Who says the holiday season only gets one shot a year? Christmas in July is the gloriously contradictory celebration that lets you deck the halls and crank the carols, all while enjoying the summertime magic. Whether you’re dreaming up a low-key backyard party or a full-blown bash, these Christmas in July party ideas will help you throw a celebration that’s breezy, merry, and bright.
The origin of Christmas in July
The tradition is widely traced back to 1933, when Keystone Camp in Brevard, North Carolina, threw a surprise holiday celebration for its campers, featuring carols, a Christmas tree, and a visit from Santa Claus. The phrase gained nationwide traction in 1940, when the romantic comedy “Christmas in July” hit theaters and stuck in the public imagination.
Down in the Southern Hemisphere, the celebration took on a slightly different meaning: Since July marks the middle of winter there, celebrating Christmas in July actually lines up with the snowy, fireside version of the holiday that Northern Hemisphere traditions made famous. Origin story aside, one thing’s certain: people everywhere have found a reason to sneak a little traditional Christmas cheer into summer.
Party planning tips
Before you start stringing lights, a little planning goes a long way in pulling off a festive and fun Christmas in July party. The best party ideas for Christmas in July borrow heavily from the real holiday season. Then, twist everything just enough to fit the heat. Here’s how to nail the theme, the decor, and a few extra touches that’ll have guests wondering why nobody thought of this sooner.
🎨 Pick a theme
Set the tone with a Christmas theme that leans into the contrast. Think “Santa’s Summer Vacation,” “Tropical North Pole,” “Christmas Cookout,” or a holiday-themed luau. Encourage guests to dress for the occasion by mixing Christmas colors with summer styles, like Aloha shirts and flip-flops.
🎄 Plan your decor
Decor is where Christmas in July really comes alive. Set up a small Christmas tree on the patio, string it with lights, and hang ornaments shaped like flamingos and beach balls for good measure. Scatter oversized candy canes along the walkway, drape tinsel over the picnic tables, and pile a basket of Santa hats by the door so guests can dress the part. A few strategically placed red and green balloons tie the whole look together.
🧴 Provide a few extras
For the finishing touches, lean into the contradiction that makes this whole thing fun. Provide guests with beachy ornaments to commemorate the occasion. Keep a few classic holiday traditions in play, too. Plan a white-elephant gift swap or a stocking stuffed with sunscreen and bug spray. The celebration will still feel like Christmas, but with a summer twist.
Entertainment for Christmas in July
No party is complete without some entertainment. Christmas in July is the rare Christmas celebration you can actually enjoy outdoors. From music to costumed visitors to good old-fashioned backyard fun, here’s how to keep the festivities rolling.
🎥 Plan engaging activities
Trade snowball fights for water balloon battles, and swap traditional caroling for a round of Christmas karaoke under the sun. As evening rolls in, set up an outdoor movie screen and cue up your favorite Christmas movies. It’s not every day you get to watch holiday favorites under the stars, so take full advantage. Spread out some blankets, kick back in the warm night air, and enjoy a little midyear movie magic.
🎶 Book some musical entertainment
Live music sets the tone for a celebration that feels equal parts merry and sun-soaked. Book a caroling group to mix classic Christmas songs with summer favorites. Alternatively, bring in a steel drum player for a tropical twist that instantly warms up the holiday playlist.
🎅 Invite a special visitor
A costumed character adds an instant dose of holiday magic. Nothing delights a crowd quite like a surprise visit from Santa Claus himself, perhaps trading the red suit for swim trunks and sandals. If Santa is on vacation, try hiring an elf character or a Mrs. Claus to attend the party.
Festive food and drinks
No Christmas in July party is complete without a spread that looks and tastes like the holidays, just with a little less oven time and a lot more sunshine. Think familiar flavors, summer-approved methods, and a few recipes that’ll have guests wondering why this isn’t a yearly tradition.
🍗 Cook a summertime meal
Trade the oven-roasted bird for grilled huli-huli turkey drumsticks, finished with a sweet, sticky Hawaiian glaze that turns the holiday centerpiece into a backyard luau. Keep one classic exactly as it is: Creamy, cheesy scalloped potatoes earn their spot at the table no matter the season. Then balance it all out with a chilled Christmas salad loaded with broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, and cherry tomatoes for a crunchy, no-cook dose of red and green.
🍹 Prepare themed drinks
Drinks are where the “hot meets cold” theme really gets to play. Mix up a batch of mistletoe margaritas, a tart cranberry-lime sipper that’s festive and refreshing. Watermelon lime spritzers bring the hydration, with fresh watermelon juice and a splash of seltzer, perfect for sipping poolside. And for the ultimate Christmas in July concoction, blend up a batch of frozen hot chocolate.
🍰 Whip up some Christmas desserts
No-bake cherry cheesecake bars skip the oven entirely, layering a buttery crust with a cool, creamy filling and a bright cherry topping. A white Christmas forest platter, an Australian tradition built for Southern Hemisphere Christmases, turns crunchy white chocolate trees and candy canes into an edible centerpiece. Finish with a scoop of eggnog ice cream, because nothing says Christmas in July quite like a beloved holiday drink reborn as a frozen treat.
The best reasons to celebrate don’t need to wait for the calendar to say so. Mix the warmth of the holiday season with the ease of summer, and you’ve got a Christmas in July party that feels fresh, fun, and festive. Throw in a few good recipes, the right entertainment, and a Santa hat or two, and you’ve got everything you need for a summer celebration nobody will forget. 🎄🌞
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Matt Holland is a Customer Happiness Agent at GigSalad. With 10+ years of experience performing as a jazz drummer, he has gained insights into the life of a gigging musician as well as what makes an event go off without a hitch. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, cooking, and watching the newest TV shows with his wife.