Let’s plan an amazing event with our company Christmas party ideas!
Planning a company Christmas party can be challenging. The best corporate holiday events balance team bonding, entertainment, great food, and an experience employees actually enjoy. Whether you’re planning a small office gathering or a large celebration, pick and choose from any of the ideas below..
5 Unique Company Christmas Party Ideas
Companies are looking for more than the traditional office holiday gathering. The best company Christmas party ideas create opportunities for employees to connect and have fun. Interactive activities and themed events create team experiences. These unique corporate Christmas party ideas can help you plan a celebration your employees will look forward to.
1. Christmas Costume Contest
Who doesn’t love a good costume contest? This Christmas party idea takes more creativity than actual talent so anyone can join in!
Encourage employees to dress up in their favorite holiday-themed outfits. A company Christmas costume party is a fun and playful way to get everyone into the spirit. It also allows your team to express their own creativity and individuality.
For extra fun, consider prizes for first, second, or third place participants.
Holiday contest prizes could include:
- Gift card
- Movie tickets
- Extra vacation days
- New company swag
- Holiday-themed goodie bags
- First place in line at the buffet table
2. Team-Building Festive Games Tournament
Christmas is the perfect time to blend team building with celebration. Organize a festive games tournament where teams of coworkers compete in lighthearted activities like holiday charades, ornament relay races, or even a holiday-themed scavenger hunt. These work party challenges strengthen bonds, bring plenty of laughter, and make sure every guest feels part of the fun. With a catered spread nearby, everyone can refuel between rounds and keep the energy high.
3. Winter Wonderland Office Transformation
On the day of your staff party, make transforming the office (or any other holiday party venue) into a winter wonderland part of the event itself.
As the staff works together to set up the tree, hang twinkle lights, layer fake snow along the window ledges, and hang up whatever other holiday decorations they choose, they will feel their holiday spirits rising.
4. Hot Cocoa & Gingerbread House Bar
Few things say Christmas like a steaming mug of hot cocoa and the sweet smell of gingerbread. Set up a cozy holiday station where coworkers and guests can build their own gingerbread houses. Sip gourmet hot cocoa with marshmallows, whipped cream, or candy canes. It’s equal parts decoration activity and fun game and the results double as edible décor for the rest of your office event.
5. Christmas-Themed Escape Room
If you live in a larger metropolitan area like LA, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a Christmas-themed escape room to visit. (If not, there are now services offering virtual escape room experiences that you could participate in right from the comfort of your own office.)
Work together to collect clues and solve puzzles. This is great for both small and large companies. For larger businesses, what a great way for staff members that don’t usually intermix to work together.
Add a post-party with some catered food and drink, and you have a corporate holiday party idea that’s interactive and rewarding!
5 Low-Cost Company Christmas Party Ideas
Planning a company Christmas party doesn’t mean a large budget. Memorable workplace holiday celebrations focus on creativity, connection, and team participation. These low-cost company Christmas party ideas are easy to organize resulting in a budget friendly experience.
1. Holiday Movie Marathon
Another favorite festive idea is a corporate holiday movie party. On one of the last days before the holiday break, set your lounge area or common space with a selection of classic Christmas films playing on a loop. You can create a schedule or allow colleagues to choose.
- A Christmas Carol
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Miracle on 34th Street
- Home Alone
Employees can cycle in and out as their schedules allow, relaxing and enjoying goodies from the catered buffet table. This can be used as a stand-alone holiday celebration or in tandem with a catered office holiday party.
2. Christmas Trivia Quiz
One great festive idea is to host a holiday-themed trivia quiz, with prizes going to the most knowledgeable teams or individual participants. Set up a catered buffet spread so people can pick throughout the night. Questions could be related to
- Holiday traditions around the world
- Christmas movies, music, and pop culture
- Holiday history
3. Ugly Sweater Contest
An ugly sweater contest never misses.
For this event, employees wear their most outrageous Christmas sweaters and Santa hats, competing to outdo each other with their over-the-top selections.
Give prizes for things such as:
- Most creative sweater
- Most memorable sweater
- Worst color combinations
- Ugliest sweater
4. Christmas Pajama Party
Those who worked from home during the pandemic already know the delights of spending the work day in their coziest fuzzy pajamas. Now that many of us are fully back in the office, why not celebrate the season by giving employees the best of both worlds?
At a staff pajama day celebration, employees come to the office in their most festive (and work-appropriate) sleepwear. Whether that means a Grinch onesie, a red-and-green flannel set, or simply some comfy sweats, co-workers get to work in their favorite holiday PJ’s right up until the staff Christmas party.
This can create a relaxing and joyful atmosphere perfect for celebrating the holiday season.
5. Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
If space allows, consider a Christmas-tree lighting ceremony at your corporate headquarters. It can take place in your office, outside or some other open space.
Employees can participate fully in the tree lighting event by helping to decorate the tree leading up to the lighting. Open the tree lighting invitation to their friends, family, or even (if applicable) clients to attend.
Then, of course, everyone enjoys food and drink together amid the glow of the twinkle lights!
3 Company Christmas Party Ideas for Small Teams
Small teams have a unique advantage when planning a company Christmas party because celebrations can feel more personal, interactive, and customized. Hosting a gathering for a small office, startup team, or department? The best small team holiday party ideas focus on meaningful experiences, conversation, and fun.
1. Secret Santa Gift Exchange
A Secret Santa company gift exchange captures the spirit of the season through the giving of gifts.
About a week before the staff celebration, have everyone in the office draw a name from a hat for a secret gift exchange. As the word secret implies, everyone then chooses thoughtful and personalized gifts for one another. (Generally, there’s also a price cap included so that no one feels pressure to go over the top with their choice.)
As you can imagine, half the fun is in trying to decide what to get for the person without letting on who you’re buying a gift for!
At the holiday office party, everyone exchanges gifts and enjoys seeing what everyone picked out for everyone else. Fun and laughter ensue!
2. Christmas Craft Workshop
A popular choice for staff parties, a Christmas craft workshop requires providing materials and guidance for making ornaments, wreaths, or other holiday crafts.
Your company holiday crafting can be lead by a team member or few team members. If your budget allows it or if you have a connection, bring in a professional to lead. A Christmas craft activity is a memorable addition to your staff Christmas party .
3. Outdoor Ice Skating
Enjoy the winter season with this classic seasonal activity! A staff field trip to an outdoor ice skating rink is a great way to create lasting memories.
To top it all off, having professional caterers taking care of the food and drink after the event means no one has to leave the rink early to head back to the office to set up.
Everyone can enjoy the day—and then return to the office for a holiday dinner spread.
7 Company Christmas Party Ideas for Any Size Team
Every company has a different approach to celebrating the holiday season. The right Christmas party idea should match your company culture, budget, and event goals. These company Christmas party ideas work for teams of all sizes. They can be customized to create a fun, memorable holiday experience for employees.
1. Holiday Greetings & Dance Party
Kick things off with a short round of heartfelt holiday greetings, where leadership thanks the team for their hard work. Then, it’s onto the dance floor complete with festive playlists. Add seasonal drinks and you’ll have some festive fun that also makes your team feel appreciated.
2. Christmas-Themed Karaoke
To maximize holiday cheer at your corporate Christmas party, just add singing!
A karaoke session in which employees can sing their favorite holiday song could be a fun and engaging activity to liven up the atmosphere. Keep it strictly carols or mix in other tunes. It’s your holiday party so customize for your team.
A little friendly competition with prizes for the best performances can up the ante while simultaneously boosting team morale.
3. Christmas Tree Decorating Contest
Depending on your space and budget, set up one tree divided into quadrants—or several small trees assigned to teams. By a set time, each team, department, or group decorates its section with its own theme.
This creative idea is a win-win. It builds teamwork while creating festive decorations for your corporate holiday gathering.
4. Christmas Photo Booth
Who doesn’t love a festive photo booth? Setting up a space with backdrops and Christmas props like Santa hats, tinsel, or oversized candy canes ensures lasting memories.
The fun and memorable Christmas photos taken during the office party will capture the spirit of the season for years to come.
5. Charity Drive
An all-staff charity drive during the holiday season promotes a spirit of giving within the office and reminds everyone what the season is all about. Working together toward a common goal can also be an incredibly bonding experience for everyone involved.
Consider organizing initiatives such as:
- Toy drive for local children in need
- Food collection for a neighborhood food bank
- Clothing or winter coat donation program
- Fundraising for a nonprofit or community cause
- Adopting a local family for the holidays
Whether you sponsor one of these or partner with a local charity, this could be a meaningful way for your staff to usher in the season.
6. Reindeer Games Tournament
The Reindeer Games Tournament is a lively, tournament-style competition including lighthearted, themed games.
- Santa Sack Races
- Pin the Nose on the Rudolph
- Blindfolded Gift Wrapping
- Oven Mitt Gift Unwrapping Challenge
- Candy Canes (variation on “Spoons”)
Be sure to include prizes for the winners to take this one over the top!
7. Company Christmas Party Catering
Food brings everyone together. Whether you are budget-conscious or open to a formal office holiday party, there is a corporate catering option for you.
Buffet. Drop-off catering. Formal sit-down. Passed appetizers and bar catering. Holiday corporate breakfast. Like we said, there is a catering option for whatever you choose.
Questions or looking for ideas? Let’s talk.
Celebrate the Christmas Season Right
In the workplace, the holiday season provides opportunities for celebration and bonding. We hope you’ve discovered some fun and unique ideas to make your corporate holiday gathering shine!
As you narrow down ideas for your big gathering, be sure to choose the options that will best fit your current company culture and team preferences. While young, high-energy teams might prefer the Reindeer Games, teams with a more chill vibe might appreciate a combined Christmas Pajama Party and Holiday Movie Marathon option.
Whatever you decide, remember that the heart of every party is good food and drink. As such, it should take priority in your planning. Whether it is a corporate breakfast or cocktail party, Marbled can help.
Before the rush of the holiday season truly descends, get ahead of the mad scramble by hiring Marbled LA to cater your corporate holiday event. We can also help with those non-holiday corporate events as well.
To hear more about how we can help you plan your menu and take your corporate Christmas party to the next level. Take a look at our holiday menu. For custom orders, please contact a Marbled team member.
