5 Ways to Make Your Family's Holiday Gatherings More Entertaining

The holiday season is a time of cherished traditions, and at the heart of it all is the family dinner. It’s a chance to gather your loved ones around a single table, to share in a delicious meal, and to reconnect. But sometimes, these high-stakes gatherings can feel a bit formal, stuffy, or fall into a lull of awkward silences.

A truly memorable gathering is about more than just the food on the table; it’s about the laughter, the stories, and the connections we make. For the adults in the family, a great way to extend the celebration after the meal is to create a special "after-dinner lounge" on the patio. This can be a relaxed space with a good drink and a selection of fine cigars for those who enjoy them. It’s a classic way to slow down and savor the moment.

But the fun can start long before the dessert is served. Here are some simple, creative ideas to make your next holiday meal more interactive and entertaining for everyone.

1- Use "Conversation Starter" Place Cards

This is a simple, low-cost idea that is a powerful icebreaker. Instead of just writing a name on your place cards, add a fun, lighthearted, and open-ended question to each one.

• "What's the best gift you have ever received?"

• "What was your favorite holiday memory from your childhood?"

• "If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?"

At some point during the meal, you can go around the table and have everyone answer the question on their card. It’s a fantastic, low-pressure way to spark fun conversations and to learn something new about your family members.

2- Create a Photo Booth Corner

A DIY photo booth is an incredibly fun and interactive activity that also creates a wonderful, visual record of your gathering. You don't need to rent an expensive machine.

Simply hang a festive backdrop in a corner of your living room—this could be a glittery sheet, a string of lights, or even just a blank wall. Then, fill a basket with a collection of silly, festive props: Santa hats, reindeer antlers, goofy glasses, and fun signs. Your guests can use their own smartphones to take fun, informal group photos throughout the evening.

3- Play a Tasting Game

Turn the food or the drinks themselves into a fun and low-stakes game. A "blind tasting" is a great way to get your guests to engage with what they are eating in a new and mindful way.

For the adults, you could do a blind wine or a beer tasting. Pour three different, but similar, types of wine and have your guests try to guess which is which. To include the entire group, you could do a "holiday cookie" tasting. Bake or buy a few different types of cookies and have your guests try to guess the secret ingredient in each one. This is a fun, sensory activity that gets everyone talking.

4- Have a Family Story Swap

The holidays are a time of tradition and remembrance. A beautiful way to honor this is to have an informal "story swap." At some point during the dinner, the host can prompt each family member to share one happy memory about a grandparent or a favorite story from a past family holiday. This is a powerful way to connect the different generations at the table, to pass down family history, and to remember the loved ones who are no longer with us in a joyful and positive way.

5- Create a Collaborative "Thankful" Centerpiece

This is a wonderful and interactive activity, especially for a Thanksgiving dinner. Place a simple, branchy centerpiece on the table. Then, set out a small jar of pens and a stack of paper leaves or simple tags with a string attached.

Throughout the meal, you can invite your guests to write down one or two things they are grateful for from the past year and to hang their tags on the "thankful tree." At the end of the meal, you can have a few people read some of the tags aloud.

The most memorable holiday meals are the ones that are filled with laughter, connection, and a sense of shared joy. By incorporating a few of these simple, interactive ideas, you can turn a standard family dinner into a fun, engaging, and truly unforgettable holiday tradition.