How to Host a Last-Minute Holiday Open House Party
Are you in town for the holidays this year and trying to figure out how to open your home to friends and family who may not have plans? Me too! This holiday season we aren’t traveling and my friend and I thought it would be a great idea to host a holiday open house party. Let me show you how to do it the easy way!
What is a Holiday Open House Party?
It’s a type of gathering with an open house format where guests can drop in during a specific time frame and stay for as little or as long as they want. This time of year can be so hectic so an open house is a great way to expand your guest list and open your home for people to come and go as they please. An open house is typically much more casual and thus less stressful than a formal dinner party.
Why Host a Holiday Open House?
My reason for hosting an open house on Christmas Eve is because I have several friends who aren’t able to be with family this year and I want to make sure they have a place to celebrate and are included in some fun Christmastime festivities. And of course, I love to host in general. Your ‘why’ may be different but no matter the reason, I think an open house is a fun way to have a good time and share some good food with good friends!
4 Simple Steps for Hosting a Holiday Open House
1. Decide on a date and time frame. I am planning mine for Christmas Eve from 5 pm to 8:30 pm. Any day during the week of Christmas will work, but the closer the better. I think a 3 to 4-hour time slot in the mid to late afternoon is best. Make sure the end time isn’t too late as folks will likely want to get home at a decent hour. Also, friends who will be attending a Christmas Eve church service will have time to drop by either before or after depending on their schedule.
2. Send out a simple text or email invitation with all the details. Don’t worry if it’s last minute, it’s casual and easy so there is no pressure!
3. Decide on a simple food and drink menu. Finger foods like a festive charcuterie board, pre-made appetizers, and fruit and veggie trays are ideal. The food is not the highlight of this party so don’t spend too much time on it. Another idea would be to have chili or something else easy in the slow cooker that guests can serve themselves.
For drinks, I would forgo a signature cocktail unless you have a go-to big batch punch or something similar that is easy to make. Set up a serve-yourself bar with beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options. If you’re expecting any kids and want to go the extra mile you could set up a hot chocolate bar and an area for decorating gingerbread houses.
4. As for decorations, hopefully, you have a Christmas tree and some holiday decor already up so you should be all set. If not, hang some string lights, put out a few votive candles, turn on some holiday music, and call it a day! Head to the dollar store for paper plates, bowls, and cups so you can skip the cleanup.
**Download the Sample Menu HERE.
More Tips
- There shouldn’t be a ton of prep for this type of gathering, but do what you can in advance.
- Don’t worry about cleaning your whole house, just straighten up the common areas.
- When planning the menu, choose things that can be served at room temperature or can sit out for a while so you don’t have to be constantly tending to the food.
- Make a festive playlist or find one on Spotify or Apple Music. 3-4 hrs + so you have plenty of tunes ready.
- If possible, have a garbage can out and visible so guests and clean up after themselves.
Final Thoughts
So what do you think? Are you going to throw together a last-minute holiday open house? I love this type of party because it might be the easiest, most casual, yet most appreciated type of gathering. There is literally ZERO pressure for people to show up and/or to stay a long time OR for you to be tied to the kitchen fixing anything fancy. Also, guests don’t all need to know each other and can mingle in a low-pressure environment, so it’s an opportunity to invite a mix of friends that you might not normally host altogether.
If you follow these steps I think you will be surprised how rewarding and enjoyable it will be, including for you the host! I think it’s an all-around WIN WIN!
If you need any last-minute hostess gifts check out our gift guide for some budget-friendly ideas.
Let me know in the comments if you decide to have a last-minute holiday open house! I’d love to know how it went!
Cheers!
