Here are some cord-cutting party ideas for the holidays to keep you and your family entertained, from yule logs to slideshows to classic movies and shows.
The holidays are almost here, and for many people that means entertaining in their home. Televisions have become a focal point in many homes, and when you're entertaining guests, they are often powered off. Rather than leaving a big blank space in the living room, why not use your TV as a centerpiece for your holiday party? We've got a few ideas for you.
Fireplace videos
Don’t have a fireplace in your home? Your TV will make a great replacement. A warm fire is a tradition for many, and we have a selection of HD fire streams with and without holiday music. These are a perfect backdrop for wrapping, opening presents, or talking with family.
- The Merry Yule Log, with music, from Amazon Prime Instant Video
- Fireplace for your Home presents Crackling Fireplace, without music, again from Amazon Prime Instant Video
- A Christmas Fireplace brought to you by Hulu
- A Fireplace For Your Home With Music from Netflix
- 100 minutes Best Christmas music 2015 + Best Full HD Fireplace on YouTube
- Nick Offerman’s ‘Yule Log’, also on YouTube
- Five hours of Yule Log Darth Vader via YouTube for the Star Wars geeks, though it may not be suitable for young children or those lacking a good sense of humor.
Music
Music is also a great option for holiday TV use. With Pandora and Spotify available on many TVs, and boxes like Roku and Fire TV, you have a large catalog of wonderful holiday music available at your fingertips for your party.
You can also use YouTube Red, the ad free version of YouTube, to create a playlist of Christmas music videos that can be played through your Roku, Fire TV, etc.
Slideshows
Do you think a slide show would be perfect for your party?
Roku, Apple TV, and the Fire TV all have excellent photo slide show options. Roku has a great Android and iOS app that can take photos from your phone and tablet and play them on your TV. The Fire TV also allows you to upload photos to your Amazon account and play them back through your Fire TV.
Create a slide show to recap everything that happened this year, or show off classic family photos for your whole family to enjoy at your party.
Classic holiday favorites
You may also want to consider streaming a classic holiday family favorite as the backdrop for your holiday gathering. The following list includes a few of our favorite classic holiday specials.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
This year ABC has made the 1963 Peanuts classic A Charlie Brown Christmas free on their Website. You no longer have to buy it online or wait for it to be shown over the air; you can watch this special whenever you want (also available through the WatchABC app on Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV).
A Garfield Christmas
This family classic is now available on Amazon Video. It really is a good, old-fashioned Christmas down on the farm… and it’s true that a little overeating never did you any harm.
The Best of Andy Williams Christmas Shows
Andy Williams touched the hearts of millions worldwide. In this three-program series, experience a collection of unforgettable performances from Andy’s Emmy Award-winning television series, Andy’s favorite duets with a spectacular array of stars, and the best of Andy’s famous Christmas shows.
The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
The Mayor of Evergreen dismisses magic as nonsense, but when Frosty the Snowman blows through town, he shows the local children that magic is real.
The All-Star Christmas Show
This Christmas Special is packed full of comedy and music from 50 incredible classic stars like Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. This hit of Christmas nostalgia brings it all back again.
New Year’s Eve ideas
For the kids:
Want your kids to go to bed early on New Year’s Eve, but they want to see the ball drop? Netflix and YouTube have you covered.
Netflix is offering its own ball drop special just for kids. Every year Netflix has a different on demand children's ball drop which they don’t post until around the 28th of December. Last year it was a three minute segment titled King Julian's New Year’s Countdown. Keep your eye out for news regarding a link to Netflix’ great way to trick your kids into going to bed early on New Year’s Eve.
If your kids aren't tricked by Netflix’s ball drop, YouTube has you covered with last year’s New York ball drop in great HD.
For the grown-ups:
If you want to host a New Year’s Eve party to watch the ball drop with family and friends, you can do so using an antenna. No need to pay on average $100 a month and agree to a two year cable contract just to watch the ball drop. With an antenna, most people can receive Fox, NBC, ABC, and CBS in great HD quality, bringing you the best of the New Year’s Eve parties.
Additionaly, the official site of Times Square, Ustream, and EarthCam will be in NYC to provide live webcast coverage of the evening's festivities leading up to midnight when the ball drops.
No matter what you do for your holiday gathering, remember to take advantage of your TV to bring one more fun element to your party. Your television can be a delightful addition to the party atmosphere as you entertain family and friends this Holiday Season.
Do you have suggestions on ways to use your TV during your party? Post them in the comments so everyone can see your ideas.
