8 Ideas for a Last Minute Company Christmas Party!
November is ending and December is just around the corner. It means that it’s that time of the year again: Christmas is coming! It can feel daunting to throw together a company Christmas party at the last minute, but fear not, we’ve got you covered with 8 fantastic, easy-to-implement ideas. Whether you have a large corporation or a small business, these suggestions are sure to bring festive cheer to your workplace without the extensive planning usually required. From gift exchange games to exciting holiday team-building activities, each proposal is designed to maximize employee engagement and holiday spirit. Not to mention, they’re perfect for sharing the holiday spirit within your team. So, grab your Santa hats, cue the Christmas playlist, and let’s dive into these merry and bright last-minute party plans that are sure to be a hit with your colleagues. Keep in mind that the key is to choose an idea that resonates with your team’s interests and the overall vibe of your company – after all, the goal is to celebrate together and create lasting memories!
The Benefits of Organizing a Christmas Party
Organizing a company Christmas party is a great way to boost morale among employees and create a sense of camaraderie and team spirit. It gives employees a chance to get to know each other better, celebrate successes and achievements throughout the year, and strengthen and foster relationships between team members. Most importantly, it is a perfect way to thank employees for their hard work and dedication.
A company Christmas party is an excellent opportunity for employees to relax and enjoy the holidays. It can be an informal gathering or a formal event, depending on the size and budget of the organization. The holiday season is the perfect time to show appreciation for your team. Hosting a company Christmas party is an exceptional way to do just that. Not only will it boost morale and productivity, but it will also create a sense of community and team spirit.
3 Key Elements of a Company Christmas Party
The first thing to consider is to of course make sure that the festive spirit is here for your party. Set the festive tone with decorations, music, and seasonal refreshments. This will get your team in a celebratory mood and excited about the festivities to come.
Your management team should be ready to give a small speech at the start of the Christmas party. They can discuss their wishes and expectations for the coming year at the start of the event, and then let the team celebrate. Make it short but impactful. This way, your employees are still attentive and receptive.
Finally, end the evening with a memorable toast. Come together to thank your team for their hard work and dedication over the last year. Reward them, and toast to the holiday season and the coming year. This will leave your team feeling appreciated and will have them looking forward to the next company Christmas party.
8 ideas for a last-minute office Christmas party
If you start early enough, you can make your Christmas party as big as you wish, and invite stakeholders, key account clients, and potential new clients. This is a way to celebrate your company, its achievements, and your employees with the people who made the journey with you this year.
However, if you started planning a little late, the best way to go is to focus on your employees and use your office Christmas party as a team-building opportunity. We’re sharing 8 ideas that you can implement for your last-minute Christmas party. While some might require a bigger budget than others, they are all good options to bring your team together.
1- Cooking Classes or Team Cooking Party
If you’re looking for a festive and fun way to celebrate the holidays with your company this year, why not consider a team cooking class? Cooking classes are a great way to promote communication, and collaboration while having a lot of fun. Not only that, but it’s a great way to introduce different cultures and customs, and learn about different cuisines. You can tailor the cooking class to your employee’s needs and interests, making it a creative way to celebrate the holidays.
If you’d rather keep things spontaneous and simple, a team cooking party can be a good alternative. Ask for your team members to gather together in your company kitchen (if you have one) and let’s get cooking! The bonus point with this idea is that your team can eat the dinner they created and it’s always a great opportunity to share memories together.
2- Decorate the office and/or the Christmas tree
There are no end-of-the-year celebrations without the proper decor. Ask your team to come together for an afternoon or after work and help decorate the office. Start a Christmas playlist and let everyone bring the Christmas spirit to your workplace. Use garlands, a Christmas tree, window stickers, and twinkling lights to transform your office space. You can even add personalized touches like custom baubles with the company logo or employees’ names, which can double as memorable keepsakes.
Don’t forget to bring some Christmas cookies for your team to share during this activity. This idea is easy to implement and your team will become invested in making sure that their office space is properly festive.
3- Secret Santa or White Elephant Gift Exchange
Another way to add some extra cheer to your company’s Christmas party is to organize a Secret Santa or White Elephant gift exchange.
The Secret Santa gift exchange can easily involve everyone in the office. Everyone can draw a name out of a hat and then buy a small gift for the person they’ve chosen. To make sure that everyone can participate, it’s important to set a budget for each gift. The exchange can take place at the party or can be done ahead of time. It adds an element of surprise and fun to the party.
If you’re looking for something a bit more competitive and hilarious, consider a White Elephant gift exchange. Everyone brings a wrapped gift to the party and takes turns opening them. The catch is, that whoever opens a gift can “steal” another person’s gift if they don’t like the one they have. This adds an element of competition and hilarity to the party.
Whether you decide to do a Secret Santa or White Elephant exchange, these fun gift exchanges can make your company’s Christmas party even more memorable.
4- Holiday Trivia
Consider bringing your team together for an evening of holiday-themed games, fun, and laughter.
You can create a themed trivia with questions focusing on Christmas and the end of the year. Quiz your employees on well-known and obscure facts about Christmas songs, movies general knowledge, and so on. It’s a surefire way to have a good time together. You can do it the old-school way with paper and pen or use an online quiz platform such as Slido for more fun. You can also add some questions that are company-related and based on the yearly accomplishments of your team or on the general history of your company.
5- Visit a Christmas Market
Instead of hosting a traditional party in your offices, why not opt for a unique experience by visiting a Christmas market with your employees?
At a Christmas market, you and your team can browse through stalls full of unique items and decorations, as well as local foods and drinks. The festive atmosphere of a Christmas market can be a great way to get into the spirit of the season and enjoy the holiday cheer. You and your team can find special gifts and souvenirs to take home. In addition, Christmas markets typically have a wide variety of activities and entertainment, from carolers to ice skating rinks. Depending on the location, there may also be a variety of local attractions such as light shows, Santa’s Village, and more.
6- Holiday Themed Escape Room
Making your company Christmas party memorable can be a challenge, but with the addition of a holiday-themed escape room, you can create an unforgettable experience for your team. Escape rooms are a great way to bring out the competitive spirit and have some fun while doing it! Look around your city for a themed space room, or just select a normal one and book rooms to have some fun. Prepare small rewards for the winners and get ready to solve some puzzles! With this unique and exciting twist, your company Christmas party will be a definite success! You can also follow this activity with a Christmas dinner in a restaurant or a visit to a nearby Christmas market.
7- Christmas Card Crafting
The holiday season is the perfect time to get creative. One great way to do this is by creating custom Christmas cards to send to family, friends, and colleagues. With a few simple supplies, you can create unique and beautiful cards that will stand out amongst the crowd.
It’s an easy activity that your employees can take part in and it’s very easy to implement for a last-minute festive activity. The goal here is just to share some time together and have fun. Start some Christmas music and prepare some mulled wine to set up a good festive ambiance. With a little bit of creativity, you can make sure that your cards bring joy to all who receive them. And your employees can enjoy a relaxing activity.
8- Christmas Advent Calendar
Consider making an advent calendar for your team. Instead of gathering your team for one party, give them the opportunity to gather every day during a coffee break and open a present. Every day, one employee will open a gift. This way everyone gets something for the whole month of December. It doesn’t have to be anything big. Maybe some chocolates or cookies. You could also gift them small objects that they will need to use at a bigger Christmas gathering at the end of the month. Or you could start a riddle advent calendar that will encourage your team to work together to find the solution. The opportunities are endless and you can encourage daily exchange between your employees, all while spreading the festive spirit during the whole month.
Conclusion
As we’ve explored throughout this article, a company Christmas party is more than just an annual gathering—it’s a powerful tool for fostering team spirit, appreciating employees, and ending the year on a high note. By planning an event that’s both enjoyable and reflective of your company’s culture, you can boost morale, increase employee satisfaction, and potentially improve productivity as the new year begins. We hope that our last-minute company Christmas party ideas helped you. We invite you to take these creative suggestions and tailor them to your team’s unique fabric. Remember, even simple gestures can resonate deeply with your employees, making them feel valued and connected. With the festive season upon us, it’s the perfect opportunity to implement these strategies and celebrate the hard work and dedication that your team has shown throughout the year.
If you want to organize a full-scale Christmas party for your company, we can help. Let’s get in touch and discuss your project. From Christmas dinner events to advent concerts, we can help you with the event management part of the process.
Written by:
Clélia Morlot
PIRATEx Digital Marketing Manager
