Host a Festive Nutcracker Themed Party

The Inspiration and Background of Nutcrackers

Every holiday season, nutcrackers appear as a classic icon of Christmas, mainly thanks to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. While the Nutcracker ballet has kept a love of nutcrackers alive in the public consciousness over the past century, figurine-style nutcrackers have existed for at least six centuries. Yet only after WWII did they become popular in the USA. And since pre-shelled nuts became commercially available shortly after, most nutcrackers now serve a decorative rather than functional purpose. Such is the role of the nutcracker in current Christmas tradition. So if you love nutcrackers and parties, host a nutcracker themed party for Christmas! It will pay homage to the classic ballet while putting a fun toy fantasy spin on a typical holiday party.

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How to Throw a Nutcracker Themed Party

1. Create a Nutcracker Scene

If you already own nutcrackers, this is their time to shine front and center! It goes without saying: nutcrackers are the VIP decorations for a nutcracker themed party.

Your nutcracker décor can take several different styles. The Nutcracker ballet lends perfect inspiration with its array of fantastical scenes – the Land of Sweets, the Land of Snowflakes, a toy soldier/mice battlefield among wrapped presents, or a classic Christmas gala, to name a few scenes from the story. Or decorate your space like a Christmas toy shop where nutcrackers and toy soldiers are the bouncers (to make sure nobody’s having too much fun, of course).

While party decorating can get pricy depending on how elaborate you get, you can usually find inexpensive party supplies if you know where to look. If you worry that you just can’t afford to host a party, consider your disposable income budget and spending habits. Usually, having a party is a more cost-effective way to have fun when you analyze your leisure time and disposable income preferences! Figure out what’s comfortable for you and plan accordingly. You don’t need to go overboard. Small, thoughtful touches go a long way when it comes to party decorations.

Here are some ideas for decorating your Nutcracker themed party:

• Nutcracker doll
• Nutcracker banner
• Nutcracker lawn decorations
• Hanging white snowflakes
• Pink Nutcracker garland
• Nutcracker garland with tassels
• Nutcracker garland with pompoms
• Nutcracker garland

2. Prepare Nutcracker-Related Food and Beverages

Time to get crafty with your menu! Whether you provide all refreshments or whether you request that guests bring a dish or drink potluck-style, food is one of the most fun ways to engage your guests in a theme.

If you want to keep food expenses down, it helps to prepare your own dishes rather than buy pre-made party platters. This means you plan your menu and set aside time to cook/prepare food in advance (included in your time block to-do list below). While that takes effort and preparation on your part, it also gives you freedom over specific ingredients you provide. This is important, say, if someone is gluten free. Of course, you can always budget by inviting guests to BYOB and/or bring edible items to share. Most people are happy to contribute (see 6. Guest Participation). But regardless, be aware of any invited guests’ dietary restrictions and provide at least one or two decent food/drink options for them as well.

As the Nutcracker ballet is set in Germany, traditional German foods make a fitting Nutcracker themed party menu:

• Shelled nuts (crack them with a European beechwood nutcracker or cast iron nutcracker)
• Nutcracker shot (an easy drink to whip up)
• Stollen (German Christmas bread)
• Marzipan balls (vegan and gluten-free)
• 16 traditional German Christmas cookies
• Zwetschekuchen (German Plum Tart)
• Braised red cabbage
• Kartoffelklöße (German potato dumplings)
• German cucumber salad
• Semmelknoedel (Bread Dumplings)
• Butter soup

3. Set the Lively Christmas Ambiance with the Nutcracker Suite

Your background music is the star player in a nutcracker themed party. Naturally, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite is most fitting! But you could just as easily play something thematic like this Christmas fantasy music playlist, or instrumental Christmas jazz for a more traditional holiday party feel. 

4. Add Seasonal Scents

We covered the sights, the flavors, and the sounds of your nutcracker themed party. Now, consider the scents! Think of ways to truly immerse your guests with the evocative sense of smell. Here are a few Nutcracker-themed scented candles:

• Nutcracker dreams candle
• ‘This Christmas Is Gonna Be Nuts’ candle
• Sugar Plum Fairy candle
• Another Sugar Plum Fairy candle

5. Nutcracker Activities

Challenge your guests to find a hidden nutcracker. Before they arrive, stash it somewhere inconspicuous and plan a prize for whoever finds it. Their prize could be a special cocktail only they receive, or it could be the nutcracker itself. You don’t even have to hide a traditional wooden nutcracker – you could use a small toy version or figurine of any size. Keep your guests guessing!

Set out a 1000-piece Nutcracker jigsaw puzzle and invite guests to work on it throughout the party. Jigsaw puzzles are satisfying, mindless activities that people can do while eating or talking.

Have everyone christened with a Nutcracker name using a What is Your Nutcracker Name printable download. They have to use only this name the rest of the night. You could turn this into a drinking game where any time someone uses someone else’s given name instead of their Nutcracker name, they have to take a drink!

6. Guest Participation

Guest participation is optional and depends on what, if anything, you request your guests to contribute. That could be a dish, dessert, or drink to share, for some examples. But as the host of a potluck-style party, be sure to provide at least one large dish that is both tasty and filling (just in case others end up bringing things that are less tasty or less filling).

Checklist of Items You Need for a Nutcracker Themed Party

This is a list of all of the physical things you need for this party:

1. Nutcracker decorations (preferably including actual nutcrackers)
2. Nutcracker-themed food and beverages
3. The Nutcracker Suite, or other Christmas music, and speakers
4. Seasonal scented candles
5. Materials needed for any activities (Nutcracker jigsaw puzzle, printable download games, etc.)

Things to Do to Prepare for Your Nutcracker Themed Party

1. First, establish that your efforts aren’t in vain by confirming that people can come on any chosen date:

1. Choose party date/time, and preferably alternative date(s) as well. Shy away from the weekend just before or after Christmas, if possible, as these are often times people celebrate the holiday with family. But feel free to offer those weekends as alternate dates – they make work out better for some people.
2. Choose guest list and establish minimum number of guests you’d like (to make it worth your effort)
3. Six weeks out, confirm guests’ interest in the party and availability on chosen party date(s)
4. If your preferred minimum number of guests confirm interest and availability, have them secure calendar date for your fun Nutcracker themed party!

2. Then, proceed with the fun planning!

1. Schedule time on your calendar for each step of party prep (securing and/or making food/drinks, etc.)
2. Create invitations with all of the details and send them out 4 weeks before the party
3. Order any party supplies and decorations 3 weeks out (so they arrive in time to prepare and set up)
4. Shop for any party supplies/decorations you don’t order online, as well as non-perishable food/drinks
5. In your planned time slots, acquire perishable food/drinks early enough in advance to prepare in time
6. In your planned time slots, set up/decorate with any supplies and decorations
7. In your planned time slots, prepare food/drinks (depending on how long things keep)

3. Day of Party (in your amply planned time slot):

1. Complete any last-minute food/drink prep that’s too fresh to do any earlier
2. Set up any quick/easy last-minute supplies and decorations you didn’t want up before
3. Prepare ambience (music, candles)
4. Get dressed in a festive party outfit
5. Once everything’s ready, take some time to do any self-care so you can get in a good head space if you aren’t already. You want to be relaxed, energized, and happy to host!

If you want to explore more fun Christmas-themed parties, check out these others:

• Elf party
• Pink Christmas party
• Gingerbread house party
• German Christmas party
• Winter Solstice party