Decorating For Christmas In July

There's only one thing better than celebrating Christmas each year. Doing it twice! Why not enjoy your favorite things about winter and summer in one go? For some of us, 'tis also the season to reunite with friends and family after time apart the past year. Get ready to celebrate because these Christmas in July party ideas have you covered.

If hearing about Christmas in July is a first, then you're in for a treat. This holiday has been around for over 80 years. According to some accounts, it originated in North Carolina at a girl's camp. Australia celebrates during their winter season, which happens during our summer.

There are places in the U.S. that are famous for their events. But, if you would rather make this holiday your own, read on for tips on how to throw a Christmas in July party.

Note: Make sure to read up on the CDC's advice on attending events, gatherings, and travel. Before making your plans, check out this comprehensive list of Coronavirus-related restrictions in every state.

Double the Fun with Your Christmas in July Decorations

So, what do you do at a Christmas in July party? Before listing down your supplies, check off the basic planning tasks first. Then, make the necessary preparations. Let this be your guide.

1. Have an "All-iday" to Remember!

Missed a lot of holidays and milestones this past year? Celebrate them all at once! Imagine a mashup of Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays and more.

In a March episode of the sitcom Superstore, the crew put together an "all-iday" party. Here, they celebrated all the holidays they postponed or cancelled since COVID-19. As millions of the US population complete their vaccinations, more families are planning similar get-togethers this summer.

If you're considering a similar "all-iday" bash for Christmas in July, plan it out well. Pay attention to your guest list and activity lineup. Make sure there's enough time for every part of your program. The most important thing is to have fun and not stress about transitioning from one theme to another.

It could be as simple as wearing different party hats to represent each special day. If could even be decorating one side of your tree for Halloween and another for Christmas. Of course, you can also just stick to just one amazing theme. No one's counting!

2. Pick a Party Theme

Once you decide on which holidays to celebrate, choose your party concept (or concepts). Unless you live in the Eastern Hemisphere, then temperatures are at an all-time high. This means you get to celebrate Christmas in July having fun in the summer sun.

Why not celebrate with a picnic? Spread out a couple of blankets and dine on your lawn or on the beach. Give your table and the surrounding trees some holiday cheer, too.

family picnic Christmas in July party ideas — Photo and tree décor by Jennifer Perkins

If it's too hot, picnic indoors like Jennifer Perkins. She decorated a green Christmas tree inspired by what her kids love: picnicking and fruit! They had fun crafting and eating fresh and sweet treats.

Another idea is to fire up your grill for a barbecue and have a pool party. If it's too hot for either, have a feast inside the cool comfort of your home. Make sure it's properly ventilated and not too crowded.

How about a Carribean cruise-themed party? Or did anyone sayluau? Bust out your Tiki décor and put on a Hawaiian shirt (or skirt) instead of the traditional ugly Christmas sweater.

3. Choose Your Color Scheme

Put on two of your creative caps—one for Christmas and the other for summer—and start planning your color palette. Or trade in the green, red, and gold of the holidays for the bright hues of the sunny season. Think flamingo pinks, citrus peel oranges and yellows, ocean blues, and summer picnic greens.

4th of July and Christmas in July party ideas

You can even combine your Christmas in July and Independence Day celebrations by using patriotic colors. Pull out your artificial tree from storage, give it a good cleaning, and set it up. Because what's Christmas without one? Don't limit yourself to traditional green. Look for a Christmas tree in your favorite shade. Pink, gold, white, and even two-toned—there's one for your unique Christmas in July decorating vision.

Tip: Christmas in Jul y is one of the best time to shop like crazy because most of your favorite stores offer sales, including Treetopia!

4. Get the Best of Both Seasons

Think of what you love most about summer. Use it as inspiration for your DIY Christmas in July ornaments. Mix and match your creations with classic Christmas decorations to keep Santa in the loop.

Decorate with DIY, faux, or even real blooms that are in-season. Sunflowers add pops of color to any Christmas tree shade, as seen in this photo by Instagram user @lasvegasmakeupgirl.

Elements of the ocean will be a "shore" hit, too. Try a combination of corals, starfish, and shell ornaments on your tree—isn't this neat? With a cool blue Christmas tree, your collection's complete! Take your cue from @madcapcottage. Complement the sea-sonal pieces with honeycomb lanterns in the same color palette.

Love catching waves? Surf's up! Celebrate your love for the sport with mini surfboard ornaments. Have a look at this totally rad tree by @shawndaniels.1927. The vintage postcards, tiki décor, and tropical shirts give laidback vacation vibes.

A tropical theme with touches of pink and green is bound to get lots of oohs and aahs. Jennie Larsen of Craft-O-Maniac decorated a white Christmas tree with decorations that will get you in high spirits. She extended the theme to her table, where she placed pastel-colored drinks with flamingo decorative straws to go with flamingo print plates.

5. Weave Your DIY Ornament Magic

Complete your tree décor with personalized ornaments. The past year has been tough for everyone, but there were things that made it bearable. Some people turned to crafting, crochet, and baking. If you're one of them, it's time to put the skills you honed during quarantine to the test.

How about shaping and painting toilet paper tubes into colorful Christmas characters? If you have more time on your hands, make edible ornaments for your Christmas in July tree. Or knit decorations inspired by yours or your kids' favorite pastime—check out these Among Us-inspired cuties.

Here are more projects to try out:

DIY Ice Cream Sundae Ornaments & Waffle Cone Tree Skirt by Yami of The Latina Next Door
Nautical Decorations by Jennifer Perkins
Tissue Paper Ice Cream Cones, Rainbow Sprinkle-filled Ornaments & More by Krys of Melodrama

Get Creative with Your Christmas in July Party Menu

Now that you have your theme nailed down, plan a menu to match. There are a lot of traditional Christmas food and beverages that you can serve despite the warm weather. Plus, you can always make some summery tweaks to the recipe. Check out some ideas on what to serve for Christmas in July.

1. Drinks

Serve chilled eggnog or cocoa instead of hot cups. To spike the beverage, use coconut rum instead of cognac or brandy. We spotted this amazing Puerto Rican take on eggnog orcoquitoby Jessica of The Novice Chef.

For caffeine lovers, serve the phenomenal quarantine drink: dalgona coffee.

Start with a tablespoon each of these three ingredients: instant coffee, sugar, and hot water.
Mix them with an electric beater for about five minutes. If you're using an ordinary whisk instead, double or triple the time (and get a major wrist and arm workout!)
Serve the fluffy whipped coffee over a glass of iced milk.
To make it Christmassy, turn it into a whimsical tub for a gingerbread cookie.

2. Starters

Prepare soup and salad as appetizers for your holiday feast. This time, go for a soup that's best served cold like gazpacho. This recipe from Ali of Gimme Some Oven for Authentic Gazpacho has a distinct Spanish flavor. The key is to pick the freshest tomatoes, cucumbers, and other ingredients in the market.

It's time to put the summer greens growing in your garden to good use—toss with tropical fruits like mangoes for a refreshing twist. This recipe by Richa of My Food Story pairs your favorite grilled chicken salad with a sweet cilantro dressing that also acts as marinade. She used veggies like cucumber, avocado, and lettuce and spiced them up with peppers.

3. Main Course

Your Christmas in July menu is incomplete without a turkey. Since it's BBQ season, cook it on the grill instead of the oven. If you're picnicking on the lawn, a more casual option would be turkey burgers. Rachel of The Stay at Home Chef has a recipe that guarantees one juicy bite after another.

Another idea: assemble your own charcuterie board. These aesthetic platters became trendy because they're a breeze to prepare.

Put together cured meats and gourmet cheeses. Also, add crackers, nuts, and ready-to-eat fruits and veggies. Think outside the boxy cheeseboards and trays. Shape the smorgasbord of finger foods into a pine tree. It's Christmas (in July) after all!

4. Dessert

For dessert, an idea is stick to a traditional Christmas favorite: fruitcake. But, instead of the usual candied fruit and simple look, make a HUE-nique version. Get inspired by this rainbow cake recipe from Lindsay of Life Love Sugar. She used berries, kiwi, pineapples, and other fruits to add bursts of natural flavor and color to this cake.

What's great is that it looks picture-perfect even if you slice it up and serve it in separate plates for your guests. It's definitely not 'yo grandma's fruitcake, but it's the perfect Christmas in July dessert.

Have a Blast with Christmas in July Party Games

Why not plan some activities that the kids (and the big ones) can enjoy? Find one or two among these Christmas in July party game ideas and give it a whirl.

1. Pin the Nose on the "Snowman"

Instead of pinning the tail on the donkey, pin the carrot on a snowman—or should we say sandman? This is a great icebreaker if you're celebrating by the beach. Or if you splurged on a sandbox for the backyard during quarantine. Don't you want to build a snowman this Christmas in July?

2. White Elephant

Keep the holiday tradition of gift-giving alive. This game makes it more spontaneous. Bring a summer-themed present to the party like a beach towel or cute pool float. Pass around a hat with names so each person can draw their recipient randomly. Hold a separate game for the kids so that everyone receives age-appropriate gifts.

3. Wreath Toss

This classic Christmas game is usually done indoors. It's basically ring toss but with wreaths. Now that it's sunny outside, you can play it in your yard. Make sure to anchor your wooden post firmly to the ground. Use wreaths in the smallest size or create ones from upcycled materials. A good distance between the players and the post is six feet—a span of space everyone should be familiar with by now.

When the fun and games are over, play some Christmas music to keep things extra lively. You can go for a traditional playlist like this one on Spotify. Or if you play the ukulele, strum your own renditions of classic holiday tunes or modern summer hits.

We hope these Christmas in July party ideas help you throw an unforgettable house party. Share this post with friends and family who love the idea of having a merry one twice in a year!