The holiday season is here, and so are those office parties. Balancing festivities and professionalism can be tricky, but it's worthwhile. A well-executed event can boost morale, strengthen team bonds, and reward hard work. Whether you're a seasoned planner or a first-timer, fresh ideas can make all the difference. We've gathered some creative and practical ideas to help you plan a memorable party. From themed events to virtual fun, these tips will help you throw a bash that hits the right note. With the right guidance, you'll create an unforgettable event that leaves everyone smiling with unique team holiday gifts.
Giftpack makes team bonding easy with company branded swag, offering personalized gifts that align with your company’s culture.
What is a Work Holiday Party?
Work holiday parties are an end-of-year celebration where coworkers can unwind and enjoy the festive season away from the usual office routine. These gatherings typically happen in December and are often themed around holidays like:
- Christmas
- Hanukkah
- New Year’s
They're a time for everyone to socialize, celebrate the year's accomplishments, and bond in a laid-back atmosphere.
What to Expect at the Party
There’s usually an abundance of food and drinks, music, and sometimes even games or gift exchanges like Secret Santa. While the vibe is relaxed and fun, it’s still a work function, so maintaining a professional demeanor is key. These parties are a fantastic opportunity to chat with colleagues you might not interact with daily and show appreciation for the hard work everyone’s put in throughout the year.
The Social Side of Things
The social aspect is a big deal at these events. Making connections is a big part of the experience. You get to know coworkers personally, boosting morale and teamwork when you return to the office. It’s a chance to let loose and enjoy yourself before diving into the new year.
The Importance of Participation
Getting involved in the festivities is important. Whether helping with the planning or just showing up and having a good time, being part of the celebration shows your investment in the team. It’s a chance to share some laughs, relax, and maybe even learn something new about your colleagues.
Why are Holiday Parties for Work Important?
Holiday parties and team-building activities are key to boosting morale and motivation. They create a sense of camaraderie among employees. Did you know that 85% of employees say holiday parties positively impact morale? Celebrating together makes teams feel more connected, increasing productivity and a happier work environment.
Employees Love Seasonal Events
Employees enjoy the holiday spirit. A study by Travel Perk found that 60% of employees prefer seasonal events, like holiday parties, over traditional team-building activities. Holiday-themed gatherings are often more engaging and relaxed, making team members feel more comfortable and open to bonding.
Affordable Celebration Options
Many companies worry about the costs of throwing holiday parties, but these events don’t have to break the bank. While an average in-office holiday party might cost between $3,000 and $4,000, plenty of more affordable options exist. Companies can opt for simple holiday games, virtual parties, or even potlucks to celebrate the season without overspending.
Employers Covering Costs Matters
A TTF survey showed that 70% of employees feel their employer should pay for food and drinks during holiday parties. When companies invest in these events, employees feel valued and appreciated. This can go a long way in building loyalty and a stronger connection to the company.
Benefits for In-Person and Remote Teams
Whether your team is in the office or working remotely, holiday team-building activities are a great way to bring everyone together. For in-person teams, shared experiences like holiday games or volunteer work can deepen relationships. For remote teams, virtual holiday gatherings allow colleagues to connect in a more relaxed, personal setting, breaking down the isolation of remote work.
Happiness
Team building events inherently promote honest feedback, mutual respect, and openness. Research suggests that happy employees are up to 20% more productive. In addition, well-designed team-building exercises break up the workday/week and give employees a chance to have some fun with each other! We think almost everyone can agree that more fun leads to more happiness!
Custom AI-Powered Gift Selection Process
At Giftpack, our driving force is to simplify the corporate gifting process while maximizing the impact of each gift. Utilizing our custom AI algorithm, we create highly customized scenario swag box options for you. We deliver globally and have an extremely user-friendly platform. We curate the most fitting gifts from a vast catalog of over 3.5 million products worldwide (which is ever-increasing).
By carefully considering an individual's basic demographics, preferences, social media activity, and digital footprint, we tailor each gift selection process regardless of whether the recipient is an employee, a customer, a VIP client, a friend, or a family member. With a wide range of locally and globally sourced gifts, we ensure that personalized gifting is accessible and achievable on a large scale, delivering meaningful connections across the globe.
Try Giftpack's client gifting service for free today.
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• Holiday Gifts For Employees • Christmas Gifts For Employees • Holiday Message To Employees • Holiday Gifts For Coworkers • Work Christmas Party Games • Staff Christmas Gifts • Holiday Team Building Activities • Christmas Team Building Activities
How Do I Plan an Office Holiday Party?
Lock in the Date Early
Choose a date that gives everyone enough notice before calendars fill up. Early December or mid-January works well to avoid holiday conflicts. Decide if the party will be during office hours, after work, or even on a weekend—just make sure it’s convenient for most attendees.
Set the Mood With a Clear Theme
Decide on the vibe. Will it be a formal event, a laid-back sweater party, or something in between? Your theme influences everything—decor, dress code, and entertainment. A well-chosen theme makes planning easier and the party more memorable.
Build a Realistic Budget
Factor in expenses like venue rental, catering, drinks, entertainment, decor, and team gifts. Reserve an extra 10–15% for unexpected costs. On a tighter budget? Consider hosting at the office with DIY decor, potluck-style food, and free activities like trivia or desk-decorating contests.
Book the Right Venue
Choose a location that fits the mood, guest list, and budget. Local restaurants, hotel event spaces, or your company’s office can all work. For popular venues, aim to book 1–2 months in advance.
Send Invitations That Stand Out
Once your theme and venue are confirmed, send out engaging invites with all the essentials:
- Date and time
- Location or video link
- Dress code
- RSVP deadline
- Info about gift exchanges or games
Keep the tone festive when inviting one department or the entire company.
Plan a Thoughtful Menu
Choose catering that suits your setup—buffet, plated dinner, or finger foods. Ask about dietary preferences ahead of time to accommodate everyone. For remote teams, consider mailing out holiday snack boxes or hot cocoa kits in advance.
Make Entertainment Interactive
Don’t rely on background music alone. Think about:
- Holiday-themed games
- Photo booths
- Team awards or shout-outs
- A karaoke or dance-off session
Keep the schedule flexible to let people mingle or join in as they wish.
Build Buzz Ahead of Time
Share behind-the-scenes peeks of planning in Slack or email. Tease surprises like raffle prizes or special guests. Let the team vote on songs for the playlist or trivia themes. The more involved they are early on, the more excitement builds.
Add a Personal Gifting Moment
End the party with a meaningful takeaway, whether a branded mug, a thoughtful thank-you note, or a personalized item. Giftpack makes it easy to send unique, customized gifts tailored to each team member, no matter where they’re based.
Celebrate and Reflect
Once the party is over, share pictures and video highlights on your company channels. Encourage team members to comment and relive the fun. Send a short survey to collect feedback and improve next year’s event.
Related Reading
• Best Gift Cards For Employees • Team Christmas Gifts • Thanksgiving Corporate Gifts • Christmas Theme Ideas For Work • Thanksgiving Gifts For Employees • What To Get Employees For Christmas • New Year Gifts For Employees • Gift Cards For Employees Taxable • Christmas Party Gift Ideas For Employees • New Year Corporate Gifts
45 Creative & Fun Holiday Party Ideas for Work
1. Tree Decorating Competition
Spark creativity by hosting a tree decorating contest. Provide mini trees and decorations, or have remote employees share their festive setups. Encourage sustainable materials for an eco-friendly twist. Let the team vote on categories like Most Creative or Best Use of Recycled Materials.
2. Gingerbread Decorating
Get creative with a gingerbread house or cookie decorating session. Provide kits with pre-baked pieces and eco-friendly decorations. Set up virtual or in-person sessions where team members can showcase their creations. Add themes like Most Creative Design or Best Use of Natural Ingredients.
3. Xmas Photo Scavenger Hunt
Organize a holiday-themed scavenger hunt. Create a list of festive items to find and photograph. Teams can hunt around the office or their homes and share their findings. Add bonus challenges like Most Creative Photo or Funniest Holiday Scene.
4. Wrap Battles
Host a gift-wrapping competition with a twist. Encourage the use of eco-friendly materials. Provide sustainable wrapping supplies and set up stations for teams to compete. For remote teams, hold a live wrapping session over a video call. Let the team vote on the Most Creative or Best Use of Materials.
5. Send a special holiday package
Surprise employees with a holiday gift box. Build anticipation by having employees wait to open them until the party. Include fun and thoughtful items that reflect the holiday spirit.
6. Secret Santa gift exchange
Organize a Secret Santa gift exchange where employees draw names and anonymously exchange gifts. This classic holiday activity fosters surprise and camaraderie.
7. Holiday trivia challenge
Host a holiday trivia challenge with seasonally related questions. Test employees’ knowledge of holiday traditions, history, and pop culture. This activity is perfect for virtual or in-person gatherings.
8. Ugly sweater contest
Hold an ugly sweater contest to inject humor and creativity into the workplace. Encourage employees to wear their most outrageous and festive sweaters and compete for the ugliest (and most amusing) holiday attire.
9. Virtual caroling session
Bridge the gap for remote teams with a virtual caroling session. Coordinate a time for employees to join a video call and sing their favorite holiday tunes together. This uplifting activity fosters togetherness and spreads holiday joy.
10. Holiday Pictionary tournament
Host a holiday-themed Pictionary tournament. Create a list of holiday-related words or phrases and have teams compete in a series of rounds. This lively game encourages communication and teamwork.
11. Virtual holiday cookbook
Encourage employees to share their favorite holiday recipes in a virtual cookbook. Collect recipes for festive dishes, treats, and drinks from team members and compile them into a digital cookbook.
12. Holiday charity drive
Organize a holiday charity drive. Collaborate with a local charity and encourage employees to:
• Donate items • Funds • Volunteer time
This philanthropic activity brings the team together for a common cause and positively impacts the community.
13. Festive virtual escape room
Challenge teams to a virtual escape room with a holiday twist. Choose a themed escape room that encourages problem-solving and collaboration.
14. Holiday movie marathon
Organize a holiday movie marathon. Create a list of festive films and schedule a virtual or in-person screening session. Encourage employees to bring their favorite snacks and share their thoughts on the movies.
15. DIY holiday card station
Set up a DIY holiday card station in the office or virtually. Provide materials for employees to create personalized holiday cards. Encourage them to write notes of appreciation or warm wishes for their colleagues.
16. Holiday ice skating
Organize a team ice skating outing. Book a time at a local ice rink and encourage employees to bring or rent their skates. This seasonal activity is perfect for December.
17. Carol Karaoke
Host a Carol karaoke session. Grab a karaoke machine and queue up a Christmas karaoke playlist. Encourage employees to belt out their favorite holiday tunes.
18. Holiday Origami
Organize a holiday origami session. Gather paper in Christmas colors and play an origami tutorial. This creative activity allows employees to make ornaments, decorations, or gifts.
19. Merry Murder Mystery
Host a Christmas-themed murder mystery party. Choose a script and gather props and costumes. This interactive activity encourages employees to get into character and work together to solve the mystery.
20. Cookie Swaps
Organize a cookie swap where employees bring in homemade cookies to share. Arrange the treats buffet-style and encourage employees to make up a plate of assorted goodies.
21. Video Christmas Card
Create a video Christmas card with your team. Decide on a theme and shoot a greeting. Edit the footage together and send it to the team, or post it on a company page.
22. Ultimate Holiday Game Show (in-person or virtual)
Host an Ultimate Holiday Game Show where teams face off in a series of classic game show challenges with seasonal twists.
23. New Year’s resolutions reflection
Facilitate a reflective session where employees share their accomplishments and set goals for the upcoming year. This activity encourages self-awareness and team support.
24. Holiday desk-decorating contest
Host a holiday desk-decorating contest where employees transform their workspaces into winter wonderlands. This friendly competition promotes individual expression and creates a festive atmosphere.
25. Virtual gift-wrapping workshop
Organize a virtual gift-wrapping workshop. Hire a professional gift-wrapping expert or have team members share tips and tricks.
26. Holiday scavenger hunt
Organize a holiday-themed scavenger hunt in the office or virtually. Create a list of festive items or clues and have teams compete to find or solve them.
27. Virtual potluck party
Host a virtual potluck party where employees share their favorite holiday recipes and dishes. Participants can showcase their culinary skills by preparing and presenting their recipes.
28. Team-building board games party
Arrange a board games party with holiday-themed games or classics. This relaxed activity allows team members to unwind, engage in friendly competition, and strengthen their bonds.
29. White Elephant Gift Exchange
Organize a White Elephant Gift Exchange where employees bring humorous gifts to swap. This activity guarantees laughs and amusement for all participants.
30. Edible Paint Night with a Christmas Twist
Host an edible paint night where employees use cocoa butter-based paints to create artistic works.
31. Holiday Relay/Olympics
Organize a series of holiday-themed relay races or Olympic-style events. Create teams and set up different stations for activities like snowball toss, Christmas tree decorating races, or a gift-wrapping sprint.
32. Christmas Light Tours
Organize a Christmas light tour, during which employees drive or walk through neighborhoods known for their elaborate light displays. End the evening with a round of cocoa.
33. Merry Meme-making
Organize a meme-making session. Employees use a meme generator to add text to pictures. Share the creations in team emails or Slack threads.
34. Holiday Happy Hours
Host a holiday happy hour with a menu of Christmas cocktails. Include holiday games and activities like trivia, Bingo, and icebreaker questions.
35. Holiday Feud
Host a Holiday Feud game in which teams compete to create the most popular responses to seasonal questions.
36. Ice Skating
Organize a team ice skating outing at a local rink. Encourage employees to bring their skates or rent them.
37. Team Recipe Book
Create a team recipe book by asking employees to submit their favorite holiday recipes. Organize the recipes into book form and send the anthology to the team.
38. Stocking Stuffers
Encourage employees to hang stockings on their desks or office doors and fill them with kind notes and small gifts.
39. Advent Calendar Activities
Create an advent calendar with a surprise schedule of seasonal events. Each day, teams will check the calendar to find out the activity for the day.
40. Fantasy Christmas List
Organize a Fantasy Christmas List activity where employees build extravagant wish lists full of expensive and over-the-top items.
41. Hot Cocoa Breaks
Set up a hot cocoa station with mix-ins like whipped cream, marshmallows, and peppermint dust, and invite employees to indulge in the drinks and interact with each other.
42. Holiday Movie Night
Host a holiday movie night with a pajama dress code, fuzzy blankets, and Christmas-themed snacks. Use an app like Teleparty to sync video for remote teams.
43. Christmas Tradition
Start a team Christmas tradition by choosing an annual activity to commemorate the holiday season.
44. Seasonal Team Playlist
Ask employees to name their favorite Christmas songs to create a seasonal team playlist. Play the playlist in the office or send the link to remote employees.
45. Ice Bar
Visit an ice bar, where everything from the tables to the drink glasses is made of ice. This unique experience creates a great photo op and a memorable holiday outing.
5 Tips to Throw a Successful Holiday Party for Work
1. Get Everyone's Input for a Great Party
Start by involving your team in the planning process. Use a survey to ask about past activities and gather fresh ideas. Encourage team members to suggest themes and party favors. Let them contribute to a shared playlist. This involvement boosts excitement and makes everyone feel part of the celebration.
2. Celebrate All Winter Holidays
It’s crucial to remember that not everyone celebrates the same holidays. Include secular winter activities to ensure everyone feels comfortable. This approach fosters an inclusive atmosphere where everyone can enjoy the party without feeling left out.
3. Pick a Fun and Unique Theme
Choosing something unique while a classic holiday theme works can elevate the experience. Consider a pajama party, an ugly sweater contest, or themes inspired by holiday movies. These themes encourage participation and create memorable experiences.
4. Try New Activities This Year
Introduce new activities to keep the energy up. Reflect on past parties to avoid repetition. Make small tweaks to traditional games and add fresh ones to the mix. This keeps the party exciting and ensures everyone has a great time.
5. Send Guests Home with a Thoughtful Gift
As the party wraps up, send guests home with a small token of appreciation. It could be a Christmas ornament, a self-care kit, or a personalized thank-you note. Use an employee gifting platform like Giftpack to find practical and meaningful gifts. This gesture extends the holiday spirit and leaves a lasting impression.
Related Reading
• Holiday Swag Ideas • Holiday Gifts For Remote Employees • Corporate Christmas Gifts
Build A Meaningful Employee Recognition Program With Ease with Giftpack's Client Gifting Service
At Giftpack, our driving force is to simplify the corporate gifting process while maximizing the impact of each gift. Utilizing our custom AI algorithm, we create highly customized scenario swag box options for you. We deliver globally and have an extremely user-friendly platform. We curate the most fitting gifts from a vast catalog of over 3.5 million products worldwide (which is ever-increasing).
By carefully considering an individual's basic demographics, preferences, social media activity, and digital footprint, we tailor each gift selection process regardless of whether the recipient is an employee, a customer, a VIP client, a friend, or a family member. With a wide range of locally and globally sourced gifts, we ensure that personalized gifting is accessible and achievable on a large scale, delivering meaningful connections across the globe.
Try Giftpack's client gifting service for free today.
Make your gifting efficient and improve employee attrition rates with Giftpack AI
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