Holiday Party Ideas In 2023: The Importance of In-Person Corporate Events 

With almost 30% of all American employees working remotely in 2023, the corporate holiday party may hold even more significance this year than in years past. Not only is your corporate holiday party a very important opportunity to celebrate your company and employees’ hard work over the past year, but it might also be one of the few times that the whole team actually comes together under one roof–or perhaps under the stars. According to a 2022 research study, 62% of people felt that reduced social interactions with co-workers negatively affected their mental health. Now that it is 2023 and we’re back in the swing of in-person events, it could be tremendously impactful to facilitate an environment in which your employees can bond outside of the office or simply get to know each other on a deeper level without the restrictions of a computer screen. 

What Makes a Good Holiday Party?

According to the Harvard Business Review, forming solid social relationships with coworkers greatly improves team bonds. But that can be easier said than done. Everybody is different when it comes to social interaction–in fact, not all employees even look forward to their annual holiday event, typically due to social anxiety. That’s why it’s important to come up with corporate holiday party ideas that cater to all kinds of people by facilitating genuine fun and assuaging the pressure of small talk. Luckily, there are all kinds of amazing holiday party themes and activities that can make your 2023 Holiday Party the best one yet!

3 In-Person Holiday Party Ideas

1 | Holiday Movie Night

Who doesn’t love a good holiday flick? Not only does watching holiday movies serve as a great way to get in the holiday spirit, but it also facilitates a natural conversation topic for the night and gives the option for workers to relax and not worry too much about their social game. 

Finding a Venue

Securing the right venue for a movie night is key since you’ll want your guests to have the ability to both watch and socialize. Check out outdoor event spaces with projection walls or indoor venues with space for seating, socializing, and state-of-the-art video projection.  

Decorations

There are a variety of decorative directions you can go when planning a holiday movie party. Design a snuggly, cozy vibe and fill the venue with blankets, pillows, and rugs. Or, you could go the route of a Hollywood-style premiere and create a red carpet experience complete with a step-and-repeat, red rope, and movie posters. 

Food and Drink

What is a movie night without popcorn?! Setting up an authentic, movie theater-style popcorn machine complete with all the fixings is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Add in a candy buffet with holiday-themed gummies and chocolates, a soda machine, and comfort foods like sliders and mac and cheese, and your holiday movie party will blow a typical movie theater out of the water!

2 | Holiday Charity Event

You can’t go wrong when you’re giving back! Hosting a charitable holiday party is a great way to encourage compassion and teamwork among your employees. Whether you host a toy drive, gift basket raffle, or plan a charity auction, there is a lot of fun that can be had while making the world a better place for those less fortunate. 

Finding a Venue

The right venue for your holiday charity event will depend upon what kind of fundraiser you choose. If it’s an auction, you’ll want to book a venue with a stage and AV equipment. Meanwhile, if you’re raffling off holiday gift baskets, you’ll want a space that has plenty of room for display tables. 

Charitable Activities

When it comes to Holiday Charity Events, there are a lot of different directions you can go in. One idea is to have guests come up with some kind of service or product to auction off–this can be creative, such as a custom poem or song, pet-sitting, or a home organization session. Another idea is to host a toy drive and provide cute gift-wrapping supplies for guests to make their donations look extra special. If you want to go in a different direction, you could organize a volunteer event where your company works in a food bank or shelter for the day and then reconvene for a celebratory dinner and a cocktail hour afterward. 

3 | Winter Talent Show

Hosting a winter talent show for your 2023 holiday party is a great way to help get your team out of their comfort zone and into a silly, carefree headspace. Encourage guests to share diverse acts that range from music to magic tricks to comedy. Your company can also form small groups to collaborate on an act for the show, like a choreographed dance or skit. Prizes and celebrity judges are an additional, fun incentive to encourage creativity and participation. 

Finding a Venue

A venue that has a stage with lighting, sound, and video equipment is a must when hosting a winter talent show holiday party. A hybrid outdoor and indoor space could also be advantageous so guests are able to take a break from the show inside and socialize under the stars. 

Decorations

You can’t go wrong with festive holiday decor like twinkling lights, evergreen trees, sparkles, and ornaments to really make your holiday party pop. Liven up the space with fun additions like a DIY craft station, photo booth, and dance floor.

Food and Drink

There are tons of amazing options for festive food and drink at a Winter Talent Show, such as a fondue station, a hot beverage bar, an old-fashioned holiday buffet, and an oversized charcuterie spread. The key here is to make sure all the food and drink are easy to access and bring back to your seat while you watch the show!

With the end of the year quickly approaching, we hope that these holiday party ideas kick your creativity into high gear. If you’re planning your corporate holiday party in the San Diego area, then be sure to check out The Centre Escondido. Our team is more than happy to help you find your perfect venue and plan an amazing 2023 holiday event. Don’t hesitate to contact us today to learn more about our variety of event spaces and partners who can make your ideas a reality.