12 Christmas Party Ideas for Small Groups and Teams
Company Christmas parties are a great opportunity for the whole team to get together and have a nice time, celebrating the achievements of the year and being thankful for each other. With office Christmas party bookings increased by 284% compared to 2022, it’s clear that employees are eager to celebrate the holiday season and reconnect with their colleagues after a challenging year.
Take a look at our recommendations for what to do and what to consider if you’re organising Christmas parties for smaller groups, whether that’s for friends and family or colleagues and employees.
Questions to Ask When Planning a Small Christmas Party
Do you need the whole space?
One of the first questions to ask yourself is whether or not you need the place to yourselves. There’s no one right answer for everyone – some companies like to save money by using a shared Christmas party venue like Eastwood Hall for their Christmas party, but if you would prefer to only celebrate with your company, that’s perfectly okay. A flexible venue like ours can host parties for a wide range of sizes from small groups to large corporations.
Are you having a theme?
If your party is themed, it may make it harder to share a venue, as you might not be able to fit in with each other’s themes. If not, a shared venue will work quite well for you and you will have the opportunity for some networking.
Don’t forget, you could always ask your venue what the other companies are doing to see if there is a way to collaborate on a Christmas party theme and incorporate Christmas fancy dress, so you don’t have half masquerade ball and half ugly jumpers unles, of course, you’d like that small element of separation.
12 Christmas Party Ideas for Small Groups
- Festive Masterclasses
- Axe Throwing
- Christmas Themed Games Night
- Murder Mystery Night
- Escape Room
- Classic Movie Screening
- Art Gallery
- Volunteer at a Local Shelter
- Field Trip
- Progressive Party
- Wine Tasting
- Private Dining Experience
Learn a New Skill as a Team
1. Masterclasses
Chocolate, cocktails, and decorations either at your venue or at theirs can be a great way to involve everyone. You can all work together or compete to create the best festive item and best of all, you will be able to keep (or consume) the fruits of your labour. Masterclasses are great for Christmas parties for small groups, as you often get more time with an instructor, allowing you to learn more.
2. Axe Throwing
It’s not necessarily that festive but a good axe-throwing session is good fun, a stress reliever and good for a little bit of friendly competition. Then you can warm up inside with a nice, warm Christmas meal and exchange presents.
Play Some Challenging Games
3. Christmas Themed Games Night
You can visit a specialist games venue or hire somewhere nearby and bring your own Christmas games, whether they are board games, card games or video games and organise a tournament or small groups to play the night away.
4. Murder Mystery
Some theatres will host murder mysteries, where the audience is also playing characters and trying to find out who the murderer is before it’s too late. You could even ask them to host one at your office or at a convenient venue of your choice.
5. Escape Room
An escape room is a great one for small groups and encourages you to all work together. You can always to a DIY escape room, using kits online, if you can’t find an available escape room in your area, and set up the event at a nearby venue.
Take in Some Cultures and Care for Others
6. Classic Movie Screenings
Christmas movies will be everywhere in December but don’t forget about the classics. Some cinemas will be showing older films so why not pop along to a screening? If you don’t see one you fancy, why not organise one at your office or a nearby venue? Just make sure you have all the appropriate licences.
7. Art Gallery
If your co-workers are into art, why not book tickets to view an exhibition at a local gallery? For a bit of extra fun, you could then challenge each other to re-create the works you have seen, whether that is out of clay or through paint or charcoal.
8. Volunteer at a Local Shelter
Visit your local shelter, whether that is for the homeless or abandoned animals and make their lives a little brighter with some caring, attention and perhaps a present to make them smile. If you can’t find somewhere, you could always complete challenges to raise money and have fun in the process.
Go Out and About to Celebrate
9. Field Trip
Load everyone onto a bus or coach and visit a local attraction, whether that’s a theme park, museum, or farm and finish off the evening with a nice, warm meal.
10. Progressive Party
A progressive party moves from one location to another. You could use this approach to do different fun activities (such as seeing a show or going ice skating) and have new experiences, or you could choose a venue like Eastwood Hall, which has many function spaces that you could use to go from room to room for your different activities.
For a really small group, you could even set up each corner for a different part of the night, with an area for a quiz, somewhere to eat or grab a favourite cocktail and a floor space for dancing.
11. Wine Tasting
Wine tasting is a fantastic idea for a small work Christmas party. It offers a sophisticated and enjoyable way for colleagues to come together and celebrate the holiday season.
Participants can explore different wines, perhaps mulled wine to fit the season, learn about their characteristics, and engage in lively discussions, fostering a sense of camaraderie. It’s a classy and relaxed party activity that allows everyone to unwind and savour the Christmas spirit while appreciating the nuances of various wines.
12. Private Dining Experience
Private dining is a wonderful idea for a small company Christmas party, offering an intimate and exclusive setting where colleagues can celebrate together. It creates a cosy and personal atmosphere, allowing for meaningful interactions and a more tailored experience.
Venues like Eastwood Hall go the extra mile by providing private Christmas party options and dedicated private dining spaces, ensuring that the festivities are truly unique and catered to the group’s preferences. This allows for a memorable and intimate celebration, perfect for fostering camaraderie and sharing the joy of the festive season in a more personalised way.
Kickstart the Planning of your Small Christmas Party!
Hopefully, our small work Christmas party ideas have helped you to plan a small Christmas party this year that will boost relationship building and give your staff or loved ones a fantastic time at this festive time of year. If you are looking for a Christmas party venue in Nottingham, get in touch today!
Go back to other articles
