Large Company Christmas Party ideas?

[Katy Belle]

DH is on the Christmas Party Committee this year. He's looking for new ideas! I thought perhaps some of you could tell us about parties that you enjoyed, the activities that you did, etc.

The party is during the day, 2-3 hours long, and just for the employees. This particular group will be about 150 people. They have it in a large room, on site, with a catered lunch.

They usually do door prizes, which he dislikes, but I think enough people like them, that they probably have to stay. And they do some kind of games or activities or something.

They just did a tailgate party and did "Minute to Win It" games, so he probably wants to avoid that.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
Katy

 

[mamacatnv]

Ornament Exchange white elephant style (Steal or Open type activity)
We don't do a door prize, we have a gift for every employee. Last year we did the latest insulated mug craze with company logo along with candy and cash - it was a hit.

 

[anniemae]

We did something like that at my last company. Everyone loved it. We had a catered lunch, like your DH's company. We usually did a Yankee Swap which was a lot of fun, but some people don't like to do that. IMO just having a few hours to eat and mingle with co-workers was enough, but a lot of people really looked forward to the yankee swap. Many people don't like the games and stuff, so that should be optional if they choose.

They could have everyone bring an unwrapped gift for toys for tots

Have a tree decorated with ornaments. Everyone guesses how many ornaments on the tree. winner gets a prize.

Christmas movie trivia.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I just like to eat and visit and chill.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Last year we had an ugly Christmas sweater contest. We also did a trivia contest for Holiday questions (movies, carols, nothing too religious so everyone felt they could participate). Both of those things could have been a lot more fun if the prize wasn't a flashlight

 

[Rockette]

My last company I worked for used to hold this giant gala for about 200 people. It was a Black Tie (borderline White Tie) affair. Long gowns and tuxedos were the norm. While it was fun... it sounds like that is out of scope what you have in mind.

Having little theme games like "minute to win it" are fun too. They also had a dance contest too, which was always entertaining. They also had people drawing caricatures, one year they had a comedian show up for about 20-30 minutes. One of the years they had a casino night too, and instead of money won, there would be a raffle based on the number of "chips" you won. The more chips, obviously the greater chance of winning you had.

Of course, there always is the white elephant gift exchange. Limit the price to 10 bucks, and it will be fun. My last year there, I ended up with 25 dollars worth of bacon.

 

[Katy Belle]

Thanks all! Some great ideas!

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Cancel the party, and divide up the money budgeted into the Christmas bonus cheques!

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

We do door prizes, but we have enough that every employee gets one. Some are small and some are big - just luck of the draw.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I've been to my share of company Christmas parties over the years. From Sunday morning brunches to all-night drunken debauchery . There have been rent-out-a-restaurant parties, bowling, adult arcades, sports bars, booze cruises, gambling, dancing, private boxes during games and also an after hours field and locker room tour (that one was just weird). Some were super casual, some highly structured, and some had raffle prizes so extravagant they had people muttering, "Couldn't we have just gotten raises instead?" But the one thing they all seem to have in common is that the boss distributes bonus checks at the party to bribe people into coming. My personal favorite has always been the company parties I don't have to attend.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Karaoke
Watch a Christmas movie
White elephant/Gift exchange
Cookie exchange
Ginger bread house contest
Ugly Christmas sweater contest
Trivia
Boooooooooze!

 

[undertheradar]

Current planning is renting out an arena for catered meal and comedy show. This is for an employee base of 1500 + guests. Starts at 5 and will end by 9.

 

[diznygirl]

One company party we went to had a way to earn raffle tickets - sorry I forget how we earned them - I think it was with a table-hopping activity where we had to find out things about other people - and then that increased your chances for the door prize.

My favorite was we were given seed money and there were gambling tables. We bet the fake money and everything we earned was used to bid on prizes in an auction later.

Unfortunately most of the parties I've gone to have just been idle chit-chat and dinner. I like the idea of doing something!

 

[Dream Finder]

We've done fake money gambling too. Every guest was given a certain $$ in chips. You could gamble or not as you choose. At the end of the night, the chips were exchanged for raffle tickets. The raffle prizes included things like gift cards, some of the better company branded items (we usually reserve for the VIP customers - think leather binder) and best of all - things that don't cost the company out of pocket - extra vacation days and preferred parking. Those were always the most "in-demand" prizes

 

[undertheradar]

How about inviting a hs or college choral group to come and entertain? The company could make a small donation and offer them refreshments. The "gambling" has been done for a long time, most companies have a zero alcohol policy.

 

[BLAZEY]

We've done fake money gambling too. Every guest was given a certain $$ in chips. You could gamble or not as you choose. At the end of the night, the chips were exchanged for raffle tickets. The raffle prizes included things like gift cards, some of the better company branded items (we usually reserve for the VIP customers - think leather binder) and best of all - things that don't cost the company out of pocket - extra vacation days and preferred parking. Those were always the most "in-demand" prizes

This is what we do. Each employee and their guest get $10000 play money to gamble with. Each employee get a ticket for door prize draws (there is one of each of us) At the end of the nigh there is a Auction for additional prizes with your "winnings". Additional fake money can be bought with 100% of the proceeds going to a locke Christmas charity.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

How about inviting a hs or college choral group to come and entertain? The company could make a small donation and offer them refreshments. The "gambling" has been done for a long time, most companies have a zero alcohol policy.

Yeah, I don't know about that. Between my DH and I, I've been to dozens of parties across several different companies -- they've all had the alcohol flowing. It's already hard enough to get people to go to those things; I can't imagine how much harder it would be if it was a dry event.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

My favorite parties from my husbands companies over the years were the comedy club or dinner theater shows, so we only had to make small talk with his coworkers for a very short while before the lights went down and we could pay attention to the stage.

My favorite work parties since I've been a mother (17 1/2 years now!) have been the ones I don't have to go to. Or, where we close the office at noon, have lunch, then are free to go home before the kids get home from school so I actually have more than 5 minutes to myself for an afternoon.

Before kids when I was in my 20's, Dave and Buster-type parties, booze cruises, bowling, team-building outings, etc were fun. One year my the company I worked for did a Casino night - almost exactly like the one on The Office in season 2. It was a TON of fun learning how to gamble but without real money (they gave us poker chips to exchange for prizes later that night) so we could try our hand at poker or other games that there was NO WAY I would have done at a real casino. We all dressed up and waiters carried around trays of food and drinks. It was really fun.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Lots of alcohol, good food and good music.

Our Christmas party is at one of the docs house. It's everyone from the employees, to the OR staff to vendors. It's people in and out for about 4 hours. LOTS of alcohol flowing, great food and good music. I don't think anyone would come if there wasn't alcohol and good food.

Our healthcare system also gives a bonus and the docs give us gifts separate from this party.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

Yeah, I don't know about that. Between my DH and I, I've been to dozens of parties across several different companies -- they've all had the alcohol flowing. It's already hard enough to get people to go to those things; I can't imagine how much harder it would be if it was a dry event.

Ha, my company just did a "pre-holiday party" last week at Main Event and it was free open bar all afternoon! I can most assuredly confirm to the PP that companies DO in fact still have alcohol at events....we have beer and margaritas just to celebrate the super bowl or Cinco de Mayo!