The calendar may have just turned to September, but planning for your holiday party is right around the corner. Your guests calendars will start to fill up quickly with events, so this year, why not try something different as you’re planning your next party? Here are 6 ideas to get you started and to spice up your holiday celebrations:
- Holidays Around the World
Try an international approach to this year’s menu selection and create an international cuisine for your guests. You can choose the more traditional options of Italian, Mexican and Asian, or expand your horizon and bring in popular dishes from Sweden, India, Ireland. The possibilities are endless. If you’re worried about food preferences, represent a variety of countries with the selection.
- Give Back
The holidays are a great time for giving and celebrating the community you’re involved in. Whether the intention is to bring a gift for a child in need or showcase your community partners at the event. There are also opportunities to create an activity as your holiday party: making sandwiches, packing meals, building hygiene kits…and the list continues. #DoMoreGood
- Create a Theme
Themed parties are not just for birthday parties! It’s a great way to create buzz and excitement around an upcoming event. Whether your theme is tailored around a popular movie/TV show, the mystery of a masquerade, or something more centered around your organization’s mission. If you don’t think your employees or friends and family will be excited about dressing up, bring your theme to life through the decorations and food.
- Embrace the Weather
Plan your event around fun winter activities. Yes, it’s going to be cold in November, December and January, but embrace it! Whether that’s trying out the Curling Center and warming up at the Crooked Pint afterwards, renting ice time at the Rice Park in downtown Saint Paul for skating fun, or flying down the hills while snow tubing. As Minnesotans, it’s easy to get bogged down (literally) with the snow and cold during the holidays; make this year different!
- Make it Interactive!
Many holiday parties and events are similar in nature; food, drinks and conversation. This is enjoyable, but if you want to stand out this year, you’ll have to try something different:
- Hire a band and get your employees up and on their feet enjoying the night.
- Create a casino night where guests can indulge in their risky side at the blackjack or roulette table.
- Inflatable games and sumo suits which aren’t just fun for the kids anymore!
- Bring in an improv comedian for some laughs and team bonding.
- Build your own s’mores bar? Yes please!
- Have a photobooth. Whether it’s a make your own selfie station with a variety of props or a professional photographer who brings their creative ideas, backdrops, etc. Remember, a picture says a thousand words!
- Impress with a new venue.
As you’re looking to host a corporate holiday party, the office is always a cost effective option. However, remember that the holidays are a time to celebrate your staff, the company’s success, and its future. The office is a place where people come to work every day; change it up and invest in a fun, unique venue for your guests to fully enjoy and get away from the office scene for one night!
The ideas and to-do’s are endless when planning a holiday party…but so is the stress! As you’re considering different ideas, venues and caterers this holiday season, consider Do Good Events to focus on your A-Z event logistics this year. We love events and we’d love to help make yours a blazing success!