{"id":8204,"date":"2017-08-08T06:00:53","date_gmt":"2017-08-08T10:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/?p=8204"},"modified":"2023-02-10T14:00:26","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T19:00:26","slug":"3-seriously-silly-gift-exchange-game-ideas-large-groups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/08\/3-seriously-silly-gift-exchange-game-ideas-large-groups\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Seriously Silly Gift Exchange Games for Large Groups"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Silliness is sure to ensue at large group gift exchanges | Image courtesy Etsy seller ParagonPapersCo<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I opened my front door and warmly greeted John Travolta\u2014straight out of Hairspray<\/i> John Travolta. He entered the room, saying hello to Grease<\/i>-era John Travolta, Saturday Night Fever<\/i> John Travolta, and, of course, the angelic Michael <\/i>John Travolta before heading for the chips and dip.<\/p>\n

I love throwing silly parties, and the John Travolta Halloween party I hosted a few years back is now infamous amongst my friends (seeing that many people in one room dressed as the same person was more than a little eerie). We even played a game of Travolta charades that was one of the most confusing, but hysterically funny moments of my life, the winner receiving a thrifted black leather jacket Danny Zuko himself would be proud to wear.<\/p>\n

Make your next party one that will outlive even the Facebook photos by combining a gift swap with a silly party game that will get grown-ups and kids alike to break out of their shells and let loose, whether you\u2019re looking for gift exchange ideas for your big family reunion<\/a> or planning a company picnic for your office<\/a>. Because really, when you\u2019re surrounded by a room full of Travoltas trying to act out scenes fromWelcome Back Kotter<\/i>, it\u2019s pretty much impossible to feel shy. Here are my three favorite gift exchange game ideas for large groups (Travolta costumes optional).<\/p>\n

Pizza Swap Dinner Party: A Large Group White Elephant Gift Exchange Game<\/h4>\n

Heaps of mozzarella cheese, a sea of marinara, and dozens of rounds of fresh, sticky dough: the DIY pizza bar at my friend Roberta\u2019s 13th birthday party was such a hit, it made it impossible for me to extricate \u201cpizza\u201d from \u201cparty\u201d in my mind well into adulthood. These days, even when I host a fancy dinner party, I\u2019ll usually still make some sort of flatbread pizza as an appetizer.<\/p>\n

Get into the silly spirit of those old middle school celebrations by hosting a White Elephant Pizza Swap Dinner Party, an easy idea for a large group gift exchanging game. Not only will your guests get to eat pizza, but you, the usually harried host, can spend more time with your friends and less time serving up dinner.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the game plan:<\/p>\n

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You\u2019ll need a pizza balloon, obviously | Image courtesy Etsy seller LoveGarlands<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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  1. Invite friends to your party, instructing each person to bring a personal-sized pizza with any combination of toppings they like.<\/li>\n
  2. Set the closed pizza boxes on a table in the center of the room.<\/li>\n
  3. Have your guests draw numbers from a hat (there should be as many numbers as there are guests), then stand in a big circle around the table of pizza.<\/li>\n
  4. The person who draws \u201cone\u201d gets to choose a box of pizza from the table, look inside to see what type it is, and tell the group. The person who draws the \u201ctwo\u201d then chooses a box of pizza from the table, peeks inside, and can decide if they want to keep the pizza they chose, or take the pizza from the first player. The game continues on, with each person selecting a pizza, announcing what toppings it has, then deciding to keep that pizza or to swap with someone who has already taken their turn.<\/li>\n
  5. At the end of the game, the first player gets to make the final decision to keep or swap their pizza\u2014then it\u2019s time to eat! Bon appetit!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    You\u2019d be surprised at how hilariously competitive adults can get about something as simple as pizza toppings, but when the stakes are as high as anchovy and pineapple vs chicken and basil, things can get heated. It\u2019s a goofy way to get a big group of people to interact with one another\u2014and making sure all of your guests are fed will never be more fun.<\/p>\n

    Party pro tip: Stock up on a couple of plain cheese or pepperoni pies before the party so if anyone doesn\u2019t find their ultimate prize appetizing, they don\u2019t have to go home hungry.<\/p>\n

    Throw a Funny Holiday Gift Exchange for a Large Group of Your Silliest Friends<\/h4>\n

    \u201cIt\u2019s the mooooost wonderful tiiiime of the yearrrrr,\u201d I sang out, basking in the spring sunlight as I set my art supplies up on the table. Some people go nuts for Christmas, others wait all year for their 4th of July BBQ. Me? I live for the excitement of April\u2019s Draw a Bird Day, the novelty holiday where you, well, draw birds.<\/p>\n

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    Draw a Bird Day comes but once a year | Image courtesy Etsy seller BIRDADAY<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    It all started in college when my best friend and I started holding impromptu surprise parties for our friends when they got home from class. We discovered Draw a Bird Day, spent a few hours sketching and painting various feathered creatures, and a tradition was born. It\u2019s something we celebrate to this day, turning me into a big advocate of celebrating silly holidays.<\/p>\n

    Even better? Organize a playful gift swap in honor of the next silly holiday on the calendar. Start a gift exchange online<\/a>, then you and your friends can register to create wish lists<\/a> of items that fit the holiday\u2019s theme. It\u2019s a great opportunity to swap gag gifts and conversation-starting knick knacks.<\/p>\n

    You could also mix up your gift swap by playing a game. Write out a list of rules like \u201cswap gifts with the tallest person in the group,\u201d \u201cexchange presents with the person to your right,\u201d or \u201ckeep your gift this round.\u201d It\u2019s extra fun if you throw in a few that somehow relate to the theme of the party as well, like:<\/p>\n

    Draw a Bird Day Rules (April 8th):<\/b><\/p>\n