Affordable Office Party Ideas
There’s been a big shift in holiday office parties over the past decade or so: Moving from catered, sit-down affairs to more casual, activity-based festivities. People seem to like these events better; they’re less pressure and more fun. They offer an opportunity for team bonding without forcing anything. And they’re not a cash drain. With that theme in mind, here are a few holiday office party ideas that can be enjoyed by a variety of employee types.
A karaoke bar is a good starting place. You’ve got karaoke for the employees who fall into the talented, ambitious and silly camps. You’ve got a bar, which any curmudgeon can get on board with. You’ve got live entertainment for everyone who’s not interested in the bar. And the karaoke bar setup allows people to leave as early or stay as late as they want.
GAME NIGHT (OR DAY)
Set the room up like a casino: Different games at different tables. Some games are fast-moving, some are thoughtful; some games are over in a couple minutes, others might be a 30-minute showdown; some are more physical, while others are purely sit-down. This is not only ridiculously affordable, but it allows all personality types to engage and have fun. Participation shouldn’t be mandatory, so make sure there are drinks and snacks nearby. But non-participants can usually be lured into participation with a drink and some enthusiastic encouragement. Classics: Apples to Apples, Catch Phrase, Charades, Dutch Blitz, Jenga (or giant Jenga), Mad Libs, Mexican Trains (or any dominoes game), Taboo. “Board” games that are great for groups: Codenames, King of New York, Loaded Questions, Settlers of Catan, Spaceteam, The Game of Things. Physical games:Air hockey, cornhole, Dance Dance Revolution, magnetic darts, pinball, ping pong, Twister. The nostalgia factor: Hungry Hungry Hippos, Mousetrap, Operation, Sorry!
PAINT AND SIP
Throw a one-of-a-kind holiday office party that everyone is sure to remember. At Pinot’s Palette, there’s no forced mingling, but plenty of opportunity for the avid minglers. There’s great beer and wine to choose from, everyone gets to indulge in a creative activity, and the only thing anyone’s responsible for is showing up! Pinot’s Palette supplies everything, though if you want, you can bring the snacks and choose the music. Rent out the studio or talk to us about coming to you! Get details and find a location here: https://www....team-building
OFFICE COOK-OFF
For a super laid-back atmosphere (or a super-slim budget), an office cook-off is a simple resolution to the office holiday party. Let everyone vote for the best entrée, best drink, best side, best dessert. Give small prizes (gift cards or even an extra vacation day) to the winners. Consider serving the food in courses to make the event feel bigger than a simple potluck. Courses also give everyone extra time to mingle and enjoy the downtime, and allow for entertainment or speeches in between.
VOLUNTEER TOGETHER
To really get into the holiday spirit, arrange group volunteer activities with local nonprofit organizations. Planting trees at a park, serving meals to those in need, giving care packages to the homeless or running a toy drive for a child advocate group are great places to start.
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