How to Host an Elf Themed Party

Elf: A Holiday Classic

There are two types of people in the world: those who LOVE the movie Elf, and everybody else. If you’re reading this post on how to host an Elf party, I’m assuming you fall into the former category so LET’S GET READY TO HOST AN ELF PARTY!!!

Did you know that Elf turns 20 this year? November 7^th, 2023 marks Elf’s 20^th anniversary! So this is an even more perfect season to life a glass of ‘maple syrup’ liquor-flavoured coffee to toast everyone’s favourite Christmas movie at your awesome Elf themed party.

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How to Throw an Elf Party

1. Create the North Pole

You don’t need to transform your home into the candy cane forest or even the sea of swirly-twirly gumdrops, but you can pull enough decorative touches together to create an Elf atmosphere! Channel Buddy and think of what he would do. Cut out paper snowflakes to hang from the ceiling, drape red/green paper chains over doorways, and fill your space with as many childlike toys and relics as you can muster – such as an Etch-a-Sketch, rocking horse, etc. Any bright or sparkling Christmas colours are perfect, as is anything that evokes the North Pole or Santa’s workshop. You know you’ve successfully set the scene when someone walks in and immediately knows they’re at an Elf party!

Decorating is so much fun, especially for Elf! While it can get pricy depending on how elaborate you get, you can find inexpensive party supplies if you know where to look. And, with a little time and motivation, you can DIY your party decorations (à la Buddy). 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! It all boils down to how you most enjoy spending your leisure time and how you rearrange your spending to prioritize that.

Everyone’s party will look different and that’s the beauty of hosting. Even if you can only spare a sprinkling of paper snowflakes and paper chain garlands, there are other ways to create an atmosphere that we’ll cover here. Keep in mind, small efforts done with love and enthusiasm speak for themselves!

Check out a few Elf-inspired finds to get you started:

• Buddy the Elf window cling sticker
• White paper snowflakes (5)
• Felt candy canes (5)
• North Pole paper straws (12)

2. Prepare Elf-Related Food and Beverages

Anything with sugar will do at an Elf party. After all, it’s the base of Buddy’s four food groups (candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup). But to avoid a room full of stomach aches, you need to serve food for humans as well. For an easy dish that tributes the film, serve a classic spaghetti meal with marinara sauce. Except rather than doling out maple syrup on your guests’ pasta plates, spare their horror by sprinkling on parmesan cheese instead. Then you can whip up some pancakes with maple syrup for desert! For those of you daring chefs, scrap the pancake idea and instead bribe your guests to try some Buddy the Elf spaghetti (don’t worry: no tomato-based sauce is included):

• Buddy the Elf’s spaghetti (if you dare!)
• Pancakes with maple syrup
• Buddy the Elf snack mix appetizer
• Buddy the Elf cocktail
• Happy elf cocktail (this one’s a little lighter on the palate)

After everyone’s eaten their fill, brew up some of the cheapest old ground coffee that you can find. The cheaper and more generic, the better. (Offer decaf as well). Then, pour it in a mug and serve your guests the world’s best cup of coffee! You could even get fancy and dress it up with some whipped cream. People will probably appreciate adding some spiked eggnog to it, too.

3. Play the Perfect Elf Playlist (or the Movie)

An easy and obvious idea for background music/video is to play the Elf movie or soundtrack! Your guests will most likely have already seen and love the film. But if you’d rather just play music, then the soundtrack is of course a top choice. You could just as easily play fun Christmas tunes for everyone to enjoy, especially those featured in the film. Don’t forget to add in ‘Whoomp! There It Is’ to encourage any impromptu breakdancing!

4. Add Irresistible Scents

If you haven’t just removed a batch of freshly baked Christmas cookies from the oven for your guests to enjoy the aroma when they arrive, entice them with the scent of Christmasy candles. Here are some fun Elf-themed options:

• ‘Don’t be a cotton headed ninny muggins’ candle
• Buddy the Elf candle
• ‘You Have Such A Pretty Face; You Should Be On A Christmas Card’ candle
• ‘Bye Buddy Hope You Find Your Dad’ cinnamon vanilla candle
• ‘I just like to smile; smiling’s my favorite’ candle
• Buddy candle
• Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins eggnog-scented candle
• Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins candle (other scents)
• Swirly Twirly Gumdrops candle

5. Time for Fun and Games! Plan Elf-Themed Activities

Toy contest: Challenge your guests to a timed toy-making contest. Provide a large pile of odds and ends (you could even rummage your recyclables) – buttons, paperclips, paper, koozies, etc. and have everyone use the materials to make a ‘handcrafted’ toy in five minutes (or ten, if you’re feeling generous). Once time’s up, have everyone vote on the best toy. The winner gets a prize!

Dance competition: play ‘Whoomp! There It Is’ and challenge everyone to a round of improv dancing. Whoever’s dance is the most skilled, wildest or silliest wins!

Guess the wisher: Have everyone write on a small piece of paper what they most want for Christmas. Then, have everyone fold the paper and drop it into ‘Santa’s book’ (any bag or bucket will do). After mixing the wishes around a bit, have each guest then retrieve one to then guess whose wish it is (if they draw their own wish, have them put it back and redraw so they end up with someone else’s). Whoever guesses right gets a prize! Alternatively, if you have no party favors to use as prizes and want to make it a drinking game, anyone who guesses wrong has to take a drink.

If you or another guest can sing, invite them to spread Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear! If you have a piano and you or another guest can play, provide the accompaniment! What more festive way to tribute Elf than to sing Christmas songs together?

You can also test how well your guests know the film with these Elf-themed printable downloads:

• Elf trivia
• Elf Christmas Games package
• Elf Charades
• Elf trivia quiz

6. Establish Guest Participation

Guest participation could include anything from requesting guests to bring a dish, desert or drink to share, to encouraging them to dress up as a character from the movie. Whether you invite guests to participate in any way or not, choose your guests mindfully and with their interests in mind. Prioritize friends who you know most love Elf, as they’ll naturally be the most enthusiastic guests/participants. But don’t shy away from others who haven’t seen the movie. You never know, they may end up loving it!

Here are some Elf costume ideas, should you invite guests to dress up:

• Buddy, and any of the other elves working in Santa’s workshop (including Papa Elf)
• Santa
• The imposter Santa who smells like beef and cheese
• Jovie
• Walter (suit and tie)
• ‘That Special Someone’ (Christmas lingerie)
• The work release mailroom guy (don’t forget a flask with ‘maple syrup’)
• Central Park ranger (to keep all the other guests under control with ‘controversial crowd control tactics’)

Checklist of Stuff You Need to Host an Elf Party

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

1. North Pole-themed decorations, or other Elf-style decorations
2. Elf-related foods and drinks (plus palatable healthy dishes)
3. The Elf movie and/or soundtrack, or other Christmas tunes to play
4. Christmas-scented candles
5. Downloaded/printed games and/or supplies for other activities
6. Elf costume (if you encourage Elf character costumes for everyone else, don’t forget your own!)

Checklist of Things to Do to Host Your Elf 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. December is a busy month, so you’ll need as many alternative dates as possible in case a lot of people’s schedules are already packed.
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 Exciting Elf 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, DIY any party supplies and decorations (it snows a lot of paper snowflakes in the North Pole!)
6. In your planned time slots, acquire perishable food/drinks early enough in advance to prepare in time
7. In your planned time slots, set up/decorate with any supplies and decorations
8. 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 Christmasy/Elf Ambiance (movie/soundtrack, candles/scents)
4. Get dressed with plenty of time! This could be your Elf character costume, or simply your favourite Christmas party outfit
5. Once everything’s ready, meditate or do your preferred self-care to get in a good head space if you aren’t already. You want to be relaxed, energized, and excited so you can spread Christmas cheer Buddy-style (and enjoy yourself too, of course)!

Singing loud for all to hear to isn’t the only way to spread Christmas cheer. Hosting a cheery Elf party is an excellent way, and yours will be amazing! Merry Christmas!

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

• Pink Christmas party
• Gingerbread house party
• Nutcracker themed party
• German Christmas party
• Winter Solstice party