How to Host a Winter Olympics Watch Party
When the Olympics come around I cancel all my plans and schedule my days around watching figure skating, curling, and bobsledding. The winter Olympics happen every four years, and the 2022 games in Beijing will take place in just a few days.
If you're feeling like you just watched the summer Olympics, you're not crazy. The 2020 summer games were rescheduled to the summer of 2021 because of the pandemic, so they happened just a few months ago. But the 2022 winter Olympics is happening right on schedule—which means for the first time ever, we get to watch the Olympics in back-to-back years.
The 2022 Winter Olympics will begin on Friday, February 4, 2022, and run through Sunday, February 20, 2022. I'm so excited about it, I've already planned several watch parties for myself and a small handful of friends. If you're an Olympics fan too (or simply just looking for a reason to be excited about snow), host your own watch party!
Invite a few pals over to cheer on team USA, and maybe even compete in a few at-home games of your own. Here's everything you'll need to throw the ultimate Olympics watch party.
Set the Scene
Hold your own opening ceremonies for your party guests! Hang a patterned Olympic backdrop ($10, Amazon) in the party area to welcome everyone, then set out a faux Olympic torch ($4, Party City) and other themed props so guests can use the area as a photo booth throughout the party.
Start Streaming
The most important thing to have at your gathering is a way to actually watch the events. Consider setting up a large screen at your party so everyone can see. If you're in the market for a new television, order a 50-inch Smart TV ($399, Best Buy), or if it's nice out, set up a backyard movie screen and use a projector to watch the games outdoors. You can watch the opening ceremonies as well as all of the events on NBC, NBCOlympics.com, or the NBC Sports app.
Gold Medal-Worthy Snacks
We love an excuse to go all out, so we'll be rooting for team USA while snacking on flag-themed snacks. Make this delicious berry-topped flag cake, or prepare a red, white, and blue snack board for your guests.
Related: 40+ Red, White, and Blue Desserts to Try
Host Your Own Games
Who says the competitions have to be left to the pros? While you're waiting for the next event to start, host a few games of your own! Hand out red, white, and blue sweat bands ($10, Amazon) and assemble into teams to play a few Olympic-inspired games of your own. Tabletop curling ($17, Walmart) is a great indoor option (no ice required!), or bundle up to play outdoor games like cornhole or bocce ball.
Make Patriotic Cocktails
We've got plenty of red, white, and blue cocktail recipes to help you keep the drink bar on-theme. If you're hosting an adults-only gathering, serve these festive USA-inspired shooters, or mix up vanilla milkshakes and top them with red and blue sprinkles for a family-friendly treat.
Host a Medal Ceremony
Everyone's a winner at this party! Queue up the National Anthem on your bluetooth speaker ($50, Walmart) and call guests up to a makeshift podium one by one to award them a gold, silver, or bronze medals ($13 for 12, Amazon) as a party favor.
