5 Fun Company Holiday Party Activities & Activations
If you’ve been tasked with coordinating the activities for your company’s next holiday party, then you likely know that the clock is ticking. Surprisingly, many of the things you want to do for the holidays take far longer to plan and coordinate than you might think. Before you know it, Turkey Day is here and it’s time to watch the Thanksgiving Day parade, and your holiday party is the week or two after.
So what can you do when time is not on your side but you want to create an event that your company’s attendees will remember and love? We’ve got five fun holiday party activities for you below. And even better, we’ll let you know just what you need to do to get started and bring those activities to life.
Planning Your Company Holiday Party?
Planning a holiday party for a business can be challenging for event planners. You need to be mindful of the various interests and preferences of your employees, and be respectful of how every unique individual might celebrate the season. In a world where we want to be respectful of individuality and inclusive of everyone, this makes holiday planning a bit complicated. After all, what might be interesting for you might not be all that applicable to someone else.
At Event Experience, we’ve been helping companies plan their holiday parties for years. And our message to you? Keep it simple. The best holiday activities are far less complicated than you might think.
Here are some of our favorite company holiday party activities that you will want to try this year and for future holiday-themed company events:
1. Custom Holiday Flannels (and Fashion Show!)
Flannel shirts are a holiday staple, and we think are especially fitting if you’re planning a holiday party in Seattle or the Pacific Northwest. This activation offers a fun way to let everyone show off their style.
Set up a custom flannel station at your holiday party where attendees can “channel the flannel” and pick a blank flannel to add their own flair. Offer fabric markers, iron-on patches, and other decorations to personalize their shirts. Once everyone has their masterpiece, host a mini fashion show! Employees can strut their stuff and vote on the most creative designs.
Here’s how to make it happen! Order plain flannel shirts in various sizes ahead of time, or upcycle from a local thrift shop. Set up a decorating station with all the materials needed and space to decorate.
Bonus: Have a fun prize ready for the winner of the fashion show!
2. Scent Bar—Perfume or Candle Bar
Engage your guests’ senses by setting up a scent bar where they can create their very own personalized custom perfumes or candles. It’s a hands-on activity that’s both fun and relaxing. Provide a variety of fragrance oils and let guests mix and match to create their personalized scent. If you go the candle route, attendees can even pick out their candle jars and create their unique label to take home a one-of-a-kind creation.
Here’s how to make it happen! Hire a local fragrance expert or candle maker to help run the station. Offer several scents to choose from, and create a cozy, holiday-themed space that brings out the creative side of everyone on your team.
3. Photo Album Making and Selfie Spot
No holiday party is complete without some fun photo ops! Set up a themed selfie spot where employees can snap pictures together in front of festive backdrops like faux fireplaces, snowy scenes, or holiday trees. Add props like Santa hats, reindeer antlers, or even goofy holiday glasses. Afterward, you can organize a DIY photo album station where attendees can print their photos on-site and create keepsake albums to take home.
Here’s how to make it happen! Rent a portable photo printer and set up a crafting table with mini albums, stickers, and holiday-themed decorations. Provide festive props and backdrops to bring the selfie spot to life.
Another option is to work with a professional Santa and set up a beautiful vignette for Santa photos. This can especially be a big hit if your company holiday party includes the whole family, allowing your team to capture a family photo that they can cherish for years to come. We’ve done this plenty of times, so please contact us if you would like our help.
4. Cocoa Bar + Sweater Mug Craft
Who doesn’t love a cup of hot cocoa during the holiday season? Create an interactive cocoa bar where employees can mix up their favorite drink with options like whipped cream, candy canes, and marshmallows. To make it even more fun, have a “sweater mug” craft station where attendees can decorate their own mugs with holiday sweaters or cozy designs. Not only will they get to enjoy their cocoa, but they’ll have a custom mug to take home. And isn’t this a far better holiday gift than those cutting boards you give out every year?
We did this very activation at a holiday party in Seattle and it was a huge success!
Here’s how to make it happen! Provide a variety of toppings for the cocoa and plenty of crafting supplies for the mugs, like paint markers, stencils, and mini holiday sweaters. This is a great activity for mingling while sipping something warm!
5. Holiday Movie Trivia
For a simple yet super fun addition, why not add a round of holiday movie trivia? Gather everyone in teams and test their knowledge of classic holiday films, from Home Alone to Elf. Not only does this activity require minimal setup, but it’s a great way to get the competitive energy flowing. You can even throw in a few fun twists, like playing short clips from movies and having teams guess the film or line.
Here’s how to make it happen! Prepare trivia questions ahead of time or use an online holiday trivia generator, or hire our event entertainment experts to do it all for you. Offer festive prizes like gift cards or holiday treats for the winning team. If you’re looking for even more holiday games and activities, check out this list.
Want to Take Holiday Party Planning Off Your Plate?
So, which holiday party activity was your favorite?
We get it. You may love these ideas and want to get activated, but you simply have too much time on your plate to make it happen. If that is the case, why not leave your holiday event planning in Seattle to the professionals?
At Event Experience, we are experts in holiday planning and would love to help bring your vision to life. We’re the company you want to work with when trying to create the absolute best company holiday party. Contact us today, and let us help take the holiday party planning stress off your shoulders.
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