
đ Game On: How to Keep Holiday Parties Fun Without Booze
Holiday parties are shifting. More people are drinking lessâor not at allâand honestly? Itâs changing everything. Nights end a little earlier, conversations are deeper (and actually remembered the next day), and you donât wake up with regrets from that political debate that never goes anywhere good. Oh, and letâs not forget: no pounding headache.
But hereâs the big question: how do you keep the energy up when alcohol isnât the star of the show?
The answer is simple: games.
Iâve recently rediscovered backgammon and Mastermind (two of my personal favorites), but when it comes to a crowd, you donât need fancy boards. All you need is paper, pens, maybe a timer, and a willingness to laugh at yourself.
Hereâs a lineup guaranteed to keep the party buzzingâno cocktails required:
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đ Celebrity
Write down celebrity names, split into teams, and take turns giving clues so your group guesses who it is. Think charades with a twist. Pro tip: at my parties, this one has become the main event. People even come prepared.
đ Charades
Act out a word or phrase without speaking while your team guesses. Classic, always hilarious, especially after dessert.
âïž Pictionary
Draw a word or phrase. Stick figures are fineâactually, theyâre better. The worse the art, the bigger the laughs.
â± Catchphrase
Describe the word without saying it, then pass the timer before it buzzes. Loud, fast, and competitive.
đș Werewolf / Mafia
Everyone gets a secret roleâsome are villagers, some are villains. Villagers have to sniff out the bad guys before theyâre âeliminated.â Perfect for drama-loving families.
đ± Heads Up!
Download the app, hold the phone to your forehead, and let your team give you clues until you guess. Instant chaos, guaranteed fun.
đ¶ Name That Tune
Hum or sing a few barsâsee who guesses first. Bonus points for passion.
đ Two Truths and a Lie
Say three statements about yourselfâtwo true, one fake. Everyone else guesses the lie. Simple, silly, surprisingly revealing.
đ€ Would You Rather?
Pose two choices. (âWould you rather host 40 people for Thanksgiving or clean up afterward alone?â) Sparks debates every time.
âïž Telephone Pictionary
Start with a phrase. One person draws it, the next guesses, the next draws again. By the end, âturkey dinnerâ has somehow turned into âalien invasion.â
đ Scavenger Hunt Indoors
Hide objects or clues around the house. Kids love it, adults get cutthroat.
đ€ Lip Sync Battle
Pick a song, grab some props, and channel your inner Beyoncé.
đ€ Karaoke
Because nothing bonds people faster than bad singing. Hairbrush microphones welcome.
đž Photo Booth Corner
Set up a corner with silly props, hats, and glasses. Instant photos, instant memories.
đČ Board Games That Scale
Crowd-pleasers like Codenames, Apples to Apples, Taboo, or Scattergories. Easy to explain, fun with big groups.
đ Gratitude Jar
Everyone writes down something theyâre grateful for, then you read them aloud. Sweet, grounding, and surprisingly moving (depending on the group).
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Bottom line? Swap cocktails for cocoa and let the games do the heavy lifting. The holidays arenât about whatâs in your glassâtheyâre about connection, laughter, and a little competitive spirit.
Zero hangovers included.
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 Originally aired on 10/03/25 for WGN Radio 720.