Share your tips for staying in this festive season - chance to win Lidl vouchers NOW CLOSED

[EmmaMumsnet]

We know there's still 4 months to go but if you can bear to think that far ahead, we'd love you to share your tips for getting the family together and throwing a great value festive party – in winter!

Lidl would love to know how your end of the year party plans changed once children came on the scene. Perhaps your crazy nights out for NYE went out the window the moment you became a parent (or maybe you're working to a slightly tighter budget!). Whatever the occasion, we'd love to hear about all the new winter traditions you’ve created to have fun at home with the family. Perhaps you have some genius recipes for easy, kid-friendly party food – or maybe you’ve perfected a signature non-alcoholic cocktail so the kids can join in with a New Year’s toast. And of course, we’d love to hear your top family-friendly party games – how do you and the kids like to celebrate?

Share your great value party ideas, tips and recipes below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where you could win one of five £50 vouchers.

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ

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planning. give everybody small jobs. plan things for outside if possibe, but plan plenty of quiet time as well

I hate parties that seem too formal, so we tend to just do a buffet-style gathering with lots of food people can pick at .. combined with lots of lovely drinks, including my xmas must-haves... Baileys, Spiced Rum or Mulled Wine.

We try to theme it - food, decorations, games on a particular theme (eg Italy). Parties are not massive events now we have kids and so they are more family friendly, but still just as much fun although they tend to end earlier!

We all get together between Christmas and New Year to help break up that strange week after Boxing Day.

I always host a winters get together for family. We have baked potatoes and huge saucepans of curry or chilli. Other family members bring salads and desserts. We have quizzes stuck on the walls for all ages and lots of games.Mulled wine etc for the adults and fruit punch for the children. We save sparklers from Bonfire night and have them in the garden.

Invite people over for an informal drink and nibbles, get some party games on and plenty of drink. I try not to be too formal as I think informal is more relaxed and people don't expect too much!

Since having my little boy we tend to party with family or have people over for drinks and nibbles

The last time we went out for NYE was before we had kids so we always host a dinner party at home now for friends and family in the same situation. We hold it early enough for the kids to get involved and then when (or if) they fall asleep, us adults can continue into the small hours. I freeze wine in an ice cube tray along with water with sprigs of mint - these are perfect for cocktails. I cook the food the morning before and make sure everything is ready.

I like to spend a day or evening decorating, doing it slowly while drinking gluhwvine (sp?) And eating lebucuchen (sp?). - letting the kids help and then rearranging it all when they're in bed!

Lots of film days when it's wet and grim, snuggle up with hot chocolate and watch Christmas films.

Xmas eve, we usually have plans to go out during the day then everyone back for dinner. Last year we had an Indian takeaway which was ok but not quite right, this year I'm thinking of trying a bring a dish buffet and see how that goes. In the evening we usually host a few favourite neighbours and drinks, nibbles and raucous singing at some point!

We get the whole extended family together so the kids can entertain each other so us adults can sit back, eat, drink and be merry!

Lots of friends over late afternoon for dinner, party games and chat. Party is over by 9pm and we all head to bed but lovely to feel we're still celebrating and socialising!

We love making snowflakes, random patterns cut out of white paper, peppered with glitter and sequins, we hang them from the window with white cotton, this sets the scene for waiting for the big man, and means that there will be enough snow for him. It is an exciting season, that does not need to cost the earth, it's family time, which should be spent together x

Keep it simple and don't waste time on family you don't really like

all that fun stopped as soon as we had kids!

I think if everyone is determined to create a special occasion then it will be. Smother the place in fairy lights, get a good playlist on, have a good selection of nibbles. And my favourite suggestion would be to invest a few pounds in a cheap and cheerful disco light, they're fantastic!

we divide the cooking between friends, get out loads of nibbles and drinks and some good music, everyone helps clear up and we take turns hosting each year and is something that we all look forward to.

We had a wine and poker night at home with all our coupled up friends - it was a blast! Plus we have a long terrace which is perfect for having drinks on when the weather is good.

IT'S FUCKING AUGUST!

We play lots of card & board games

A lovely long walk wrapped up warm then home for crumpets toasted on the fire, home made hot hoc and a slice of festive salted caramel gingerbread cake. House lit by candles and fairy lights. No pressure, no fuss just good company and good food. I love Christmas!!

Plan ahead and buy decorations/goody bag items just after christmas holidays for savings and discounts

We like to host a pre-Christmas party with Christmassy food (turkey, stuffing and cranberry sandwiches, mince pies, stollen etc) and music, a 'real fire' showing on the tv and enough alcohol to allow the grown ups to not care what the children are up to.

spend time with the family, food, games a wee tipple. but seems a bit early in August to be thinking about it?

We just go and stay over with may parents. DH and my dad fall asleep. Me and mum watch Hootenanny and make cynical remarks. PAAARRRRTAYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love nye in, we did it even before the kids, just had our own music, some drinks, nice snacky food and jools!

Get all of the old board games out, and all of the old xmas films like Home Alone, Gremlins, and Babes in Toyland