An ugly sweater party is one of the easiest December themes to sell. Guests already know what to wear, the outfits make for great photos and the theme gives friends a reason to come as a group. National Ugly Sweater Day falls on Friday, December 18, 2026, which makes that weekend a natural fit.
Here are 10 ideas to help your ugly sweater event fill the room.
Pick the date and set up the page
- Pick a date in the sweater window. Friday, December 18 lines up with National Ugly Sweater Day, and Saturday, December 19 catches guests who are home for the holidays. If your crowd travels early, the weekend before (December 11 and 12) is a good alternative. Check what else is happening in your scene that week so you're not splitting the same crowd.
- Put the theme where people look first. Use "Ugly Sweater" in the event title and in the first line of the description, so the theme is clear in a feed or a group chat. Then cover the details guests ask about: music, performers, start and end times and entry (Create an Event). How to Write an Event Description That Sells has a template you can copy.
- Keep the sweater optional at the door. Say in the description that sweaters are encouraged and everyone gets in either way. Guests who can't find one still buy a ticket, and your door team doesn't have to turn anyone away over an outfit.
- Get ready for the cold. Guests will arrive in layers and heat up once the room fills. Set up a coat check or a coat rack, mention it in the description and make sure the room can be cooled once the dance floor gets going. Winter Event Checklist has more cold-weather tips.
Sell to groups
- Add a group ticket option. Ugly sweater parties are group outings, so make it easy for one person to buy for their friends. Create a ticket option such as "Sweater Crew (4 tickets)" with a minimum per order of four, and set a maximum per order on your other options so no one buys up the room (Create Ticket Options). Match the description to exactly what the ticket includes.
- Give crews a code. If an office team or a friend group is coming together, give the person rounding up that crew their own promo code with a maximum number of uses that fits the group. You can track how specific groups are buying tickets and see which promotions perform best (Create a Promotion). How to Use Promo Codes for Your Party covers how to keep codes from getting out of hand.
Make it worth showing up for
- Run a sweater contest. Pick two or three categories, such as Ugliest Sweater, Best Group Look and Best Homemade Sweater, and announce them on the event page so guests can pick their outfits. Choose judges and a time for the winners, and tell your DJ so the music drops for a minute. Offer a prize you control, like free entry to your next event using a promo code with one use and an end date.
- Build a photo spot and a playlist that fits. Set up a well-lit corner with a simple backdrop so guests can get group shots in their sweaters. Ask your DJ for a holiday set early and the regular sound once the room is full. Event Photography Checklist and How to Plan Set Times for Your Party can help.
Remind and follow up
- Remind guests with a poll and a day-of text. A few days out, send a post to your guests with a poll, such as which contest category they're entering (Create a Post). On the day, send a short text blast with the start time, the coat check and a reminder to wear the sweater (Send a Text Blast).
- Follow up the next day and announce what's next. Post the contest winners and a few photos to your guests the next day, and ask them to follow your community so they hear about your next event first (Create a Community). If you're throwing a New Year's Eve event, this is the crowd to tell first. 10 Things to Do the Day After Your Event has the full list, and Slow January? 10 Event Ideas has ideas for what comes after.
Ugly sweater party checklist
- Date picked: December 18 or 19, or the weekend before.
- "Ugly Sweater" in the title and the first line of the description.
- Sweaters encouraged and optional at the door.
- Coat check or coat rack, and a way to cool the room.
- Group ticket option with a minimum per order.
- Capped promo codes for crews.
- Contest categories, judges and a prize you control.
- Photo spot and a holiday set early.
- Poll a few days out and a text blast on the day.
- Winners, photos and your next event announced the day after.
Ready to throw yours? Create your event on Beatmatch and start selling before December gets busy.
