15 Cool Christmas in July Party Ideas for the Workplace

If you’re in a part of the world where winter falls during the hot summer months, the Christmas in July celebration is perfect to enjoy a snowy Christmas early. With the right Christmas in July party ideas for teams, you can blend festive traditions with summer fun through themed games, activities, and team socials everyone will enjoy. Best of all, even if you’re not in the Southern Hemisphere, you can celebrate the holiday to spruce up your summer team-building activities. 

In this article, we have listed 15 of the best Christmas in July ideas for work to help you host the perfect event for your remote, hybrid, and in-person teams. Read on. 

Table of Contents

Best Christmas in July Party Ideas at a Glance

What is Christmas in July All About?

Christmas in July is an annual celebration much like the traditional holiday in December. It’s primarily celebrated in the Southern Hemisphere, where July falls during the winter season. Over time, the celebration has gained popularity and is now observed in many places to bring some holiday cheer in the middle of summer through themed parties, festive food, activities, and gift exchanges. 

Why Should Teams Celebrate Christmas in July? 

Christmas in July is the perfect opportunity to bring some holiday cheer to your team in the middle of the year. As the occasion falls during a quieter time with no major holidays around, it gives teams a chance to take a break and bond with coworkers in a fun, festive setting. Whether you host a happy hour, holiday ornament crafting, or a holiday icebreaker, themed activities give everyone a chance to collaborate on something fun and return to work feeling more refreshed than before.

15 Best Christmas in July Party Ideas for Teams

Check out 15 amazing Christmas in July party ideas, including games, creative activities, culinary events, and bonus team social ideas for a fun celebration. They’re suitable for remote, hybrid, and in-person teams. 

Christmas in July Games for Teams

Explore Christmas-in-July games for work to bring teams together with festive fun and friendly competition. They’re easy to run and work well for both small and large teams. 

1. Christmas in July Trivia

You can hum every tune from Rudolph to Frosty, but are you ready to sleigh the holiday trivia challenge? Put your team’s knowledge of Santa’s reindeer, Christmas carols, holiday traditions, and more to the test with a Christmas in July trivia. You can also include audiovisual rounds, multiple-choice questions, or a rapid-fire showdown for an even merrier experience.

Last summer, we hosted our own Christmas in July trivia game for the team, and it was a huge hit. Between the laughs and friendly competition, we learned that one popular origin story traces the celebration back to a 1930s summer camp, where French campers in the U.S. coined the term “Noël en juillet”!

Bonus read: Check out these 180 Christmas trivia questions to draw inspiration for your question bank. 

2. Christmas in July Bingo 

If you’re looking for fun, social Christmas in July party ideas, a themed bingo game can instantly get everyone involved. Using festive bingo cards packed with summer Christmas prompts, players mark off matching squares as called out by the host to create a winning combo and shout ‘Bingo!’ You can even play a Christmas playlist, wear ugly sweaters (or shirts), and enjoy frozen hot chocolate between rounds to make the bingo bash more fun. 

Here’s a ready-to-play Christmas in July bingo card for your team: 

3. The Lost Presents: Christmas Escape Room

Looking for thrilling Christmas in July office party ideas for the workplace? The Lost Presents Christmas Escape Room is perfect for your team to enjoy a holiday adventure. Christmas is almost here, but Santa has forgotten a few presents in his workshop. You and your team need to find clues, crack codes, and unveil Santa’s secret phone number to contact him before the holiday ends.  

The game is hosted in a 360-degree virtual reality room with interactive elements, allowing team members to click on different objects to reveal clues for an engaging experience. Also, if you get stuck in between, a lively host will be there to drop occasional hints to nudge you in the right direction. 

4. Summer Holiday Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is a perfect game for teams looking to add a little bit of adventure to their Christmas in July celebrations. Team members follow a series of festive clues, riddles, or trivia questions to track down items like candy canes, tree ornaments, Santa hats, and mini palm trees within a set time. To elevate the fun, include bonus clues that unlock fun challenges like humming a carol, acting out a Christmas movie scene, or clicking a picture with a holiday accessory. 

Bonus read: Check out 10 more Christmas-themed scavenger hunt ideas to plan an exciting game for your team. 

Here’s a Christmas in July scavenger hunt list for your team: 

Creative Christmas in July Party Ideas

Explore creative Christmas in July party ideas to bring out your team’s crafty side while enjoying festive do-it-yourself style activities together. 

5. Christmas Cookie Decorating 

Get your team to decorate a batch of Christmas treats with a tropical twist during a cookie-decorating session. Team members spruce up plain sugar cookies with festive designs like Santa wearing sunglasses, candy canes, mini palm trees, or add phrases like ‘HO HO HO!’ for a fun twist. 

Go beyond the basics and introduce a ‘Santa’s Vacation Story’ theme where everyone creates a visual storyline with each cookie representing a scene from Santa’s tropical getaway. Participants can even whip up a fictional story and share it in a show-and-tell segment. 

Try this: If you’re hosting the activity in person, set up mini dessert-decorating stations with cookies, cupcakes, and brownies to add variety. 

6. Sand Art Candle Making

Host a sand art candle-making session for teams to craft festive candles during Christmas in July celebrations. Set up craft stations with colorful wax-sand and wicks for everyone to customize their candles with holiday-inspired designs such as Christmas trees, Santa hats, or red-and-green ombre patterns.

Play Christmas carols to set the vibe and serve holiday drinks and treats for teams to enjoy as they craft their candles. Once done, everyone gathers around to check out the colorful creations and take their candles home as party favors. Remote and hybrid teams can join a hosted virtual sand art candle-making session with pre-delivered kits to enjoy the activity from a distance. 

7. Make Your Own Succulent Christmas Tree

Host a succulent Christmas tree-making workshop during your Christmas in July party to give teams a creative break between games, food, and conversations. Using supplies like a cone base, dried flowers, live greens, and moss, you can assemble your creations and decorate them with mini holiday ornaments like stars and candy canes. 

Team members can also create a festive display of their final creations (remote teams can upload them to a digital gallery) so everyone can appreciate each other’s efforts. The arrangement makes a perfect Christmas-in-July dinner table centerpiece, desk decor, or a gift for loved ones. 

Try this: If you have a remote or hybrid team, join an expert-led Virtual Succulent Christmas Tree Arrangement Session to learn how to assemble the tree and explore care tips along the way. 

8. Handmade Holiday Gift Exchange

Host a handmade holiday gift exchange as part of your team’s Christmas in July work party ideas to add a personal touch to the gift-giving tradition. Set up craft stations around the workplace with basic supplies so everyone can create the presents together. Remote teams can enjoy a BYO event where they source their own supplies to craft their gifts. Team members can craft something small and thoughtful (like a bookmark, cards, ornaments, or hand-painted mugs) and wrap it in festive gift paper to exchange with coworkers. 

To retain the surprise element, avoid adding gift tags and place your creations under a Christmas tree for everyone to pick one at random. To dial up the fun, gather everyone to guess who made their gift before the actual creator steps in to reveal themselves. 

Pro tip: If you have a remote team, host this activity a couple of weeks in advance so everyone can mail their gifts and enjoy an online gift unwrapping session during the holiday party. 

Culinary Experiences for Christmas in July Parties 

Add culinary experiences to your Christmas in July party ideas to incorporate hands-on events during team holiday lunches, happy hours, and office socials. 

9. Holiday on the Rocks: Happy Hour

Embrace the holiday vibes with your team over festive drinks at a Christmas-in-July happy hour. Team members savor cocktails with Christmas-inspired flavors, enjoy party games, sample festive appetizers, and mingle in a relaxed setting. You can play Christmas carols in the background to further set the holiday vibe. For a more lively experience, bring in an expert mixologist to guide teams, share expert tips, and keep everyone engaged with bite-sized holiday facts along the way. 

Here are some drinks you can mix with your coworkers: 

• Santa’s Summer Sangria: White wine, peach schnapps, berries, peaches, club soda
• Mistletoe Margarita: Tequila, lime juice, triple sec, simple syrup, cranberry garnish
• Tropical Tinsel Tini: Coconut vodka, pineapple juice, blue curaçao, coconut rim
• Frosty Pineapple Fizz: Gin, pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup, soda
• Rudolph’s Red Cooler: Vodka, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, honey, pomegranate

Team members who prefer to skip alcohol can try these trending mocktails:

• Cranberry Orange Mimosa: Orange juice, cranberry juice, orange slice
• Christmas Mule: Ginger beer, cranberry juice, lime juice, fresh mint, cranberries
• Red and Green Mojito: Blackberries, lime juice, mint leaves, sparkling water, simple syrup
• Sparkling Holly Spritz: Cranberry juice, sparkling water, rosemary sprig, lime juice
• Tropical Christmas Punch: Pineapple juice, coconut water, orange juice, grenadine

10. Bourbon and BBQ Tasting

If your team wants to put a summery spin on the traditional holiday feast, a Bourbon & BBQ tasting is a great choice for your Christmas in July party. Treat your team to a spread of BBQ bites and a curated selection of bourbons for everyone to sample, and explore how the flavors complement each other. 

For a festive touch, set up the tables with vibrant centerpieces, add a few string lights, and play a holiday playlist for a cozy vibe. Also, don’t forget to include vegetarian dishes, mocktail options, or zero-proof drinks so everyone has something delicious to enjoy during the party. 

Try this: For easier participation, opt for kitted bourbon and BBQ events so team members do not have to hassle with finding the right supplies in advance. 

11. Chocolate Candy Making Class

You don’t need to wait till December to enjoy holiday treats. As part of Christmas in July party ideas, host a chocolate candy-making class to make bite-sized chocolate treats with your team. Team members melt regular, dark, or milk chocolate chips, add flavors, and set them in Christmas-themed molds like snowflakes, candy canes, Christmas trees, and Santa hats to craft their candies from scratch.

Wrap the finished candies in gift boxes or holiday-themed gift papers to take home as keepsakes or exchange with coworkers. To keep your chocolate party exciting, add a ‘mystery ingredient’ element in which teams spin a digital wheel and customize a candy with the surprise flavor they land on. 

Pro tip: If you’re sending curated kits to team members, ask about any nut allergies or dietary restrictions so everyone receives a kit tailored to their preferences. 

12. Frozen Treats Bar

When the summer heat kicks in, the best way to enjoy holiday treats is to give them a ‘frozen’ makeover. Instead of the regular eggnogs and hot chocolates, team members make their frozen version alongside ice cream sundaes and red and green frozen yogurts topped with colorful Christmas-in-July-inspired toppings. You can set up mini dessert stations (or run a BYO session if you’re remote) for everyone to create their desserts together and mingle while sharing tips and personal favorites. 

To make the event a little more festive: 

• Serve the desserts in Christmas-themed cups and cones.
• Run mini sundae decorating challenges to keep everyone engaged.
• Have teams vote for their favorite creations and award holiday-themed gifts to the winners. 

Bonus: Christmas in July Party Ideas for Team Socials

Explore some bonus Christmas in July party ideas to help your team connect through themed events, activities, and plenty of holiday cheer. 

13. Christmas Carol-oke

Amp up the holiday spirit at your Christmas in July party with a festive Christmas Carol-oke session. Set up a microphone, queue up a playlist of classic holiday hits, and let teammates take turns singing everything from upbeat favorites to nostalgic Christmas classics. If you’re celebrating remotely, simply share karaoke videos over Zoom or Microsoft Teams so everyone can join the sing-along from wherever they are.

The event might start off casual, but don’t be surprised if your quietest teammates grab the mic by the end. Also, go with classic songs your team already knows, like “Jingle Bells,” “The First Noel,” and “Deck the Halls,” so it’s easier for everyone to sing along. 

14. Holiday Movie Marathon

A Christmas-in-July movie marathon is the perfect excuse to binge-watch timeless holiday classics with your team. You can set up a cozy space with comfy seating and snack stations or use a third-party screening platform to create the perfect movie-watching experience. For some extra fun, have your teammates wear their quirkiest holiday pajamas for the event. 

Here are a few movies you can add to your watchlist: 

• Home Alone 
• The Grinch 
• A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas 
• Falling for Christmas
• Single All The Way

15. Retro Christmas in July Party

If you’re looking to give your Christmas in July celebration a nostalgic twist, why not host a Retro Christmas Party? This can include vintage decorations, classic Christmas tunes (set up a dance floor for some extra fun), and holiday snacks that’ll take your team straight back to the good old days. 

Have everyone wear summer holiday outfits like holiday tanks, beachy shorts, or tinsel-covered hats to channel the holiday spirit. To amp up the excitement, play 90s games like musical chairs, Twister, or charades, and keep the fun rolling.

Pro tip: Remote teams can recreate the same fun online with themed virtual backgrounds, festive playlists, and play online games while munching on pre-delivered snack hampers. 

Bonus read: Check out the 12 best virtual Christmas party ideas for a few more festive activities you can recreate for your Christmas in July celebrations. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are some of the best Christmas in July activities and games? 

Some of the best Christmas in July games and activities include trivia, holiday charades, cookie decorating, and holiday mixology.  

What are some low-effort Christmas in July virtual team building activities?

Some quick and easy Xmas in July party activities include holiday icebreakers, Christmas emoji guessing challenge, and guess the holiday tune. 

How to celebrate Christmas in July with your remote team?

To host a virtual Christmas in July event, select a video conferencing platform suitable for your team size. Create a list of themed events for your celebration and assign a host to lead the session. Send out meeting invites with joining links so everyone can join the event.  If you need professional hosts or organizers to plan an entire event, reach out to remote team building companies for the best experience.

How to ensure my Christmas in July activity is interactive and fun?

To make your Christmas in July team building activities interactive, select party ideas that get everyone involved and excited (like trivia, ornament crafting, and sandman building). Have an experienced host lead the session to ensure a smooth flow. Don’t forget to include holiday-themed rewards to keep the energy high and make the experience even more memorable.   

How to choose the best ideas for a Christmas in July party at work?

Make a note of your team size, work setting (remote, hybrid, or in-person), and preferences, then select an activity that checks all your boxes. The idea is to plan activities that bring out the festive spirit and help your team members connect in a social setting. 

Can we host a virtual cocktail party to celebrate Christmas in July?

Yes. You can host a mixology session or a BYOB virtual happy hour party to celebrate Christmas in July with your team. 

What are some Christmas in July theme party ideas?

Christmas Luau, Retro Christmas, and Red, Green, and Gold gala are some of the best Christmas in July party theme ideas. You can also host a Christmas-around-the-world-themed party for a more inclusive celebration. 

What are some good party ideas for Christmas in July that work for hybrid teams?

Some of the best Christmas in July celebration ideas for hybrid teams include holiday-themed trivia, Christmas-themed icebreaker questions, online scavenger hunts, collaborative storytelling, and virtual escape rooms. You can also try other fun ideas like festive desk makeover, dessert bake-off, or holiday potlucks to keep everyone engaged throughout. 

What are some good Christmas in July party food ideas? 

BBQ bites, Caprese skewers, and cookies are good food ideas for a Christmas in July party. 

What are some trending Christmas in July party decor ideas?

Mini palm trees with holiday ornaments, string lights, and festive banners are among the best Christmas in July decor ideas for teams. 

What are some good Christmas in July gifts for coworkers? 

Bookmarks, holiday-themed mugs, gift tags, and postcards are some of the best Christmas in July gifts for coworkers.