Key Takeaways
- A holiday pickleball tournament or tennis round robin is the easiest way to keep members playing through the slowest stretch of the year — November through New Year's.
- Four themes carry most clubs: a Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot, Jingle Bell Doubles (ugly sweaters encouraged), a toy-drive round robin, and a New Year's "resolution" round robin.
- Holiday crowds are mixed-ability, so pick formats that rotate partners and courts — Up and Down the River, rotating-partner round robins, or King of the Court.
- Give players gear they'll actually use (overgrips, dampeners, paddle bands, sweatbands) and put your club logo on it, not the event name and year, so leftovers work at the next event.
- Custom gear takes 4–5 weeks after payment, so a mid-December event needs artwork signed off by about Halloween.
The outdoor season winds down, the days get short, and half your members disappear until spring. A holiday event is the fix. A well-run holiday pickleball tournament or tennis mixer gets people back on court, brings in guests, and gives the club something to talk about all winter.
Below are the four holiday themes clubs run most, the formats that work when skill levels are all over the map, and a planning timeline that gets your gear there on time.
Why Holiday Events Matter for a Club
Late fall is when members drift. Leagues end, weather turns, and the habit of showing up breaks. A holiday event on the calendar gives everyone a reason to keep playing.
These events also pull in people who never enter a real tournament — spouses, first-year members, the 3.0 player who thinks brackets are "too serious." A festive, low-stakes holiday pickleball tournament is the friendliest possible front door to your club.
And they're good business. Holiday events are natural fits for a sponsor, a charity partner, and a sign-up table for winter leagues.
Theme 1: The Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot
The Turkey Shoot is a classic tennis club tradition, and it makes a perfect first holiday pickleball tournament too. It's usually a mixer or round robin on the weekend before or after Thanksgiving, and the winners take home the prize: a turkey (or a pie, for the vegetarians).
Keep it light. Short timed rounds, rotating partners, and individual scoring mean nobody is stuck with the same partner for two hours. Plenty of clubs pair it with a canned-food drive — bring a can, get a raffle ticket.
A Turkey Shoot also works as a season-ender for fall leagues. Hand out the league awards between rounds and you've built a banquet into the event.
Theme 2: Jingle Bell Doubles and Ugly Sweater Round Robins
December is for costumes. Jingle Bell Doubles is a mixed doubles or rotating-partner event where festive gear is encouraged — Santa hats, reindeer headbands, and, of course, the ugliest sweater anyone can still swing a racket in.
Add a costume contest, holiday music on the speakers, and hot cocoa at the check-in table — the three things that turn a round robin into a holiday pickleball tournament people talk about. The tennis or pickleball is almost secondary; this is the event people photograph and post.
If your holiday pickleball tournament runs indoors, keep an eye on the sweaters. A warm gym and wool don't mix for long, which is exactly when a headband earns its keep.
Theme 3: The Toy-Drive Round Robin
A charity round robin is the easiest holiday event to fill, whether it's a tennis mixer or a holiday pickleball tournament. The entry fee is a new, unwrapped toy, which goes to a local toy drive or family shelter.
Partner with a local charity so they can promote the event too, and ask a sponsor to match donations or cover prizes. Our guide on how clubs land local sponsors covers how to make that ask.
Take a photo of the toy pile at the end. It's the best piece of marketing your club will produce all year.
Theme 4: The New Year's Resolution Round Robin
New Year's Eve morning or New Year's Day afternoon is prime time for a "resolution" round robin. Everyone is off work, and plenty of people have just promised themselves they'll play more this year.
Lean into that. Open with a short clinic for newer players, then run a round robin or a relaxed holiday pickleball tournament bracket. Put the winter league sign-up sheet right next to the snacks.
This is the one holiday event that directly turns into recurring play. Treat it like a recruiting event, not just a party.
Planning a holiday event?
Tell us your event date, sport, and headcount — we'll suggest gear players will actually use and send a free digital mockup with your club logo. No payment until you approve the artwork.
Get a free event gear quote →Formats That Work for Mixed Ability
Holiday events draw every level at once, so the format matters more than usual. The goal is that everyone plays a lot, nobody gets blown off the court, and no one sits out for long.
- Up and Down the River: timed games on numbered courts; winners move up a court, losers move down. Players sort themselves by level within a few rounds.
- Rotating-partner round robin: new partner every round, individual scoring. Perfect for mixers, because you meet everyone.
- King (or Queen) of the Court: a pickleball favorite. Winners hold the "king" court, challengers rotate in, and the energy stays high.
- Skill-grouped courts: for bigger events, group by NTRP rating in tennis or DUPR rating in pickleball, then run a round robin within each group.
For the nuts and bolts — courts, time, scoring, and registration — see our step-by-step guide on how to run a pickleball tournament. Everything in it applies to a holiday pickleball tournament; you're just adding the fun.
What to Hand Out (That Players Actually Keep)
The swag rule is simple: if a player wouldn't put it in their bag, don't order it. Holiday trinkets end up in a drawer by January. Gear that gets used on court stays in circulation — and keeps your logo in front of people all year.
- Custom pickleball overgrips and tennis overgrips: every player uses them and replaces them, so they never go to waste.
- Custom tennis dampeners: small, light, and they ride on the racket every time it comes out of the bag.
- Custom pickleball paddle bands: they slide onto the paddle handle, so your club logo shows up at every open-play session.
- Embroidered headbands and wristbands: a good pick for indoor winter events, where courts can run warm.
One tip clubs learn the hard way: put your club logo on the gear, not "Turkey Shoot 2026." Custom gear is ordered per design, so an evergreen club design means any leftovers go straight into the next event, the pro shop, or new-member welcome bags. For more, see what pickleball players actually keep.
Your Holiday Planning Timeline
Custom gear is made to order and takes 4–5 weeks after payment, including shipping. Add about a week for mockup revisions and holiday shipping, then count back from event day.
| Event | Example date | Approve artwork by |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey Shoot | Sat, Nov 21 | About Oct 10 |
| Jingle Bell Doubles / toy drive | Sat, Dec 12 | About Oct 31 |
| New Year's round robin | Thu, Dec 31 | About Nov 19 |
If you're running more than one holiday event, order once for all of them with an evergreen design. For the broader Q4 picture, our team gift ideas for banquets, senior night and the holidays covers the gifting side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Turkey Shoot in tennis?
A Turkey Shoot is a Thanksgiving-season club event, usually a mixer or round robin, where the winners take home a turkey or another holiday prize. Many clubs pair it with a canned-food drive, and it works just as well for pickleball.
What's the best holiday pickleball tournament format for mixed skill levels?
Up and Down the River or a rotating-partner round robin. Both use short timed games and move players around, so beginners and strong players mix without anyone getting stuck in a lopsided match for long.
How far ahead should we order custom gear for a holiday event?
Custom gear takes 4–5 weeks after payment, including shipping. Build in an extra week for mockup revisions and holiday shipping, so plan to approve artwork about six weeks before your event.
Should event swag say the event name and year?
Usually not. Custom gear is ordered per design, so a dated design can't be reused. An evergreen club logo lets leftovers go to your next event, the pro shop, or new-member welcome bags.
How can a holiday tennis or pickleball event raise money for charity?
Make the entry fee a donation — a new toy, canned food, or a set amount for a local charity — and ask a sponsor to match it or cover prizes. Partnering with the charity also helps you promote the event.
Ready to Outfit Your Holiday Event?
At Match Point Promotions, every order is personally handled by Shawn — a lifelong tennis player and pickleball enthusiast who reviews each design before it ships. Since 2017, we've helped 300+ teams, clubs and corporations put their brand on the gear players use every day.
Whether you're planning a Turkey Shoot, a holiday pickleball tournament, or a New Year's round robin, browse our pickleball and tennis gear, and we'll design it free with unlimited revisions.
Request a free quote today — no payment info required, just tell us your event date.
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