Spread the holiday cheer this year with these festive Christmas costume ideas! These ideas range from simple to more complicated costumes, but you are sure to find an idea for everyone in the family! From kids costumes to couple ideas, these cheerful Christmas costume ideas will make you the life of the holiday party.
Where to Wear a Christmas Costume
I know that costumes are usually for Halloween, but costumes can actually make any party better! When the holidays roll around, there are lots of opportunities to where some creative costumes. Any of these costumes would take these get togethers up a level:
- Christmas Party
- Ugly Sweater Party
- Christmas Movie Night
- School Event
- Office Party
- Christmas Parade
Christmas Costume Ideas to Try
Here’s our favorite Christmas costumes we’ve seen for whatever the holiday occasion calls for, kids and adults alike!
Nutcracker
Are you a fan of “The Nutcracker”? If so, you can dress up like the Christmas classic in just a few simple steps with simply adorned details made of felt. This costume is perfect for kids and adults alike!
Photo source and idea from Primary.com
Gingerbread House
There is nothing more festive than a gingerbread house! You can make a simple gingerbread house costume like this from cardboard and just a few other supplies. Don’t forget to add Santa going down the chimney!
Photo source and idea from @reel_chameleon
Elf on the Shelf
This adorable elf costume is super easy to make and wonderful for kids! Especially if they have their own Elf on the Shelf, they will love to dress up just like it!
Photo source and idea from See Kate Sew
Christmas Tree
If you are ready to go all out with your Christmas costume, this is the one for you. You can make your own Christmas tree costume adorned with lights and even some ornaments!
Photo source and idea from @studio.grotesque
Hot Chocolate Costume
Turn simple foam rollers into a DIY hot chocolate costume! This works great as a solo costume for adults or children, or can be turned into a couples costume with someone bundled up in winter clothes ready for their hot cocoa!
Buddy the Elf
If you are a fan of the movie “Elf”, you have to make a classic Buddy The Elf costume! As a couples idea, you can also dress up as Jovie. This makes for a funny and festive Christmas costume idea that everyone will love!
Photo source and idea from Moms Without Answers
Sugar Plum Fairy
A sugar plum fairy is adorable for kids who want to dress up with a sparkly purple dress and beautiful wings! So many kids love any excuse to dress up like a fairy. Plus, this costume is simple to make right at home!
Photo source and idea from Elestory
Olaf the Snowman
I am a huge fan of the movie “Frozen”, and the winter theme just gives all of the Christmas vibes! Instead of dressing up as a plain old snowman, definitely dress up like Olaf this year.
Photo source and idea from All for the Boys
Elsa Costume
If you dress up as Olaf, have one of your children dress up as Elsa! The wintery snowflakes and light blue dress are absolutely perfect for Christmas celebrations.
Photo source and idea from A Pumpkin and a Princess
A Christmas Story
This is a unique costume idea that only the adults in the room will understand! “A Christmas Story” is a classic Christmas movie that makes for some amusing and adorable Christmas costumes.
Photo source and idea from @outfithhouse
DIY Tree Wigs
These vintage DIY Christmas wigs are everything! You can make it entirely your own and pair the colors with your favorite dress. This would be especially fun to do with a friend!
Photo source and idea from @samswhurld
Gingerbread Girl
This gingerbread girl costume, adorned with candy inspired accessories, is easy to make and the epitome of the holidays!
Photo source and idea from Costume Works
Christmas Present Costume
A Christmas present wrapped in vibrant colored paper and topped off with a bow can become the cutest Christmas costume! I think this idea is suitable for both kids and adults. The whole family could even show up as an assortment of presents!
Photo source and idea from Mommy Peach
Nightmare Before Christmas
Some people might argue that “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Halloween movie, but it is also a Christmas movie if you ask me! Embrace the Santa version of Jack and you have yourself the best Christmas costume!
Photo source and idea from @magicaltourguide
The Grinch and Martha May Whovier
Martha May Whovier and the Grinch is the cutest couples costume idea! The Grinch might take more effort since it involves makeup, but Martha May is a simple and elegant costume idea for Christmas.
Photo source and idea by The Darling Life
Mean Girls
This Christmas costume is based on the movie “Mean Girls”, when the main characters dress up as Santa’s helpers for a talent show! Super simple to put together, and everyone who knows the movie will love this costume idea!
Photo source and idea from @tory.hatcher
Woodland Deer and Lumberjack Couples Costume
These Christmas costume ideas for a couple (and even a pet!) are especially fun if you know how to do makeup! But even if you don’t, using some deer antlers on top will show everyone exactly what you are!
Photo source and idea from The Sugared Lemon
Christmas Candy Cane
One of the most beautiful Christmas costume ideas out there, and Katy Perry is modeling it perfectly. This costume gets me right into the Christmas spirit, it is just so creative! She even has the sprig of mistletoe on top of the candy cane as a finishing touch!
Photo source and idea from @katyperry
Paper Snowflakes
Technically, this isn’t a costume, but it can easily be transformed into one! Learn how to make giant snowflake cut outs and the possibilities for winter-themed costumes are endless!
Photo source and idea from Oh Happy Day
Lock Shock and Barrel Costumes
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a holiday classic, both during Halloween and Christmas! Lock, Shock and Barrel are the cutest and most mischievous characters in the movie! This is perfect for when you have a trio that needs to get costumed-up.
Santa Claus
We can’t leave out the most important and iconic Christmas costume of all: Santa Claus! Luckily you can find the components to all of this costume online, or make one with some craft supplies!
Photo source and idea from @humansofny
More Christmas Party Ideas
- Christmas Hot Chocolate Board
- Ugly Christmas Sweater Cake
- Christmas Ornament Exchange
- Holiday Movie Night Ideas
- Neighborhood Holiday Scavenger Hunt
With all of these Christmas costume ideas, you are bound to have a great time at all of your holiday parties and neighborhood get togethers!
Indya | The Small Adventurer says
These are so great, and as a super-Christmas lover, I would DEFINITELY be the person to rock up in a Christmas costume 😂 As a lover of hot chocolates (like, *too* much), I’m heavily learning towards that costume, but part of me wants to rock up somewhere super casual dressed up to the nines as a Christmas tree! No one would forget, that’s for sure 🙌