Holiday Contest Ideas: 12 Competitions for Festive Gatherings

Holidays bring people together, but sometimes they need a little help. Uncle Dave rehashing the same stories. Cousins absorbed in their phones. Awkward silences between the meal and departure. A well-planned contest gives everyone something to do, talk about, and remember.

These twelve holiday competition ideas work for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, or any winter gathering. Scale up for large parties or down for intimate family events.

Food & Drink Competitions

1. Pie Contest

The Thanksgiving classic. Everyone brings their best pie; judges score on taste, texture, presentation, and creativity.

Categories: Sweet pies, savory pies, or open
Judging tip: Blind judging works well since pies look similar once sliced
Timing: Judge before the main meal when palates are fresh

Transform the traditional exchange into a contest. Everyone brings cookies; judges determine the best before the swap.

Categories: Best traditional, most creative, best decorated, crowd favorite
Scoring focus: Taste (40%), texture (20%), presentation (20%), creativity (20%)
Bonus: Winners' recipes go in a family cookbook

3. Appetizer Showdown

Elevate the pre-dinner spread. Guests bring their signature starters; everyone votes on favorites.

Works well for: New Year's Eve parties, holiday open houses
Judging approach: Democratic voting works better than panel judging—everyone samples throughout the party
Pro tip: Require recipes be submitted for documentation

4. Hot Chocolate Bar Competition

Especially fun for family gatherings with kids. Set up base ingredients; competitors create original hot chocolate drinks.

Base ingredients: Hot milk, various chocolates, whipped cream, marshmallows, spices, flavoring syrups
Categories: Best classic, most creative, best presentation
Kid-friendly: Let children compete in their own division

5. Cocktail/Mocktail Competition

Ring in the new year with original drinks. Split into alcoholic and non-alcoholic divisions for inclusivity.

Theme ideas: "Winter Warmers," "Champagne-based," "Red and Green"
Scoring: Taste (30%), balance (25%), presentation (20%), originality (25%)
Safety: Arrange transportation or keep pours small

Decorating Competitions

6. Gingerbread House Building

Provide kits or let teams source their own materials. Set time limits for synchronized building.

Format: Individual, pairs, or family teams
Time: 60-90 minutes works well
Scoring: Structural integrity (25%), creativity (30%), decoration (25%), theme (20%)
Key rule: Must be free-standing without support

7. Tree Ornament Contest

Each guest brings a handmade ornament. Display all ornaments, then vote on favorites.

Categories: Most creative, best craftsmanship, funniest, best represents the maker
Variation: Secret Santa style—ornaments are anonymous until reveal
Lasting impact: Winning ornaments earn permanent tree spots

8. Table Setting Competition

Teams design and arrange place settings for a themed dinner party (without actually serving food).

Provides: Basic plates, glasses, napkins, flatware
Competitors bring: Creative additions, centerpiece elements, personal touches
Scoring: Visual impact (35%), creativity (30%), practicality (20%), theme adherence (15%)

9. Gift Wrapping Race

Competitive wrapping with style and speed. Each competitor wraps the same box; judges evaluate both aesthetics and time.

Format: Timed rounds with style scoring
Scoring: Speed (40%), neatness (30%), creativity (30%)
Comedy option: Add challenges like wearing oven mitts or wrapping with non-dominant hand

Games & Performance Competitions

10. Ugly Sweater Contest

The office party staple works equally well at home. Award categories beyond just "ugliest."

Categories: Ugliest, most creative DIY, best lights, best vintage find
Scoring: Ugliness (40%), creativity (30%), effort (20%), humor (10%)
Rule to decide: DIY only, store-bought okay, or separate categories?

11. White Elephant Ranking

Add competition to the gift exchange. After the swap concludes, vote on best gift brought.

Categories: Most coveted (everyone wanted it), biggest surprise, funniest, most practical
Timing: Vote after exchange is complete
Prizes: Winner of "most coveted" earns first pick next year

12. Holiday Performance Contest

Karaoke, talent show, or dramatic readings. Each participant performs something holiday-themed.

Options: Carols, poems, scenes from holiday movies, original works
Scoring: Entertainment value (40%), creativity (25%), skill (20%), holiday spirit (15%)
Inclusive twist: Allow group performances so shy participants can join teams

Running Holiday Competitions Successfully

Timing Within Your Gathering

Before the meal: Food competitions work well here; people have fresh palates
After eating: Decorating competitions, games, and performances give people activity during the lull
Throughout: Ongoing voting for things like ugly sweaters that people can evaluate all evening

Including All Ages

The best holiday competitions span generations. Consider:
- Separate divisions for kids and adults
- Team formats pairing young and old
- Categories that favor different skills (creativity vs. execution vs. humor)
- Low-stakes prizes that everyone appreciates

Keeping It Light

Holidays carry enough stress. Competition should add fun, not tension.

Announce multiple award categories so more people win
Celebrate participation alongside victory
Keep prizes modest—bragging rights matter most
Be prepared to shift rules if something isn't working

Documentation Creates Tradition

Photograph all entries
Record scores and winners
Create a "hall of fame" that grows each year
Let previous winners ceremonially pass titles

When someone asks "remember the year Grandma's gingerbread house collapsed?", that's tradition forming.

The Logistics

Whatever competition you choose, the mechanics stay similar:

Announce ahead of time so people can prepare
Establish clear rules before competing
Provide scoring criteria so judges know what matters
Collect scores efficiently (digital tools eliminate paper chaos)
Build to a dramatic reveal that makes winners feel special

The competition itself is just a container. What fills it—the laughter, the effort, the shared experience—creates holiday memories.

Planning a holiday competition? Reveal The Winner handles scoring and results for any contest type. Judges score from their phones, and you reveal winners with one dramatic click. Get started →

Table of Contents