Your Guide to Planning a Holiday Party

The holiday season is here and holiday parties are in full swing. If it’s your turn to host the annual holiday party for friends and family, don’t sweat it! Not only do you have the best location, your lakefront home at the Lake of the Ozarks provides an amazing backdrop for any party, but we have some helpful tips for you. Mission Bay has put together a few tips to help eliminate the stress that comes along with planning and executing a holiday party.

Choose a Theme

Whether your party is on the smaller side, or the guest list is over 100 people, having a specific theme and tone for your party will help achieve the maximum holiday feel-good status. A great way to come up with a theme? Make a list of what your guests have in common and what everyone likes.

Large Group: Celebrate with a movie theme. Take a poll ahead of time of people’s favorite holiday movies. During the showing of the movies, serve a variety of holiday-themed popcorn and set up a hot chocolate bar.

Just Your Girls: Do a cocktail tasting party. You can have everyone bring their favorite holiday cocktail and try them all out. You can make drinks with and without alcohol.

If kids are coming: Incorporate cooking and decorating to keep the kids involved. You can use holiday cutout cookies and create delicious holiday cookies.

Create Your To-Do List

Organizing and hosting a holiday party can be overwhelming. The easiest way to help eliminate stress is to create a to-do list.

Who will be invited and how will I invite them? Look back at the theme you have chosen and it will help you identify your guest list. You had certain people in mind when deciding on the theme, invite them! You can then determine which method of communication you want to use to invite everyone. You can do a printed invitation or even an electronic invite. Be sure to send invites at least 2 weeks ahead of time.

When Should You Have Your Party? The holiday season is extremely busy for everyone, but if you plan ahead, you can increase the chances that almost everyone you invite will be able to make it.

This is just a start to your to-do list. Every party is different and will have different items on their to-do list. Make sure you help reduce your stress level and sit down and create your party’s to-do list.

Stick To Your Budget

The best parties don’t have to be the most expensive and during the holiday season, the last thing you want to do is break the bank throwing a holiday party. Before you buy anything, take inventory of what you already have and then create a list of what you need and set a realistic budget.

Create a spreadsheet – itemize things you already have like decorations and ingredients. Knowing what you already have will save you from buying duplicates and will save you time and money.

Consider a potluck – incorporating a potluck into your party is not only a great way to get your guests involved, but it saves you from spending a lot of money.

Cook Ahead of Time

Prepare your menu and do as much prep ahead of time as possible. This will allow you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time mingling and spending time with your guests. That is the point of the holiday party after all – spending time with the ones you love.

With a little organization and prep, you can create a great holiday party at your lakefront home at the Lake of the Ozarks while saving money and reducing your stress. Mission Bay knows it’s important to make time for what matters this holiday season and that’s spending time with friends and family. If you haven’t stopped by our year-round development at the Lake of the Ozarks, now’s the time! 

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Phone: (573) 346-6600

Info@MissionBayLakeOzark.com

OUR LOCATION

237 Mission Bay Blvd.
Camdenton, MO 65020

Celebrating The Holidays In Your Second Home

Many Lake of the Ozarks second homeowners like to put a twist on their seasonal experience by visiting their vacation destination during the holidays. Think about the benefits: your family and friends can relax and enjoy time together without the responsibilities of home. When you own a second home at Mission Bay you not only have access to a clubhouse and indoor pool, you can experience the beauty of the Lake of the Ozarks. Lake living has something for everyone year round and your family will love the holiday experiences and availability of activities. Learn more about what makes spending the holidays in your second home a seasonal treat.

Decorating For The Holidays

Forget formality and create rooms that showcase your carefree side. Have fun with the colors of the season and create that warm, welcoming feeling your primary home has too. The Lake of the Ozarks has several great destinations for holiday home decor and you're certain to find a look that will last for years to come.

Holiday Hosting In Your Second Home

When you build your lake home at Mission Bay, the sky's the limit so you can create the kitchen of your dreams. Cooking at the Holiday's is a joy for many and having a great grocery store just up the road is a major plus. As guests gather in the kitchen, they'll be delighted to share in your holiday meal traditions. Hosting the holidays in your lake home will feel like a vacation and the much needed reprieve before the new year. 

What To Bring To Your Second Home During The Holidays

Take inventory of your winter gear before you head down. We all know Missouri weather is unpredictable so it's best to be prepared. Pack your family's personal cold weather gear such as hats, gloves, boots and coats. Being warm and cozy is part of what makes a cold weather vacation trip memorable but if you do forget that special apparel item, you're in luck because the Lake of the Ozarks is home to several specialty clothing stores as well as an outlet mall featuring over 100 stores. 

Winter Fun At The Lake Of The Ozarks

From holiday light shows to ice skating and s'mores the Lake of the Ozarks has fun festive activities for family members of all ages. Look forward to these seasonal events and more:

• Christmas Village and Ice Skating at Old Kinderhook
• Enjoy the Lake's only outdoor Ice Rink. Every weekend from now until Christmas families can visit with Santa, make gingerbread houses, make s'mores around the firepit and listen to stories or Christmas carols. 
• Main Street Music Hall's Christmas on Main Street
• The Main Street Music Hall is celebrating the spirit of the holidays with laughter, as Gabby Gumm and the talented musical cast spread cheer until December 18th, 2016. Visit their website for more information on showtimes and tickets.
• Osage Beach Holiday Lights
• Holiday themed lights will be on display at the Osage Beach City Park until December 31, 2016.

A well-planned holiday trip to your second home at the Lake of the Ozarks can yield lasting memories and be the basis for a new and fun-filled family tradition. If you haven't considered using your Mission Bay lake home as a festive travel destination, try it. You might even find that your second home becomes your holiday home away from home!

Your new home is waiting for you at Mission Bay!

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Like us on Facebook 

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CONTACT US

Phone: (573) 873-3465

Info@MissionBayLakeOzark.com

OUR LOCATION

237 Mission Bay Blvd.
Camdenton, MO 65020

Holiday Entertaining at the Lake House

If you are lucky enough to have a home at the Lake of the Ozarks at Mission Bay, then you have a few options for hosting holiday gatherings.  What makes Mission Bay one of the best waterfront developments at the lake, is it's amenities it offers the residents. The large clubhouse has a full-sized bar, fireplace and plenty of room for entertaining guests.


For those opting for a more intimate affair, the homes at Mission Bay offer manicured grounds and vast lake views.  This provides a beautiful backdrop to any holiday event, even in the starkest of winters! Access to the development is easy, and offers plenty of parking for family and friends.

Tips to Get Started: Hosting your Holiday Event

Choose your date and make sure to get RSVPs!  Sending out invitations early enough to make sure your guests can pencil in your event is critical.  Online sites, such as www.evite.com allow you to email invitations. You can customize quirky responses for your guests to choose, to let you know if they are coming or not.

Themes can be a good way to stay focused.  Secret Santa, White Elephant, and Ugly Christmas Sweater parties can be a way to get everyone involved.  Everyone loves the hunt for the ugliest Christmas sweater.  If you do this, consider giving away a prize. 

For buffet style get-together's, put drinks and food on opposite sides of the room. Spread out your "spread" so that guests don't get bottle-necked or stand in the same place all night.

Name cards can be fun and festive. You can make place card holders for your guests for sit-down dinners or labels for appetizers.  Get creative with items such as wine corks, candy canes, Christmas bells, or natural materials like pine or berries.

Your new home is waiting for you at Mission Bay!

Connect with us for the latest community news.

Like us on Facebook 

Follow us on Twitter 

Connect with us on LinkedIn 
Follow us on Google+

CONTACT US

Phone: (573) 873-3465

Info@MissionBayLakeOzark.com

OUR LOCATION

237 Mission Bay Blvd.

Camdenton, MO 65020