Today I’ve set a winter theme table featuring polar bear dessert and appetizer plates, with a decorated chandelier overhead, and buffet area on the kitchen island.
There’s also two different folded napkin options. One uses a snowflake napkin ring, while the other is folded into the shape of an elf’s hat. I’m curious which one you prefer on the red and white, winter theme tablescape?
For the centerpiece, I pulled out two favorite stuffed polar bears and put them into a wicker basket sleigh. Around the base is a dusting of “snow,” along with white and red sisal trees, and a string of battery-operated mini lights. Easy peasy!
To remember the occasion, polar bear Christmas tree ornaments serve as a take-home favor for each guest. Little peppermint swirl plates can also be used to transport extra holiday cookies back home.
Make yourself a cup of peppermint stick flavored hot chocolate and join us at the polar bear party!
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow!
Five years ago — and just three months into blogging — I shared the original Polar Bear Frolic in Sleigh Ride Tablescape. Since then, my photography, editing and web publishing skills have improved quite a bit. And, tableware and linens have been added to my collection.
So, I decided it was time for a restyling of a winter table with the arctic theme.
To start, I decorated the overhead kitchen chandelier with a seasonal garland, crystal snowflake ornaments and icicles. At night, six of the larger LED icicles glow a soft blue.
It’s very similar to the way I’ve decorated the fixture in previous years; including accompanying the Bringing Home the Christmas Tree Holiday Table, and Enchanting Winter Woodland Tablescape.
New this year is a string of snowfall pompoms (Home Goods) draped over the arms of the light fixture. It’s actually “ribbon” for wrapping holiday packages, which is what I plan to do with the rest of the roll.
Setting the Holiday Scene
Rather than set for a dinner party, the polar bear party is for a small gathering with another couple to share cookies, desserts, eggnog, and snowball cocktails. Holiday tunes will be playing in the background. In the adjacent family room, we’ll have a live decorated Christmas tree and log burning in the fireplace.
As it gets dark, DIY Lighted Candy Cane Christmas Urns , strings of lights and fresh garland on the deck will create a magical view outside the sliding glass doors. The lighted urns will compliment the red and white peppermint elements of the polar bear party inside.
Afterwards, we’ll move into the family room and continue to share sweets and beverages while a holiday movie plays on the big screen TV. Whiskey, our Scottish Terrier, will be sporting his tartan collar and probably pester for attention — until he secures a place to snuggle up on the sofa or on someone’s lap.
Upstairs, one of the guest bedrooms is decorated for the holidays in a Scottie dog theme; complete with bedding and Christmas tree. See it in, Scottie Dog Christmas.
Baby It’s Cold Outside
When I set and photographed the polar bear party the week before Thanksgiving, it was clear and sunny outside — without a flurry in sight. After continually playing catchup since our son’s Labor Day weekend, I wanted to get an early start on Christmas decorating. And since we were in the Washington D. C area for Thanksgiving, I elected to skip decorating the house this year with pilgrim and Native American figures.
But, as I write this post it’s snowing, blowing and frigid here in Pittsburgh, even though it’s still November. Today, temperatures aren’t forecast to even hit 30 degrees; burr! Seems like the perfect time to enjoy a polar bear party — inside lol!
Setting an Arctic Scene
Underlying the polar bear tablescape on the round glass kitchen table is a white on white snowflake print cloth.
You may have seen it several years ago on the Twas the Night Before Christmas Table. On Christmas Eve, I’ll replace the polar bear party with that setting — my favorite holiday dish set.
For the centerpiece, I’ve tucked two stuffed polar bears into a newly acquired sleigh (Michaels). Several years ago, I repurposed the large white wicker sleigh from the originally styled Polar Bear Picnic table. I had stuffed the sleigh with holiday goodies and turned it into a gift basket for a friend had broken her ankle walking her dog.
Tucked around the smaller sleigh are little white and red sisal trees (Dollar Tree, three in a package). I love how the base of the red trees look like a peppermint swirl candy.
The snow is primarily used to embellish the Magical North Pole Village display in the basement Ski Lodge Theme Game Room. Everyone always asked what brand the faux snow is, and unfortunately there’s no label. It had been found at a speciality gift shop many years ago.
Later this season, I’ll tuck the new white and red trees from the tablescape into the Santa’s village landscape.
Polar Bear Party on Skis
Several years ago I found the polar bear party plates and serving pieces at Home Goods. Aren’t they adorable? The pieces were made by a Chinese company called, Mesa. Unfortunately, there’s no pattern name listed on the back.
An Internet search for polar bear dishes mostly turns up cute paper or melamine options. They’d be a great alternative for a polar bear party theme, especially for a large gathering or one with children. While searching for polar bear dinnerware on Amazon (see below), I found an adorable set that would compliment the accent plates I already have. Oh Santa, if only I had the storage space!
The eight plates I have work well for serving appetizers, snacks, cookies or dessert. I love the red and white scarves the polar bears are sporting. However, what really sold me on the plates were the bears on skis – a favorite family winter activity.
I’ve shared some of our Rocky Mountain ski trips in posts including; Jaw-Dropping Jackson Hole, Terrific Telluride, and Breathtaking Breckenridge.
And one of my favorite winter theme tablescapes is, Downhill Dinner at Ski Cabin.
Winter Theme Tableware
For the polar bear party, I’ve flanked the dessert plates with red-handled flatware (Home Goods many moons ago).
Then, too the left of each place setting, is an easy napkin fold I found on YouTube; 3 Styles of Napkins Folds Tutorial. I wanted a fold that would work with my snowflake napkin rings, and complimented the snowflake print fabric tablecloth and recently purchased napkins (Home Goods).
First, you fold the napkin into a triangle and then a diamond shape. After that, the folded fabric is rolled and slipped into a ring. Quick and easy, the fold works for any tablesetting using a napkin ring.
Using the same fabric napkins, I also folded them into the shape of an elf hat. It’s the exact same fold as the witch hat on the Spooky Spellbound Halloween Centerpiece & Table. Because of the stiffness of the snowflake fabric, the elf hat fold easily stood in place. The soft black fabric used for the witch hats made them more challenging to stand.
Which of the two folded napkin styles do you prefer on the polar bear party table?
Juice size, candy cane-decorated glasses (Pottery Barn several years ago) will hold either eggnog or peppermint stick ice cream punch. Plastic ornament balls with red and white stripe straws will be filled with snowball cocktails. I purchased a dozen of the flat-bottom “glasses” last year at Dollar Tree.
Although they don’t seem to have them this season, learn how to make your own in, DIY Christmas Cocktail Ornament Balls.
Guest Favors
Also new this year are the red and white, peppermint candy style melamine dessert plates (Target). On top of each is one of four different polar bear Christmas tree ornaments (Michaels). Both the plates and ornaments were inexpensive and make nice take home favorites for guests. The plates — topped with extra cookies — will slip nicely into clear holiday gift bags.
Additional polar bear ornaments will be used to embellish red and white stripe gift-wrapped packages for the family. I’ll attach the ornaments with the snowball pom pom ribbon decorating the chandelier.
You know me, and how much I love carrying out a theme!
Polar Buffet
Even set for just four, the round kitchen table doesn’t leave much additional space for a centerpiece and serving pieces. That’s why I often carry the look of the centerpiece vertically, by decorating the chandy. It’s also why I set the nearby kitchen island as an accompany buffet, serving area.
That’s where you’ll find the matching polar bear serving bowl and platter, additional plates and napkins, and white tree stump cake stands to elevate cookies and other holiday desserts.
To decorate the buffet and coordinate with the table centerpiece, I also added a few more stuffed polar bears.
Several larger silver and white Christmas trees, and more “snow” carry the arctic scene to the bar.
In the end, I placed four of the elf hat folded napkins on the buffet and left the snowflake napkin rings at the place settings. The nice thing about the elf hat napkins, is that they easily pick up and move from buffet to laps in front of the TV.
Another holiday napkin fold that can stand or lay flat is the Christmas tree.
See it and find other ideas to embellish your table, Napkin Folds for All Seasons, Holidays & Occasions.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my polar bear party. Will you be doing any entertaining this holiday season? How will you be setting your tables for Christmas this year?
Since I’m so busy making Christmas gifts, this may be my last post of 2023. If so, I want to wish you the happiest and heathiest of holiday seasons!
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I regularly participate in: Metamorphous Monday, Share Your Style, Tablescape Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Saturday Sparks, Happiness is Homemade, and Love Your Creativity.
This is just so darned cute and happy! Who wouldn’t want to enjoy treats at a delightful table like this with great conversation and yummy cookies! I love the polar bear theme — perfect for kids of all ages — and I do mean ALL!
Ahh thanks Jeanie! We all are children at heart at Christmas!
It all looks so fabulous! I just love polar bears; those ornament/favors are adorable. I’m sure your guests will love them.
Thank you Joanne. I’m anxious to wrap packages with the candy cane stripe wrap I found, that snowball pom pom ribbon, and tie the polar bears into the bow. I went back to Michaels yesterday for more, but they were pretty cleaned out of ornaments already!
I can’t imagine what you will come up with when the first grandchild arrives ! So creative and fun. I was going thru some Christmas things and found one of those cone Christmas trees that look like peppermint ribbon candy and a gnome. With peppermint stripes. My friend and I went to Old Time Pottery before a medical test this week. Cute ornaments in the individual section. I saw the ornament glasses at Family Dollar.
Not much shopping going on. I have been sick for weeks with RSV. Please consider getting the RSV vaccine.
Myrna, I’ll bet you won’t be surprised to know I already have a ton of stuff for future grandkids lol! I’ve saved the boys books, puzzles, rocking horse and Longhorn, blocks, Playmobile, Brio trains, Legos, etc! Wish we had an Old Time Pottery, as they always seem to have great stuff! Perhaps it’s best as I have no storage space (because I’ve saved all those toys, Halloween costumes, etc….!). So sorry to hear you’ve been sick. After almost 3 months, I’m only now feeling like I’m on the other side of the sinus and eye infections. Do take care and I hope you feel better soon.
Polar Bear Theme is Best EVER. SOO Fun. Thank U.
Know how much you love polar bears! Me too! Next time you’re here for a winter visit, I’ll pull the dishes out for us to have hot chocolate and cookies.
Debbee, your polar bear table is so cute and festive. Love the bears. The ornament favors are adorable and a great idea. The napkin folds are perfect. I am sorry you missed the deadline for joining us in the tablescape blog hop. You have been extremely busy with such fun family events. Happy holidays.
Thank you Linda! I’ll miss being part of the hops, but know I can always count on you to set a wonderful table for inspiration. Merry Christmas! Looking forward to seeing what you and the other ladies have set.
Debbee, your polar bear dishes are so adorable–I love the bright whimsical colors! What a great idea to have the ornament drink containers–you always think of the cutest ways to embellish your tablescapes. And, of course, Whiskey couldn’t be cuter. Wishing you a very merry holiday season.
Thanks Bobbi! I like the plates and serving pieces because they can be used throughout the winter season. Actually found the ornament glasses idea on Pinterest — such a great source of ideas and inspiration! Whiskey thanks you for the compliment. He is about to celebrate his 3rd birthday, so it’ll be a big month for new toys — and he loves his stuff! Best of all, will be when my son arrives with his giant dog for him to play with. Hoping you have a Merry Christmas. Thanks for continuing to follow my blog and visit regularly —it’s appreciated!
Debbee, your polar bear tablescape is adorable! I love the bright and vibrant colors in the salad plates and while they are certainly Christmassy, they will be great well into the winter as well. Your polar bear centerpiece is just perfect for your theme (yes, you are the Queen of Theme) and I’m sure that your guests will be delighted with the peppermint melamine appetizer plates, polar bear ornaments, and cookies as take-home favors – who wouldn’t love that! The elf hat napkins are beyond cute. I have to pin the ornament/snowball cocktails idea – that is just fabulous and so creative. I’m sure that sweet Whiskey will get lots of love and attention. Thank you for sharing your creativity and wishing you and your family a most joyous Christmas!
Thanks so much Kim! The evening was lots of fun! We played a one-time Christmas theme “escape” room card game that was really neat. Whiskey was kept occupied with three new toys he received for his third birthday. Gosh he loves his stuff! More at Christmas plus my son’s giant dog will be here to play with. Always enjoy when you have a virtual seat at one of my tables.
Debbee, this is so very cute! The polar bears look so cuddly. And the theme is apropos as it was below freezing here this morning. Luckily the rain has stopped (though I wouldn’t mind some snow!) I know all your guests will enjoy this as much as I. Merry Christmas
Thanks for stopping by Sandra! It was a fun evening as we also played a one and done Christmas theme puzzle card game. Our weather has gotten cold, but just dustings of snow. Sure hope we have a white Christmas — but not until my son safely drives across the state with his giant dog. Wishing you a fabulous holiday season. I’m sure your family will love gathering around one of your festive table settings!
Debbee, que preciosidades nos enseñas, tus vajillas me encantan y las colecciones de ositos y objetos de cristal preciosos. Hablas de tomar Ponche de huevo,¡madre mía mi abuelita lo preparaba y no lo he vuelto a probar. ¡Qué disfruteis la Navidad con esos adornos preciosos. Un beso
Debbee, what beautiful things you show us, I love your tableware and the collections of bears and beautiful glass objects. You talk about drinking eggnog, my goodness my grandmother made it and I haven’t tried it again. Enjoy Christmas with those beautiful decorations. A kiss
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the table and decor Pilar. Oh I LOVE to drink eggnog with cookies during seasonal activities. I also incorporate it into a cookie, cake and pie recipes. Merry Christmas!