Office Christmas Party Ideas Everyone Will Love

Updated 22nd Nov 2021

After a year of social distancing, Zoom parties, and cancelled events; office colleagues are looking forward more than ever to celebrating the season together in person. Expectations are set to be higher than ever due to the lost Christmas of 2020. Have you found yourself in charge of festivities for your office party and don’t know where to begin? Look no further - here are some office Christmas party ideas for making 2021 extra special.

Organise a gift-exchange

Due the financial constraints caused by the pandemic, people are going to be looking to save this year. Colleagues will be concerned enough with being able to afford Christmas gifts for their families, let alone their colleagues. Take some of the pressure off by organising a gift exchange with a spending limit. Instead of feeling pressured to buy something impressive or luxurious, colleagues will be thrilled to exchange traditional hampers and gift-boxes filled with Christmas goodies that anyone and everyone can enjoy.

Send guests home with treats

Don’t allow guests to leave the party empty-handed! Send guests home with a selection of chocolate gifts and goodies. A party will feel extra fulfilling and special when colleagues have something to take home with them to remember the occasion. Your colleagues will also thank you by sending them home with treats that they can add to their stash of stocking-stuffers. Finally, there will also likely be colleagues who are expecting strict hygienic conditions for food. Individually packaged hampers and boxes that guests can open at home are good options to ensure health safety and security.

Support the Team

Bring in some team spirit by having your company logo added to party favours, chocolate Christmas bon bons, personalised Christmas gifts and treats. This will add a nice personal touch that colleagues won’t forget. It’s also a great way to promote your business to potential clients!

Plan activities for kids young and old

Office Christmas parties can be the time once a year where families and co-workers mix and mingle. It’s not always easy to keep everyone happy and entertained. Plan some activities that will keep kids of all ages happy including card decorating, gingerbread house making, Christmas bingo or other games, or capturing memories with polaroid photo cameras. Offer prizes such as personalised Christmas hampers or Christmas gift boxes to the winners. 

Set up an open cookie bar

Alcohol is a major expense at parties. There is also always that one colleague who over-indulges and suffers some embarrassing mishap. Avoid these cringe-worthy moments by coordinating drink tickets while at the same time offering an open, all-you-can-eat cookie and candy bar! This idea can involve fun activities such as create-your-own cookie stations or candy creations.

Have a contingency plan

As of now, it appears that in most regions of the world COVID restrictions will be less stringent for Christmas 2021 than they were in 2020. However, that could change suddenly and severely. We recommend that you keep abreast of the latest COVID mandates in your region and map out your Plan B (and Plan C) in the event that restrictions change and your party plans need to adapt. What’s a good Plan B? If it looks like Zoom will again be hosting this year’s holiday party, we suggest that you incorporate some of the corporate christmas gifts and goodies mentioned above into party-in-a-box Christmas hampers and gift boxes that colleagues can enjoy on their own.

Although Christmas 2021 will likely come with more freedoms than 2020, some things will stay the same. Our advice is to focus on personalised touches and interactive activities for your next office Christmas party. Happy planning!