15th • UGLY SWEATER DAY

Ugly Christmas Sweater Day (December 15) celebrates the fun of wearing tacky, festive sweaters with over-the-top designs. Ugly Christmas sweaters became popular in the 1980s but gained holiday fame in the early 2000s as people embraced the humor of these often flamboyant, over-the-top garments.

  1. DESIGN YOUR OWN UGLY SWEATER: Provide plain t-shirts and fabric markers, felt, and holiday trinkets for kids to design their own “ugly” sweaters without needing actual sweaters. Let them go wild with holiday-themed creations!

  2. UGLY SWEATER FASHION SHOW: Let kids model their sweaters and strut down a “runway” (a hallway or living room floor). They can get creative with silly poses and holiday music, adding to the festive fun. You can ask each child to narrate the unique things about their design. You could also easily make this a contest with prizes.

  3. SWEATER CRAFT STATION: Set up a craft station with tiny sweater templates on card stock. Encourage kids to decorate them as creatively (or tackily) as possible. These can be turned into ornaments for the tree!

  4. UGLY SWEATER FAMILY PHOTOS: Take silly family photos wearing ugly sweaters in front of a holiday-themed backdrop. These can become fun keepsakes or holiday cards for friends and family.

  5. UGLY SWEATER RELAY RACE: Create a goofy relay race where kids have to put on oversized holiday sweaters, run to a point, and then switch with a teammate. It’s a silly, active game that’s sure to get everyone laughing. This makes a nice addition to any Ugly Sweater Party.

Mary Mayxmas activity ideas