If you’re stymied when you try to think of party games other than Pin the Tail on the Donkey and Bozo Buckets, then you will be engaged with the variety of party games that are readily available to anyone with a little creativity and a lot of forethought. Party games that involve guessing appeal to guests of any age, and adults really enjoy lively games that challenge their memory. Read on for detailed instructions.
Carolyn Bell’s The Complete Book of Christmas, published by Hermes House in 2001, should be on everyone’s holiday must-read list for entertaining. She presents playing party games as a traditional way to round out a holiday evening, rather than mindlessly reaching for the remote control or popping in a Christmas DVD.
Guessing Games
- Charades: This game has been played by everyone at one time or another, and as long as the teams are balanced, it is sure to be a hit at your event. Your job as host is to have a selection of thematic titles prepared in advance. Choose your charade titles, including holiday movies, Christmas songs, holiday symbols, etc. and print them out on little slips of paper. Fold the slips, place them in a pretty gift bag, and you are ready for an impromptu game of charades!
- What Manners!: This game hails from across the pond, and it is a delight to play with a group of bright adults who love to challenge their vocabulary. The game is played when one person in the group silently chooses an adverb. The other players take turns asking the key player to answer posed questions or perform certain activities in the manner of the secret adverb. So, if the secret word were “sarcastically,” you can imagine the type of response generated to the question, “What did you get your wife for Christmas?”
Memory Games
- Pelmanism: Similar to Charades, this game must be prepared ahead of time. Pelmanism is a system of memory-training, and this game challenges participants to recall the most minute details after a brief period of study. To prepare for this game, gather 40 or 50 small items from around your home and arrange them on a platter. Some of the items to include could be a coin, an old key, a lone earring, a game piece and anything else you find around your house. Cover the platter with a pretty napkin, and bring the tray into the party room. Let your guests study the tray for exactly one minute, and then replace the napkin to hide the items. Give each player a piece of paper and a pencil and have them write down as many items as they can remember in a three-minute period.
For all of these games, award small prizes or treats to the winners!
