Christmas Spin Wheel Ideas: Secret Santa & Holiday Fun

Use It for Secret Santa (And Make It Way More Fun)

Secret Santa is already fun, but adding a Secret Santa wheel (or any spin wheel) can take it to a whole new level. One year at a small office party, we tried using a spin wheel to decide the gift reveal order. What started as a simple idea quickly turned into one of the funniest moments of the night, especially when the wheel kept choosing the same person three times in a row!

You can use the wheel in a few ways:

• Assign Secret Santas: Add everyone's name to the wheel and spin to see who buys for whom. This makes it feel like a little event instead of a quiet name draw.
• Choose gift-opening order: A great way to prevent the "No, you go first!" shuffle. Use our Yes/No Wheel for quick decisions or create a custom wheel with names.
• Add reveal challenges: Things like "Give three clues," "Tell a Christmas joke," or "Give your gift using a dramatic Santa voice." It's impossible not to laugh. Try our Activities Wheel for inspiration!

Create a Holiday Activity Wheel

A Christmas activity wheel is a fun way to add spontaneity to the season. Kids love the suspense of spinning for the next festive task and adults secretly love it too. Use our Activities Wheel or create a custom one with activities like:

One family told me they used a holiday wheel every Friday in December and made it a "Christmas Friday Surprise." Their kids looked forward to it all week, and so did the parents.

Add Christmas Magic to the Classroom

Teachers know that December energy hits different. A spin wheel can help channel that excitement instead of fighting it. Perfect for classroom management and keeping students engaged during the holiday season. Try adding things like:

One teacher shared that spinning the wheel became the highlight of the day, students would practically sprint in from recess to see what the wheel had in store. For more classroom ideas, check out our Top 5 Classroom Wheel Ideas.

Build a Christmas Countdown Wheel

If you want an alternative to a traditional advent calendar, an advent calendar wheel makes each day feel like a mini celebration. Use our Number Generator for days 1–24, or create a custom wheel with small surprises or quick activities such as:

Kids love the unpredictability and honestly, it keeps the countdown exciting even for adults.

Make Office or Family Parties More Entertaining

Christmas party games with a wheel are perfect for breaking the ice. I once saw a group of coworkers who barely talked during the year suddenly become way too competitive over a spin wheel full of silly dares. Nothing bonds a group faster than watching your boss dramatically sing a single line of "All I Want for Christmas Is You."

Yes, Even Chores Can Be Festive

Holiday chores pile up quickly, cleaning the living room before guests arrive, wrapping presents, prepping snacks, you name it. A spin wheel turns those tasks into something much more fun (or at least less stressful). For more ideas on making chores fun, check out our Turning Chores into a Game guide. Add tasks like:

Throw in a few bonus slices like "Skip a chore" or "Pick someone else to help you," and suddenly everyone is laughing instead of groaning.

Frequently Asked Questions