14 Cool Christmas in July Party Ideas for a Summer Team Bash

If you’re in one of those sun‑soaked spots where Christmas falls in the middle of summer, you may be looking to make the most of the holiday at work with your team. With the right kind of Christmas in July party ideas, planning a perfect party can be a breeze. Whether teammates sip iced eggnog wearing palm‑leaf garlands or dial in from backyard barbecues, themed activities like these are sure to get everyone bonding while feeling merry and bright.

Here are 14 cool Christmas in July party ideas for both in-office and remote teams to enjoy.

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What Is Christmas in July All About?

Christmas in July is a celebration much like the traditional holiday in December. As Christmas is a winter holiday, few countries celebrate it in the middle of their winter in July. This celebration gained popularity and is now observed in many places as summer Christmas or Christmas in July. The idea is to bring in the festive spirit with Christmas decor, holiday treats, games, and activities.

Virtual Christmas in July Party Ideas for Teams

Whether it’s July or December, the holiday cheer must go on. From lighthearted games to creative activities, these virtual Christmas in July party ideas will keep the holiday spirit alive all summer long.

1. Christmas In July Trivia

Number of Participants: 2-1000
Duration: 60 minutes

You can hum every tune from Rudolph to Frosty, but are you ready to sleigh the holiday trivia challenge? Hooray Teams’ Virtual Christmas Trivia tests your team’s knowledge about Santa’s reindeer, Christmas carols, and more. An expert trivia master leads your team through 4 to 5 fast-paced rounds of holiday-themed trivia. You can also opt for customized Christmas trivia questions centered around classic holiday movies or festive food and drinks for an engaging experience. 

Last summer, we threw our own Christmas in July trivia game for the team, and it was a hit. That’s when we discovered it all began at a 1930s summer camp when French campers in the U.S coined the term “Noël en juillet”!

2. Summer Cocktail Party

Number of Participants: 5-1000
Duration: 60 minutes

Raise your team’s holiday spirit (literally) by adding a cocktail party to your list of Christmas in July party ideas. For a guided experience, you can opt for Hooray Teams’ Virtual Cocktail Class to celebrate Christmas in July at work. An expert will teach your team the art of crafting signature Christmas cocktails from scratch. The host will also share fun tidbits about the history of cocktails and useful bartending tips for an enriching experience. 

You’ll get the hang of stirring, shaking, and garnishing your way to flavorful festive cocktails that are sure to impress everyone. Each attendee will receive an exclusive cocktail-making kit for the mixology session. If some of your team members prefer to skip the booze, mocktail alternatives are available to ensure everyone can participate in the experience.  

Here are some of our top suggestions:

• 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 

3. Christmas Cookie Decorating

Number of Participants: 5-1000
Duration: 60 minutes

Looking for a creative and delicious activity to elevate your list of creative Christmas in July party ideas? Hooray Teams’ Christmas Cookie Decorating session brings your team together for a sweet hands-on experience. In this virtual class, participants decorate cookies with summer-inspired designs like palm trees, sunglasses, or even Santa on a beach. A professional host will lead the event and share fun tips and decorating techniques to keep the vibe upbeat and engaging. 

All participants will receive a kit with all the cookie decorating essentials like pre-baked cookies, colorful icing, sprinkles, and edible glitter. Encourage teams to vote on categories like “Most Tropical,” “Best Use of Glitter,” or “Funniest Design,” with small e‑gift cards or virtual badges as prizes.

4. DIY Wreath Making Class

Number of Participants: 5-1000
Duration: 60 minutes

Get crafty for the holiday season with Hooray Teams’ DIY Wreath-Making Class, a great choice for Christmas in July party ideas. You and your team will shape evergreen branches and add ornaments to make beautiful, festive wreaths for the Christmas in July party. With expert guidance, you’ll learn wiring, layering, and styling techniques to create unique designs. You can add personalized touches like ribbons, ornaments, or wood-burned name tags for a one-of-a-kind team keepsake.

Every participant receives an all-inclusive DIY wreath-making kit with all the essentials like foliage, flowers, berries, seedheads, and ribbons. You can also swap your winter greenery decorations for bright florals, seashells, or tropical leaves to give your wreath a summer twist.

5. Christmas In July Bingo

Number of Participants: 5-1000
Duration: 60 minutes

Get your team into the holiday spirit with a fast-paced round of Christmas in July Bingo. Using festive bingo cards filled with summer-twisted holiday icons—think Santa in sunglasses, beachy candy canes, and flip-flop stockings—players mark off squares as prompts are called out. The first to complete a row or column and shout “Bingo!” wins. 

At Hooray Teams Bingo, a lively host keeps things interesting through 4 to 5 exciting rounds, making sure everyone stays pumped and ready to play. Plus, if you have a special theme or twist in mind, they can customize the game to match your team’s preferences.

6. Chocolate Candy Making Class

Number of Participants: 5-1000
Duration: 60 minutes

If your sweet tooth won’t wait till December, Christmas in July is a perfect chance to enjoy chocolate candies with your team. But instead of getting them from outside, your team can whip up their own at Hooray Teams’ Virtual Chocolate Candy Making Class. You will be in good hands with a pro chocolatier who’ll make the session feel like a festive chocolate party, not a class.  

Before the session starts, everyone gets a candy-making kit with chocolates, chocolate molds, and an easy-to-follow guide. The kits are customizable on request to fit any allergies or dietary preferences of your team members. 

7. Virtual Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Number of Participants: 2-1000
Duration: 60 minutes

Hooray Team’s Virtual Scavenger Hunt can be a fun way to add adventure to your team’s Christmas in July office celebrations. Your team will race to find Christmas-themed items like snowmen, gingerbread houses, and cookies without ever leaving their home.

Leading the charge, a lively host turns the hunt into a rollercoaster of fun with surprise twists and challenges. The excitement builds with every discovery, as teams celebrate each find and bond over friendly competition. You can even customize the game with team-specific challenges or unique themes to make it more exciting.

A few fun prompts could be –

• Something red and sparkly
• An item with a snowman on it (even better if he’s wearing sunglasses!)
• A beach item you’d gift to Santa
• Your most festive summer shirt
• A tropical drink—or something that could be 

In-Office Party Ideas for Christmas In July

If you are looking for the best in-office Christmas in July party ideas to celebrate Summer Christmas, your search ends here. Check out these creative and easy-to-plan Christmas in July office activities.

8. Christmas Sports Tournament

Number of Participants: 6-30
Duration: 45-60 minutes

Get your work pals pumped with a summer Christmas Sports Tournament that’s all giggles and team vibes. These Christmas-inspired games are quick to set up and don’t require much space, making them perfect for in-office settings.

Here are some fun Christmas in July office games your team can play:

• Pin the Nose on Rudolph
  Players take turns wearing a blindfold and trying to stick a red nose onto a wall poster of Rudolph. The closest nose to the right spot wins the round. 
• Reindeer Relay Race
  Teams wear reindeer antlers and race through a course with obstacles like cones, tinsel arches, and candy cane lanes while pulling sleds of holiday goodies. The first one to reach the finish line wins the race. 
• Wreath Toss
  Like the ring toss game, players aim to toss mini wreaths onto poles or cones from a distance. Teams can score more points by landing wreaths on harder targets before the time runs out. It is one of the most popular Christmas in July party ideas for in-office teams.    

9. Bourbon And BBQ Party

Number of Participants: 5-1000
Duration: 60 minutes

If your team loves smoky flavors and laid-back vibes, a Bourbon & BBQ party tops the list of Christmas in July party ideas. For a festive touch, you can set up the tables, add a few string lights, and fire up the grill for BBQ.

Don’t forget to include non-alcoholic options like iced tea, lemonade, or flavored water, and some plant-based BBQ dishes for your vegetarian teammates. For a more refined experience, you can add an expert touch to your party with Hooray Teams’ virtual Bourbon and BBQ tasting session.

10. Sandman Building Contest

Number of Participants: 6-20
Duration: 60 minutes

In the heat of July, when snowmen don’t stand a chance, your team can build something equally iconic – a sandman. The Sandman Building Contest turns the beach into your team’s holiday workshop, where sand becomes the canvas for your festive creations.  

Teams have to craft their sandman using beach sand, and perhaps some accessories like sunglasses, hats, and scarves to add character. The fun ramps up when things go off-script– like a hat flying off or a sandman collapsing just before the finish.

11. Christmas Carol-oke

Number of Participants: 5-30
Duration: 45 minutes

Why save Christmas carols for December? This summer, you and your team can spread holiday cheer with fun Christmas in July party ideas like a carol karaoke session.  To set up the show, you will need a microphone, a screen to display the lyrics, and a playlist of classic Christmas tunes. 

The activity might start off casual, but don’t be surprised if even your quietest teammates grab the mic by the end. Go with classic songs your team already knows—like “Jingle Bells,” “The First Noel,” and “Deck the Halls.” That way, everyone’s already got the lyrics in their head and can sing along without missing a word.

12. Retro Christmas Party

Number of Participants: 5-30
Duration: 45 minutes

If you’re looking to give your Christmas in July celebration a nostalgic twist, why not host a Retro Christmas Party? Think vintage decorations, classic Christmas tunes, and some holiday snacks that’ll take your team straight back to the good old days. 

You could even get everyone in the Summer holiday spirit by suggesting outfits like holiday tank tops, beachy shorts, or tinsel-covered hats. To amp up the excitement, have your team play some 90s games like musical chairs, Twister, or charades and keep the fun rolling.

13. Summer Santa Workshop

Number of Participants: 5-40
Duration: 60 minutes

A Summer Santa Workshop gets your team into the holiday spirit, just with more sunshine and fewer sweaters. These DIY projects give your team a chance to show off their hidden talents and bond over creative challenges. Your team can have a blast making stuff like coral ornaments, coconut shell reindeer, or sunny Santa hats.

Here are some fun workshop activities to add to your list of Christmas in July office ideas: 

• Santa’s Gift-Making Challenge: Teams compete to create the most unique holiday gift, such as handmade candles, customized mugs, or personalized photo frames.
• Santa’s Sleigh Engineering: Participants design and build a mini sleigh using everyday items like cardboard, tape, and strings.
• Gingerbread House Decorating: This activity involves designing and decorating gingerbread houses with colorful icing, candy, and other fun toppings.
• Holiday Card & Gift Wrapping: You and your team design personalized holiday cards and wrap gifts with festive paper, ribbons, and embellishments.
• Festive Artwork Design: In this one, you and your team create holiday-themed artwork, like murals or painted ornaments, to decorate the office.

14. Holiday Movie Marathon

Number of Participants: 10-100
Duration: 60 minutes

Planning a holiday movie marathon for your team can be a great way to unwind and enjoy the festive fun together. You can set up a cozy atmosphere with comfy seating, popcorn, and holiday snacks to create the perfect movie-watching experience. You can also have your teammates wear their quirkiest holiday pajamas or the silliest ugly Christmas sweaters for extra laughs!

If a movie marathon is on your list of Xmas in July party ideas, these classic Christmas films won’t disappoint you:

• Home Alone (1990)
• The Grinch (2000)
• The Santa Clause (1994)
• Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
• A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)
• The Year Without a Santa Claus (2006)
• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are some of the best Christmas in July party games? 

Some of the best Christmas in July activities and games include Carol Karaoke, Christmas in July Trivia, Gift wrapping race, Christmas in July Pictionary, Holiday Charades, and more.

What are some low-effort Christmas in July virtual team building activities we can plan quickly?

Some quick and easy Xmas in July party activities in July activities are holiday-themed “Would You Rather” game, Christmas emoji guessing challenge, “Holiday Word Association” and “Guess the Holiday Tune”.

How to host virtual Christmas in July events?

To host a virtual Christmas in July event, choose any of the Christmas in July celebration ideas like the ones shared above. Select an online video conferencing platform like Zoom to host the event and send out invites. If you need professional hosts or organizers to plan the entire event, reach out to Hooray Teams 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 Christmas in July party ideas that get everyone involved and excited. Have an experienced host lead the session for a smooth flow of things. Don’t forget to include holiday-themed rewards or prizes to keep the energy high and make the experience even more memorable.   

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

To choose the best Christmas in July ideas for work, choose activities that suit your team size, setting (in-office or virtual), and preferences. Focus on fun Christmas in July ideas that bring out the festive spirit and help your team members bond with each other.

When to arrange Christmas in July parties at work?

The best time to host a Christmas in July party is a few days before the holiday. Any day before the 25th of July is suitable for the celebration.

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

Yes, you can! It is one of the best Christmas in July office party ideas. You can send your team food vouchers or ask them to get some snacks while attending the event. For drinks, you can host a mixology session or a BYOB virtual happy hour party. 

What are some Christmas in July theme party ideas?

Some themed Christmas in July party ideas include holiday-themed ice creams, summer-themed Christmas trees, tropical Christmas Luau, or a Christmas pool party. You can also host a Christmas around the world-themed party to highlight your company’s diversity and make your employees feel at home.

What are some Christmas in July team building exercises that work for hybrid teams?

Some effective Christmas in July exercises for hybrid teams include holiday-themed trivia, online scavenger hunts, collaborative storytelling, and virtual escape rooms. You can also try Christmas in July party ideas like “Festive Desk Showdown,” where team members (remote or in-office) decorate their workspace and share photos for voting.