The holiday season is responsible for a substantial portion of many brands’ total sales.

It’s a season of buying, giving, receiving, and (if you’re smart) giving away.

Your prospective customers are on the lookout for deals (after all, the holidays are also the season of empty bank accounts).

That means it’s the best time to turn prospective customers into leads and sales.

And a Christmas contest is the best way to do just that.

If you’re looking for a strategy guide for how to run a successful contest, you’re not going to find it here. (We do have that resource, of course, at “How to Run a Successful Contest: A Step-by-Step Guide“).

No, this article will instead give you 30 Christmas contest ideas and 30 prize ideas. I’ll give you the headlines, subheadlines, and a free stock image you can download and use right away. Everything in this article is meant to be copied, pasted, and taken to the Christmas bank.

Let’s get festive!


Christmas Contest Idea #1. Fill the Kitchen With Christmas!

Enter for a chance to win the ultimate Christmas baking set, including a Kitchenaid mixer, Christmas recipe book, ingredients, and more!

Christmas Contest Idea #2. Fight Back This Season!

Christmas is a time for festive cheer, not the cold! Fight back by entering for a chance to win this complete cold and flu season preparedness pack!

Christmas Contest Idea #3. Get On the Slopes!

Now until December 31st, enter for a chance to win a night at the AcmePeak resort alongside lift passes for two!

Here’s an example of a real-world example of this Christmas contest idea:

christmas contest ideas

Christmas Contest Idea #4. The Season of Light!

Enter for a chance to win a professional Christmas light decoration to light up the season!

Christmas Contest Idea #5. Get Kitted Out This Christmas!

The powder is here! Enter for a chance to be completely kitted out for the mountain this year! Prize package valued at $1200 and includes skis, jacket, snow pants and goggles!

Christmas Contest Idea #6. Tired of the Christmas Rush? Enter for a Chance to Rest and Relax!

Enter now for a chance to win a relaxing weekend away for two, this Christmas at AcmeSpa!

Want to run a Christmas contest? Get started by talking with a contest expert today!

Christmas Contest Idea #7. Show Us Your Festive Spirit and Win!

Enter now for a chance to win an Acme Deluxe Christmas tree and full decoration set, valued at $450!

My recommendation for a contest like this one would be to have people submit videos of themselves singing carols or otherwise showing their spirit. User-generated submissions like this makes great content for social media.

Christmas Contest Idea #9. Enter for a Chance to Win an Ugly Sweater Party Pack!

Enter now for a chance to win Howe Brewery’s Ugly Sweater Party Pack! Get 6 amazing ugly Christmas sweaters, and 24 bottles of our seasonal cinnamon stout! Must be 21 or older to enter!

Christmas Contest Idea #10. John Riviera’s Holiday Recipe-Book Giveaway!

John Riviera, in partnership with Chapter’s bookstore, is giving away 24 copies of his brand new holiday season recipe book. Enter and share every day to increase your chance to win!

Christmas Contest Idea #11. Give the Gift of Warmth!

Enter now for a chance to win the perfect gift for yourself or your loved ones: warmth! Prize package includes 4 pairs of thermal socks, wool scarves, mittens, and more!

Here’s an example of a real-world example of this Christmas contest idea:

christmas contest ideas

Christmas Contest Idea #12. Gather the Family This Christmas!

Now until December 15th, enter for a chance to win a complete holiday table setting, valued at $500!

Christmas Contest Idea #13. Get Snowy This Christmas!

Enter today for a chance to win a day in the snow at Acme Peak. Choose one of two prize packages: sledding for the family or a dog sled excursion for two!

Christmas Contest Idea #14. Enter for a Chance to Win a PS4 and Games!

We’re partnering with indie gaming studio DarkGames to give away a PS4 Pro and early access to their breakout racing game, Clutterfield!

Christmas Contest Idea #15. Winter Decor Photo Contest

Vote for your favorite photo featuring an [Your Product]. One random voter will win a [product] of their choice!

For this Christmas contest you’ll have to go it alone!

Here’s an example of a real-world example of this Christmas contest idea:

chistmas contest ideas

Christmas Contest Idea #16. Get Cozy!

Enter for a chance to win the complete Christmas prize package! Get marshmallows, cocoa, 6 Christmas mugs, apple cider, and gingerbread Bailey’s!

Christmas Contest Idea #17. Christmas is About Family!

Enter today for a chance to win 1 of 10 Christmas puzzle and board game packages!

When you’re running a Christmas contest giving away something of lower value (like a puzzle or boardgame), consider giving away 1 of 10. The lower value, with low perceived chance to win, will result in low conversion rates. Increase your conversion rates by increasing the perceived chance to win. Makes sense, right?

Christmas Contest Idea #18. Enter for a Chance to Win Free Tickets to a Christmas Spectacular!

Make your Christmas special with the Radio City Rockettes!

Here’s an example of a real-world example of this Christmas contest idea:

chistmas contest ideas

Christmas Contest Idea #19. Enter for a Chance to Win a 6-Month Gym Membership and 5 Free Personal Training Sessions at AcmeFitness!

Get a headstart on your New Year’s resolution! Enter today for a chance to win the complete fitness prize package!

For ideas on how to market your gym online, check out our free and comprehensive guide to online marketing in the fitness industry.

Christmas Contest Idea #20. Looking for the Best Gift (Or a Little Something for Yourself?) Enter for a Chance to Win an Acme Fitness Tracker!

Enter for a chance to win an Acme Fitness tracker, a Whole30 recipe book, and a $200 voucher to Whole Foods. Prizes valued at more than $400!

Christmas Contest Idea #21. Enter for a Chance to Win 2 of 20 Tickets to the Best New Year’s Party in Austin!

Valued at $140, enter today for a chance to win 2 free tickets to the Subculture New Year’s party!

Not every contest should be run as “win 1 of many,” as it can dilute the perceived value. However, when you give away tickets to an event, giving away multiple is a good idea. In this case, it’s worth it to increase the perceived chance to win.

Christmas Contest Idea #22. Do You Have a Christmas Event Coming Up? Enter for a Chance to Win a Fun and Festive Photobooth!

Enter for a chance to win a 6-hour rental of our fun photobooth, including festive props and a professional on-site!

Christmas Contest Idea #23. Enter for a Chance to Win a Surprise Stocking Prize Pack! Valued at Over $200!

Embrace the fun of Christmas morning by entering for a chance to win a surprise stocking prize pack, full of over a dozen Acme Gift products!

Christmas Contest Idea #24. We’ll Bring Christmas to You! Enter for a Chance to Win a Catered Christmas Dinner!

Christmas is all about giving, and we want to give one lucky family a meal they’ll never forget!

Here’s an example of a real-world example of this Christmas contest idea:

christmas contest idea

Christmas Contest Idea #25. The Season of Giving: Enter for a Chance to Win a Christmas Shopping Spree!

Enter for a chance to fill up a shopping cart at Fairview Shopping Center! Share to Win!>

This would be a bonus entry contest in which people earned extra entries by sharing the promotion with their friends and family on social media and via email.

Christmas Contest Idea #26. Enter for a Chance to Win a Christmas Cooking Class!

Share your secret family recipe, and enter for a chance to win a Christmas cooking class, valued at $250!

Christmas Contest Idea #27. Is Your Car Ready for Winter?

Don’t leave it to chance! Enter today for a chance to win a complete winterization treatment from Acme Cars!

Christmas Contest Idea #28. Enter for a Chance to Win a Christmas-Oriented Hotel Stay for 2!

Enter for a chance to win a cozy hotel stay for 2 at the Longview Resort and Spa! Tell us why you and your partner deserve a break this Christmas and win!

Here’s an example of a real-world example of this Christmas contest idea:

christmas contest ideas

Christmas Contest Idea #29. Get Cuddly This Christmas!

Enter for a chance to win a Christmas children’s bed-set, pajamas and a snowman stuffed animal!

Christmas Contest Idea #30. Enter for a Chance to Win a Family Photo Photo Contest

Enter for a chance to win a Christmas family photoshoot! Submit your family’s most festive holiday photo, and encourage your friends and family to vote!

All 30 Christmas Contest Prize Ideas

  1. Baking set – electronic mixer, whisks etc.
  2. Lift passes & ski rentals
  3. Ski gear (jacket, pants, goggles, board or skis)
  4. Mittens and scarf set
  5. Winter adventures (snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing)
  6. Hot springs/relaxation
  7. Christmas Decorations
  8. Christmas movie box set
  9. Ugly sweater Christmas party pack
  10. Christmas recipe book
  11. Professional lights decorator
  12. Holiday table set
  13. Dog sled adventure
  14. Gaming Console and Games
  15. Your Product (General)
  1. Apple Cider/hot chocolate/mugs
  2. Puzzle or boardgames
  3. Tickets to Christmas events like the Nutcracker, Christmas train, ice skating or garden of lights
  4. Gym Membership/personal training session
  5. Wearable Tech (fitness trackers)
  6. New Years Party tickets
  7. Photobooth
  8. Donation to a Food Bank
  9. Catered Christmas Meal
  10. “Fill up a Cart” Shopping Spree
  11. Cooking Class
  12. Winterize-your-Car Package
  13. Christmas-oriented Hotel Stay
  14. Stuffed Animal or Christmas Bed Set
  15. Christmas Family Photo Shoot


Conclusion

Running a Christmas giveaway is the perfect way to boost brand awareness and sales at a critical time of the year. I hope one (or more than one) of these Christmas contest ideas inspires your business to succeed this holiday season.

Have you tried any of these strategies in previous years? What were your results? Get the conversation started in the comment section below!

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James Scherer

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