5 Fun Holiday Party Themes

Don't forget to set out festive cookies!The holidays are here, which means it's time for those awkward workplace parties, warm, traditional family gatherings, and fun theme parties with friends. This year, do yourself and your guests a favor by ditching the old standbys, and planning a party like no other, one that will surely go down as everyone's favorite. Here are five fun holiday party themes to try:

1. Holiday foodie party - Create a holiday sampler of decadent dishes, inviting guests to bring their own gourmet-inspired appetizers to the party. Assign guests a category before the party, and encourage creativity. Give prizes for the most artistic dish, or the one with the most Christmas spirit. Don't forget dessert!

2. Hawaiian holiday party - Mele Kalikimaka, indeed! Instead of celebrating a winter wonderland, lament the loss of warm-weather days with a Hawaiian-themed holiday party. Break out a Beach Boys' holiday album, decorate with Christmas-lit palm trees, and provide plenty of pineapple cocktails with Hawaiian Christmas names. As party host, remember to always respect the legal drinking age. Learn more about the Anheuser-Busch pledge to drink responsibly.

3. Ugly Christmas sweater party - A hot new trend in holiday parties is the celebration of all things tacky. Invite guests to attend in their most awful holiday sweater, sweatshirt or vest, and compete for prizes for tackiest sweater, the outfit with the most Christmas spirit, and the tackiest couple. Fitting awards can include light-up holiday necklaces and jingle bell accessories.

4. White elephant gift party - In this party theme, re-gifting isn't looked down on, it's expected! Invite guests to purge their worst gifts (or purchase an inexpensive, awful present), wrap it beautifully, and take turns picking a new awful gift (the funnier the better). Steals will, of course, be allowed.

5. 1950s holiday party - If your crowd is more interested in tradition and nostalgia than bad gifts, plan a holiday party with a vintage theme. Invite guests to show up in 50s cocktail attire, put on a Bing Crosby record, and decorate with gorgeous teal, pink and silver vintage ornaments. Vintage glassware can be found at thrift stores and will add a magical element to your soiree.

Whichever holiday party theme you choose - you're sure to have a hit at this year's gathering, and be the talk of the town until next December.

Content by Becca Swanson.