Holiday Party
A festive open house that runs itself once the door opens
Plan a holiday party or festive open house for friends, neighbours or colleagues. Get a make-ahead menu of warm bites and boards, a mulled drinks plan, quantities for a room of thirty, and a timeline that has you dressed and relaxed before the first knock.
Countdown
The holiday party timeline
Tick things off as you go — it’s a checklist.
5 weeks before
3 weeks before
1 week before
Day before
Day of
Day after
Menu ideas
What to serve
- Cheese board with quince & walnutZero heat; plated straight from cold thirty minutes before.
- Mini chicken pot-pie puffs with tarragon gravyFill, freeze, bake from frozen. Hold 20 minutes in a 200°F oven. Bake in waves.
- GougèresFrozen raw weeks ahead, baked from frozen in twelve minutes.
- Ham biscuits, split and filledBiscuits baked ahead, filled cold in a fast production line.
- No-meat sausage rollsBakes in trays back to back, holds warm under a cloth.
- Crispy polenta bites with mushroom ragoutChill the polenta, recrisp at 450°F, top at the last minute. Baked squares hold 20 minutes in a 225°F oven.
- KardemummabullarDough proves twice; bake in one tray shortly before guests arrive for the smell alone.
- Dark chocolate potsSet in the fridge overnight in the serving vessel — no plating.
- Mulled wine, one potSimmers low all evening on a single burner, tops itself up.
- Warm spiced punchOne pot on low; refills itself and warms the room.
Décor ideas
- · Evergreen garland along the mantel or table with warm white lights.
- · Candles in hurricanes or jars, kept away from coats and sleeves.
- · A self-serve drinks station with a hand-lettered menu.
- · Bowls of clementines and nuts on side tables.
- · A small tree or branches with paper ornaments.
- · Dimmed overheads with lamps on for a warm glow.
Things to do
- · A low-cost gift swap with a clear price guide.
- · An ugly-jumper award at a set time.
- · Ornament decorating for guests to take home.
- · A group photo by the tree.
- · A carol or singalong late in the evening, if the crowd is up for it.
Drinks
- · Mulled wine kept warm in a slow cooker.
- · A warm spiced punch without alcohol, labelled clearly.
- · Sparkling wine for arrivals.
- · A batched festive cocktail like a cranberry spritz.
- · Beer in a tub of ice.
- · Water jugs on every surface.
Music · Festive but not relentless: jazz, soul and a few classics.
- · Christmas jazz and swing for the first hour.
- · Soul and Motown holiday records as the room fills.
- · Modern pop Christmas songs later on.
- · Keep volume low enough to talk without shouting.
Questions hosts ask
How many bites per person for a holiday party?
As a rule of thumb, plan four to six pieces per guest for each of the first two hours if a meal will follow, and ten to twelve pieces in total if the party replaces dinner. Add a board at about 85 g (3 oz) per guest per type.
How much mulled wine do I need?
A standard 750 ml bottle makes about five small mugs once warmed with fruit. With two drinks per guest in the first hour and one an hour after, not all of them mulled, one bottle for every three or four guests is a sensible start.
How much space do I need for thirty guests?
For a standing party, allow about 7.5 sq ft (0.7 m²) per guest before counting food and drink tables. Thirty guests need roughly 225 sq ft of clear floor plus room for stations.
How long should a holiday open house last?
Three to four hours with a clear end time suits most homes. People drop in, stay an hour or two, and move on to their next event.