How are Americans giving holiday traditions makeovers?

Respondents said the twist involves switching up their traditional holiday menu (29%), while 18% plan to decorate completely differently.

Another 15% of respondents are putting a new spin on holidays this year by celebrating in an entirely new location.

While the majority are planning on being more social this season (60%), they’re hoping to bring the party to them.

Nearly two in three respondents want their home to be the “it place” this year (63%).

Commissioned by Range Outdoor Living and conducted by Talker Research, the survey looked at how many Americans are hosting outside this winter and how they’re making it work.

Half of those who have ever hosted a holiday party have already had a winter holiday party outside (49%), and a third are planning to take their festivities outside this year (36%).

To ensure it’s exactly what they have in mind, 62% want to decorate more elaborately than usual, with the average respondent willing to invest $794 into making their backyard “holiday-ready.”

Within their planning for the perfect party, food proves to be most important to get right (35%), but a very close percentage said it’s all about the vibe (33%).

According to those surveyed, a holiday event hosted outside would feel special just from a more relaxed atmosphere (27%) and the ability to flow freely between indoor and outdoor spaces (22%).

“There's a reason everyone always ends up gathered around the kitchen island during a party. The kitchen is naturally where people come together, and bringing that experience outdoors creates even more opportunities to connect,” said Cody Fox, CEO of Backyard Discovery. “By extending the entertaining space into the backyard, hosts have more room to prepare food and cook while still being part of the celebration, and guests have more freedom to spread out and enjoy themselves. It's a way to make hosting feel less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone.”

The average holiday host is usually up at 8 a.m. on hosting mornings, spending nine hours across cleaning, cooking and decorating.

Many crunch to get everything done earlier, averaging that they’d love having guests over as early as 2:30 p.m. in order to have the rest of the day together.

With all of the work that goes into hosting, 87% hope that their guests point out the small details.

The survey also looked at how respondents are spending time outdoors even beyond the holidays, finding that 58% want their home to be guest-ready all year round.

Although 65% said the area they live in allows them to comfortably spend time outside during the winter, 40% don’t make the most of their yard during the colder months.

“We often think of winter as the season that keeps us indoors, but the hottest days of summer can be just as limiting,” said Fox. “When homeowners think about their backyard as an extension of their living space throughout the year, they open up more possibilities for how and where they spend time together.

“Whether it's a holiday gathering, a summer cookout or a casual dinner with friends, having a space that's ready for different seasons gives hosts more flexibility and takes some of the pressure out of entertaining.”

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 homeowners with backyards who celebrate a winter holiday who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Range Outdoor Living and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Sept. 22 and Oct. 1, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.