level. There will be a lot of milling around, and the decibel level of the band will be well within a range to allow folks to converse without having to shout throughout the evening, so talking during sets won’t be an issue.
Find one of those lists of Christmas/Holiday/Winter songs which have had their titles altered and offer a small prize to the first person to figure them out.
(I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them in the form of “J to the W” (Joy to the World) as well as “Jubiliation to the Terrerstrial Sphere” (same song).
You can probably find or make one that is primarily secular, but I doubt well known religious Christmas Carols would be a problem for most folk.
Docs, nurses, crisis care therapists…And you haven’t bought the twister set yet?? What’s wrong with you man?
I’ll second people may just want to chat inbetween the breaks…Your party doesn’t dound like a lead zeppelin to me at all. Sounds like a good fun time !
I have some friends that throw a Christmas party every year. Now maybe it is because most of the attendees are involved with auto racing, or maybe it’s a male vs female thing but they always have a boys vs girls Pictionary game. Very competitive*. Cutthroat even. But loads of fun.
*FTR the females are every bit as competitive as the males at this.
Get a kiddie pool with a bunch of model battleships floating in it, a set of lawn darts, and a blindfold…
(Seriously, I’m in the just-let-your-guests-chat camp.)
