Your holiday work party may be your office’s biggest event of the year. Planning it can be a big task, but we have some company holiday party ideas to create an amazing celebration for every team member!
Start with a creative Christmas party theme
Setting the stage for your office holiday party is one of the most fun parts! You can build a winter wonderland with sparkling lights and glittering decorations inside your venue.
For classy Christmas parties, stick with white lights and silver, gold, or champagne accents. Bundles of balloons or balloon arches are a classic way to decorate your holiday workspace, and booking a balloon decor company can save you some time and effort.
If your party is more “ugly sweater” than the Nutcracker, go all out with colorful string lights, candy cane-colored schemes, and bowls of bright ornaments. An easy color scheme of red and green is always a hit!
🎄 You might also like: 7 Festive Christmas Party Themes
Plan a fun holiday menu
A company holiday party wouldn’t be complete without a decadent menu and festive cocktails. Once you have a headcount for the celebration, you can start planning the food and drinks.
Decide what to serve
A buffet of savory appetizers can help simplify things and keep the menu lighter. If you prefer a sit-down meal for your holiday office party, try booking a caterer to handle all the details. Bigger companies or parties with plus-ones may even want to hire waitstaff to ensure the meal service is a smooth experience.
Offer sweet treats
Your Christmas party ideas aren’t complete until you’ve added some sugar into the mix! Set up a dessert table filled with easy-to-grab cookies, cupcakes, and other charming treats.
Embrace the holiday spirit(s)
Host a holiday Happy Hour! Add some excitement to the bar with a flair bartender and work with them to create signature holiday drinks for your company. Salted caramel eggnog, anyone?
Be sure to have some non-alcoholic offerings like sparkling cranberry juice or apple cider for those who don’t wish to partake in adult beverages. Hot cocoa stations are a great way to get guests to interact at the holiday party as they mix their sweet concoctions.
Expand your Christmas party guest list
You see your co-workers daily, so welcome some fresh faces to your holiday office party! A professional Christmas performer can bring a little something extra to the festivities.
🎅 Santa Claus
Why not invite the CEO of the North Pole to join your work holiday party? Book a Santa Claus to help pass out Secret Santa or company gifts, take “elfies” with the partygoers, read the company’s “naughty and nice” list, and more.
🤶 Mrs. Claus
Santa often brings his better half to Christmas parties, but she’s also an independent lady! Hire Mrs. Claus for your work holiday party to lead gingerbread house decorating, host wine tastings, or judge ugly sweater contests.
⛄ Costumed Characters
Hire a costumed character from your favorite holiday movies like The Grinch or Elf to surprise your party guests. If there will be little ones, the Snow Queen or winter-time mascots are other great choices. They can greet guests, pose for photos, and help with passing out gifts!
🤹 Interactive Performers
Book a strolling table to serve drinks and appetizers or a juggler or stilt walker to provide ambient entertainment. A close-up magician can visit each table for some holiday-themed illusions.
👉 You might also like: Book Santa Claus to Bring the Jolly to Your Corporate Event
Set your holiday work party soundtrack
It’s not an office Christmas party if there are no swingin’ holiday tunes! Whether you just want low-key background music or to get the crowd onto the dance floor, there’s a musician for every type of holiday work party.
🎶 Christmas Carolers
No matter your theme, Christmas carolers are a great choice for your office party. They usually have various options for their costumes and song selections. Other holiday singing groups or a cappella groups can lend the same festive musical atmosphere if you want something more contemporary.
🎷 Solo Musicians
For holiday work parties on a budget, a solo performer may be a better choice for you! But don’t think that means you’ll lose out on the festive atmosphere they can provide. For instrumental background music, a pianist or jazz pianist can tap out holiday tunes while a saxophone player or jazz guitarist can create a bluesy party soundtrack.
🎤 Singers
If you prefer a singer for your Christmas party, there’s an option for every theme! A crooner or jazz singer is great for decade-themed holiday parties. Or for a traditional performance, a singing guitarist or singing pianist can sprinkle some festive songs into their repertoire.
🎺 Big Bands
Consider booking a party band for an office group that likes to dance and sing along! These musicians can rock your work holiday party and get everyone on their feet. A cover band or swing band are other great options for full-stage performances at your event.
🎻 Full Instrumental
For a full sound at sophisticated holiday parties, book a string quartet or jazz band to provide mood-setting music. If your office Christmas party is a bit more low-key, an acoustic band or folk band can provide a rustic holiday vibe.
⭐ You might also like: 8 Themes for an Unforgettable Corporate Holiday Party
Consider some delightful team-building activities
Take this opportunity to bond while celebrating a successful year! These office holiday party ideas are great for getting everyone to interact and have a fantastic time as a team.
Christmas song sing-alongs
Watching a performance is fun, but being the performer is even better. Hire a karaoke DJ to showcase hidden talents, or book a dueling piano group for a rousing sing-along. Be sure to have requests ready because these skilled entertainers can play almost anything!
Holiday photos and souvenirs
Grab some Christmas-themed props and set up a photo booth for your guests! Most photo booth companies can even add your logo to the printouts to keep the party on-brand and give them the ability to share their silly shots on social media instantly.
A caricaturist or silhouette artist can give everyone a keepsake from this year’s work holiday party. Are you an artsy bunch? Book an arts and crafts party to help your group make their own ornaments for the office tree!
Christmas party games
The office budget may not allow for a group trip to Vegas, but you can hire a casino games company for your work holiday party instead! If gambling isn’t your thing, a game show is another great option to add a little friendly competition to the evening.
For smaller groups that really love team building, book a murder mystery party or scavenger hunt and ask to have it tailored to a holiday theme!
🎲 You might also like: 7 Unique Christmas Party Games for Adults
Virtual teams need love, too
Virtual team-building activities are a fantastic way to include remote employees in the holiday season festivities. Connect your employees through online trivia, escape rooms, or cooking classes. Most performers can even perform a virtual concert, comedy show, or magic show to entertain the entire team.
Show your appreciation
‘Tis the season to spread joy and appreciation, so be sure to pass out some corporate holiday gifts to delight your employees! These gift ideas are sure to leave a lasting impression and make your team feel truly valued.
💆 Spa and Wellness Packages
After a year of hard work, your team deserves relaxation and self-care. Pamper your employees with spa vouchers, wellness retreats, or even a subscription to a meditation app to help them unwind and recharge.
👕 Custom Apparel
Elevate your team’s style with custom apparel. Whether it’s branded sweaters, embroidered jackets, or quirky graphic tees, give a gift that makes your employees’ corporate wear pop.
☕ Coffee and Tea Delights
Fuel your employees with gourmet coffee and tea packages. Curate a collection of exotic blends, unique coffee mugs, and elegant teapots.
📦 Subscription Services
Subscription boxes are all the rage. Consider monthly book clubs, gourmet food deliveries, or streaming subscriptions to keep your team entertained and engaged.
🌿 Eco-Friendly Gifts
In a world focused on sustainability, eco-friendly gifts are a hit. Explore options like reusable shopping bags, bamboo kitchenware, or even potted plants for their desks.
As you wrap up your holiday party planning, remember that this season’s true magic lies in the connections we forge and the joy we share. From selecting a theme to finding the perfect entertainment with GigSalad, and all the thoughtful details in between, your work holiday party promises to be a memorable celebration.
Here’s to a festive gathering filled with laughter, cheer, and a dash of whimsy — a holiday party that leaves an indelible mark on your workplace and creates lasting memories for years to come. Cheers to the most wonderful time of the year, both in and out of the office! ❤️💚
🕎 Create an inclusive celebration: If you have mixed company coming to your work holiday party, include some Hanukkah traditions so everyone feels welcome!
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.