12 Friendsmas Activities for a Cozy Christmas Night With Friends

Friendsmas activities give a Christmas night with friends something to do while you catch up. Choose one main project that fits your table, your time, and the people coming. You do not need to turn the gathering into a complicated workshop.

For a broader hosting plan, start with our Friendsmas inspiration guide. If your friends would rather play, see our Friendsmas games.

Choose One Activity, Then Set Up for It

For a short evening, pick the garland, future-self notes, or a hot chocolate tasting. Give ornaments, bag charms, and cookie decorating longer; allow for drying or setting time before friends leave. Put drinks and snacks on a different surface from paint, glue, and tiny supplies.

1. Paint Wooden Ornaments

Allow: 30–45 minutes plus drying
What you need: Wooden blanks, water-based paint pens, ribbon

What to do: Protect the table and give each friend two shapes. Suggest stripes, initials, or a memory from the year. Leave pieces flat to dry as directed before threading ribbon; write the year on the back.

2. Make Beaded Bag Charms

Allow: 30–45 minutes
What you need: Large-hole beads, cord, clips, scissors

What to do: Make one sample first to check the cord fits. Set beads in shallow trays, let each person choose colours or initials, then fasten securely to a key ring or bag clip.

3. Start a Friendship Scrapbook

Allow: 45–60 minutes
What you need: Photo copies, paper, notebook, glue sticks

What to do: Ask everyone to bring three printed photo copies. Give each person a page for a highlight and caption, then add the pages to a shared album. Agree what may be photographed or shared online.

4. Decorate Cookies

Allow: 45–60 minutes plus setting
What you need: Baked cooled cookies, icing, sprinkles, parchment

What to do: Set out a small palette of toppings and give each person a parchment-lined tray. Keep wet cookies flat while the icing sets and pack without stacking. Check ingredient labels for allergies.

5. Make a Ribbon Wreath

Allow: 30–45 minutes
What you need: Small wreath rings, ribbon scraps, scissors

What to do: Cut one test strip and tie it onto the ring; use that length for the rest. Mix two colours or use leftover ribbon, then add a longer hanging loop.

6. Create a Paper Garland

Allow: 20–30 minutes
What you need: Coloured paper, glue or tape, string

What to do: Make paper-chain links or little flags. Ask each friend to add a doodle or a favourite moment from the year before hanging the finished garland away from candles and heat.

7. Write a Note to Your Future Self

Allow: 20 minutes
What you need: Paper, pens, envelopes

What to do: Invite guests to write one thing they loved this year and one hope for next year. Seal and date the envelopes; friends can take theirs home or agree that the host will return them next Friendsmas.

8. Swap Favourite Recipe Names

Allow: 20–30 minutes
What you need: Cards, pens

What to do: Each friend writes the name and source of a favourite seasonal recipe and a note about why they love it. If it comes from a book or website, share the source rather than copying the full published recipe.

9. Host a Hot Chocolate Tasting

Allow: 30 minutes
What you need: Two or three drinks, small cups, labels

What to do: Serve small labelled samples at a safe drinking temperature. Taste plain first, then choose toppings and invent a café-style name for a favourite combination. Include an option suitable for your guests' dietary needs.

10. Make a Memory Envelope

Allow: 30 minutes
What you need: Large envelope, cards, pens, photo copies

What to do: Write funny, kind memories and highlights from the year on cards. Agree who keeps the envelope and when it will be opened; leave out private information.

11. Have a Gift-Wrapping Social

Allow: 45–60 minutes
What you need: Gifts guests already need to wrap, paper, tape, tags

What to do: Clear a big surface, label each guest's gifts, and share spare supplies. Help each other with awkward packages without accidentally revealing a gift to its recipient.

12. Make a Group Photo Keepsake

Allow: 20–30 minutes
What you need: Agreed photo, blank cards or paper frames, pens

What to do: Decorate a paper frame with names and the year. Add a printed group photo if available, or send it afterward. Let each friend decide whether their copy is shared.

An Easy Craft-Night Schedule

• Before guests arrive: Protect the table, put supplies into trays, and make one sample.
• First 20 minutes: Have a drink and explain the project.
• Next 45 minutes: Make ornaments, charms, or scrapbook pages together.
• While things dry: Eat or play a short game.
• Before leaving: Label finished pieces and agree how anything still drying gets home.

For a different feel, pair the activity with one of our Friendsmas party themes. If you want a prepared game to play while supplies dry, the existing Christmas Party Games Bundle is an optional addition, not part of the craft project.