It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right, the holidays are here and that means cooking holiday classics, traveling, Christmas cookie swaps and hosting holiday guests. Whether you are hosting holiday guests for a night or a week, get ready to welcome holiday guests with open arms. Here are seven activities you can use when entertaining holiday guests this winter season.
#1 Attend a Holiday Festival
From Thanksgiving to the New Year, manycities host a variety of holiday inspired events including tree lighting ceremonies, parades, traditional Christkindlmarkets and food festivals. Local parks, zoos and arboretums usually host holiday light shows, so be sure to check your town or city’s official website to see what holiday themed events are taking place in your community.
#2 Look at Lights
Show off your community’s holiday spirit by planning a night to look at lights. Gather your guests and make mugs of hot cocoa before strolling through your neighborhood to admire the holiday decorations. Too cold to walk? Hop in the car and listen to Christmas carols as you drive around the neighborhood looking at the lights. You can even create a contest and take a vote on your favorite holiday decorations you see along the way.
#3 Bake Up a Batch of Christmas Cookies
Nothing says the holidays like baking up a batch of Christmas cookies. Take an inventory of all your baking supplies before guests arrive and select some recipes so you are ready to get your bake on. Looking for some Christmas cookie recipes? Try one, or all of these!
Gingerbread People
Simple Sugar Cookies
S’more Cookies
Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies
#4 Host a Movie Night
If the freezing temperatures and the bone chilling winds are keeping you and your guests inside, host a movie night. From Christmas classics to funny family films, be sure to select a movie that is appropriate for all ages and that everyone can enjoy. Don’t forget to stock up on movie night snackslike popcorn, gluten-free pretzels, Nut Butter Snack Packs, Cracker Trail Mix and Turmeric and Garlic Hummus with sprouted seed crackers for dipping.
#5 Host a Holiday Campfire
Warm up on a cold winter night by hosting a holiday campfire. Whether you are celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah (or both), set out campfire essentials: piles of soft blankets, mugs of homemade hot chocolate, you can even create a s’more station for guests. Don’t forget to include a variety of crunchy cookies and soft baked cookies. Whether you’re set up outside in the backyard or inside gathered around the fireplace, sing Christmas carols, tell stories or just reminisce about Christmas pasts spent together.
#6 Head Outdoors
If you and your holiday guests are getting cabin fever, head into the great outdoors for some winter activities.Take the tabagons to the local sledding hill for a day of outdoor fun. Grab your ice skates and head to the local park or head to an outdoor rink. For more seasoned outdoorsmen, hit the slopes for skiing or snowboarding. Bonus points if you you have extra winter gear for guests to borrow like hats, scarves, gloves and mittens.
#7 Gift Wrapping Together
Holiday guests may have some last minute gift wrapping to tackle, so stock up on supplies like holiday themed gift wrap, gift bags, tissue paper, ribbons, bows, scissors and tape so you and your holiday guests can gift wrap together. Cue the Christmas music and you have a cozy afternoon!
Host holiday guests with ease this season by using these seven activities to entertaining holiday guests and remember to enjoy their company because the holidays only come around once a year!
Tag us @SimpleMills so we can see how you host holiday guests this winter season.