How to Have The Most Festive ‘Santa Clauses’ Viewing Party
Get into the spirit with this guide to Disney+’s new series.
If there’s one thing Disney is good at it’s nostalgia (OK, let’s be real they’re good at most things, but they’re really good at nostalgia). Allowing kids who grew up watching classic movies, like The Santa Clause, to relive the magic as adults with new stories featuring the same beloved characters is one of the reasons why we love Disney so much.
Sure, it might be more meaningful if you watched a show as a kid and you can show it to your own kid now, but we’re not talking about that right now. We’re talking about an adults-only, friends and family viewing party with all the food, booze, and comfy clothes you could want.
That’s exactly how we’ll be viewing the first two episodes of The Santa Clauses, which premieres on November 16 on Disney+. And I don’t even want to hear that November 16 is too early for a Christmas show, it’s not.
Below you’ll find our guide to hosting the ultimate Santa Clauses viewing party — complete with themed cocktails, snacks, and, of course, attire.
What Is The Santa Clauses?
First and foremost, if you’ve been living under a rock, you might not know what The Santa Clauses actually is. Here’s a brief synopsis (mostly because that’s all we know about it too, Disney is so tight-lipped).
The Santa Clauses is a limited series following the events of The Santa Clause (and its subsequent three films). If you don’t know what The Santa Clause is, sorry, we can’t help you.
Scott Calvin and his family are back in what's deemed to be “nearly 30 years” after taking on the role of Santa Claus — that would mean this series is set in present day nearly 30 years after the first movie, which came out in 1994.
After years as Santa Claus, Scott decides he wants to retire and live a normal, non-Santa life. Kids have stopped believing in Santa (isn’t that the premise of every Christmas movie?) and Scott just wants to spend Christmas with his family.
However, after he leaves, crazy things start happening at the North Pole, which Scott will presumably have to fix.
Hmmm this feels like it’s happened before. No matter, we’re just happy to see Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell back in their roles.
How To Host a Santa Clauses Viewing Party
Now that you know what to expect from the series, which is believed to be six episodes long, how can you host the best, most festive viewing party ever?
The Attire
It’s all about being snuggly and cozy for watching this show — it’s Christmas after all! Grab your most comfortable pair of PJ’s, some fuzzy socks, and your favorite comfy blanket and you’re all set.
Here are just a few of our favorite options that range from festive fun to comfort for the whole family:
Disney Christmas Pajama Sets ($30-$40)
Long Sleeve Christmas Pajama Sets ($20-40)
Adult Onesie Pajamas ($17-34)
Santa Claus Onesie ($34)
The Drinks
Every watch party needs a delicious set of drinks to go along with it! Here’s what we suggest:
Hot Chocolate
Duh, Santa loves hot chocolate and so do we. Warm up with a big mug of hot cocoa inspired by Judy’s famous hot cocoa in the movies.
Get the recipe: Judy’s Hot Cocoa
Or you can take it one step further and turn your hot chocolate into a martini! This frozen concoction will certainly have everyone feeling merry and bright.
Get the recipe: Frozen Hot Chocolate Martinis
Milkshakes
If you really want to wow your guests, you can serve up creamy milkshakes (spiked or non-spiked wink wink).
Get the recipe: Cookie Butter Milkshake
Pro tip: add whipped cream vodka for a boozy shake.
Wine
You really can’t go wrong with serving wine at a festive watch party. Because your menu will mostly consist of chocolate, opt for a red wine like Pinot Noir, Merlot, or even a Cabernet Sauvignon for the best flavor pairings.
The Food
Everyone knows we come to the watch party for the smörgåsbord of food. Because we’re in the holiday spirit, it’s all about the sweets. This is what's on our menu:
Cookies
Who doesn’t want to indulge in a Christmas cookie or two (or ten) while watching their favorite Santa Claus up on the screen. Use your favorite Christmas cookie recipes or try our new ones!
Get the recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Get the recipe: Orange Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brownies
We love anything chocolatey and decadent — like brownies. Sure, you could use a box mix, or you could use our recipe, which includes two types of chocolate chips, cocoa powder, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon.
Get the recipe: Mexican Spiced Hot “COCO” Brownies
Candy
And, of course, because candy is one of the main elf food groups (sorry, we’re quoting across brands now), a little candy never hurts. Pick up some chocolate, candy canes, and whatever your heart desires for a sweet viewing snack.
Charcuterie Board
Because why not? Every party is better with a charcuterie board. Whether that’s a sweet charcuterie board or savory is up to you. Or, why not have both?
For a sweet board, you can use everything listed above and lay it out onto a beautifully designed charcuterie board. Fill in the gaps with other snacks, like pretzels and graham crackers, or fruit and add some festive dips, like Nutella, fruit dip, and frosting.
For a savory board, keep it traditional. Grab your favorite cheese, meat, nuts, and vegetables. Have fun with the design — build it in the shape of a Christmas tree or use cookie cutters to give your brie and cheese wheels fun shapes.