Parlor Parkour
Day of the Holy Innocents • Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
A Day of Parlor Games and Feats of Strength
About Parlor Parkour
Parlor Parkour transforms your home into a friendly circus ring, merging the elegance of classic parlor games with the boisterous fun of physical challenges. This day combines the best of both worlds: the parlor games that engage the mind and the playful feats of strength that get the blood moving after days indoors. Think balancing acts, charades, impromptu juggling competitions, and even cartwheel showdowns in the living room, all mixed together. In between the physical challenges, you can play Yahtzee and perform magic or do crossword puzzles. Pacing matters, so find a balance between games that challenge your concentration and games that challenge the structural integrity of your furniture. For added fun, have the entire family dress in their Sunday best. You’ll cherish the photos.
Ways to observe
(A) Low effort
Play a few rounds of charades with simple categories like movies, animals, or Christmas songs.
(B) Recommended
Host a mini talent show featuring parlor games and feats of strength. Encourage everyone to come prepared with their best trick, from balancing books on their head to executing a perfect rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star on a kazoo.
(C) High effort
Create an elaborate obstacle course in your living room or basement using pillows, furniture, and string lights as the boundaries. Add challenges like hopping on one foot, balancing cups of water, or crawling under a ‘laser grid’ of yarn. Award prizes for the fastest, most creative, or funniest performances.
Inspiration
Kids love an arbitrary challenge. How many grapes can you balance on a spoon? Who can throw a paper airplane the farthest? Who can solve a math problem while hopping on one foot? Races, stunts, brain teasers, and Frankenstein mashups of mismatched board games— this is the spirit of Parlor Parkour. It’s a goofy, friendly competition where the stakes are low. It works best when winning doesn’t come at anyone else’s expense. (So what if John can balance more grapes than me?) I love this day because it carries Christmas energy forward. It’s structured enough to keep everyone engaged, but loose enough that anyone can toss out a new challenge on a whim. And if you’re not sure where to start, consult the original masters of domestic entertainment, the
Yuletide (12 Days of Christmas) Victorians. Parlor games like Charades, Blind Man’s Bluff, and Twenty Questions were made for long evenings indoors with no real prizes. They required no special tools, just a room, a crowd, and a willingness to look mildly foolish in front of your relatives. Layer on some lighthearted physical challenges (broomstick limbo, hallway relay races, impromptu yoga poses on plush rugs) and you’ve got the perfect mix of movement and memory-making.
Adornments
Watch
Dave Made a Maze (2017)
When Dave builds a cardboard fort in his living room, it transforms into a sprawling, trap-filled labyrinth that defies logic, and then traps him inside. His friends attempt a rescue, only to face homemade monsters and surreal paper chaos.
Clue (1985)
Six strangers are invited to a mysterious mansion, only to be swept into a fast-paced whodunit full of secret passages, slamming doors, and physical comedy. The ensemble cast darts through rooms with growing panic and escalating absurdity.
Listen
Selected Songs (Piano Ragtime Jazz) by Scott Joplin
Lively, syncopated, and precise, Joplin’s ragtime compositions bounce with energy while keeping strict time. Pieces like “The Entertainer” and “Maple Leaf Rag” evoke a sense of mischief wrapped in elegance.
Read
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Sixteen oddball heirs are invited to solve an elaborate puzzle to win a fortune. This witty mystery transforms clue-solving into a grand competitive game, making the book feel like a family game night in novel form.
Parlour Games for Modern Families by Myfanwy Jones & Spiri Tsintziras
A compendium of classic and inventive games designed for living rooms, dinner tables, and rainy afternoons. With no equipment required beyond scraps of paper and a quick wit, this book turns any domestic setting into a stage for low-stakes competition.
The Compleat Strategyst by J.D. Williams
A playful introduction to game theory disguised as a Cold War-era guidebook. Williams explores strategic thinking, bluffing, and decision-making in competitive situations.
Eat
Hot Cocoa Bar
Keep the funtime vibes going all day by setting up a DIY hot chocolate station. Arrange mugs, packets of cocoa (or a pot of hot chocolate), and an array of toppings so everyone can customize their cup. Think mini-marshmallows, candy cane stirrers, whipped cream, sprinkles, cinnamon, and chocolate shavings.