How to Host a Simple Christmas in July Party for Kids

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Last year, Michael’s had gingerbread house kits on clearance for $2.50 each!

The catch? It was Christmas Eve, when most of us have already finished our Christmas preparations. (Except me. Or I would not have been in Michael’s on Christmas Eve…)

But at that price, I grabbed a few anyway. Which meant that smack in middle of 2020, we got to host a Christmas in July Party for kids!

Here’s how you can too! (Because couldn’t every year use a little extra Christmas?)

Related: Should Christians do Santa?

1. Send Christmas photo card invites to your Christmas in July Party for kids!

Pick a cute photo of the kids from last Christmas, or take a new one. Then design a photo card invitation to mail out to your kids’ guests. Some photo companies may even mail the cards directly for you.

2. Set the scene with simple decorations, scents, and sounds.

Put up a miniature tree (Or a full-sized one if you want to get ambitious!) Add a strand of lights and a star on top, and hang some candy canes on for color.
Play Christmas music! We get our playlists from YouTube and hook up my iPad to dad’s Ryobi speaker. But unless you’re an amoeba you can probably figure out a snazzier tech solution.
Diffuse some Christmas essential oil blends. You may not have a real tree in July. But that does not mean that your home can not smell like you do!
Get out your Christmas dishes! Or

3. Activities for a Christmas Party in July for Kids

Decorate gingerbread houses, of course! Enter those clearance purchases from the craft store 😉 In addition to classic gingerbread houses, I was able to find a gingerbread train, a tiny gingerbread village, and some movie and television show themed houses.
Have a small secret gift exchange. Let guests know on the invitations if you will do this. Set an appropriate spending limit, and be sure to have the correct number of boy, girl, or unisex gifts depending on your guest list.
Make homemade ornaments. I made these salt dough ornaments ahead of time. And set up a table with google eyes, glue, ribbon, acrylic paint, sequins, and tiny jingle bells. Do this early enough in the party that they will dry by the end.
Print out some Christmas word searches, hidden pictures, cross word puzzles, or coloring sheets. And leave them on a table or sideboard with jars of crayons or colored pencils. Then kids can help themselves during the moments in between planned activities.

4. Create a simple seasonal menu.

Christmas cookies are a no-brainer. Bake and freeze them when you have time, and take them out the morning of the party to defrost. We have been using this amazing sugar cookie recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction for years!
Set up a simple hot cocoa bar. We put the Keurig on a buffet table with a basket of flavored hot chocolate K-Cups. And a bowl of mini marshmallows, peppermint spoons, and flavored whipped creams.
Pizza is always a safe and stress-free option for kids. And with some dried oregano it’s even red and green! Many pizza places offer gluten free crust and vegan cheese, so just ask if you need to.
Serve a strawberry and honeydew fruit salad. And a platter of sliced cucumbers, celery sticks, mini red peppers, and cherry tomatoes. For a does of good cheer and good health.