Ideas for an Ugly Sweater Party

The premise of an ugly sweater party is simple: ask your guests to locate and wear the ugliest sweaters they can find. Some may have them tucked into the back of their closets, while others may raid a thrift store. Set the mood with decorations, food, drinks and entertainment that fit the quirky theme.

Decorations

When it comes to decorating for an ugly sweater party, think tacky. Hit your local dollar store or thrift store, and look for plates, wall hangings and napkins with snowmen, Santa Claus or elves (if your party is around the holidays), or gaudy patterns. Don’t worry about matching; in fact, clashing colors and patterns will complement the theme nicely. Find a patterned tablecloth for your food table and some knickknacks to place around your house.

Food

Comfort food is the way to go for your ugly sweater party, especially classic comfort party food. Swedish meatballs, homemade macaroni and cheese or a slow-cooker of chili are a few examples. If you have vegetarians attending, make the chili vegetarian. Use mugs to serve the chili, and have shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream on hand for guests to add to it. Have a few snacks on hand as well, such as chips and dip or pita chips and hummus for guests looking for something lighter.

Dessert and Drinks

For dessert, chocolate chip cookies and gingerbread men are easy to make and serve. Have different colors of icing, sprinkles and cinnamon candies on hand for guests to decorate the gingerbread men with ugly sweaters of their own. Hot chocolate, coffee, tea, hot cider and hot mulled wine are festive beverage options.

Entertainment

Have a few prizes on hand for your games. Snowman salt and pepper shakers, hand towels or other small, silly items are a few examples. Give prizes for the ugliest ugly sweater and the prettiest ugly sweater. Think of other categories for prizes, such as most snowmen on a sweater. If gingerbread cookies are on the menu, give a prize for the best-decorated cookie.