33 Work Christmas Party Ideas Your Team Will Thank You For 2025
Work Christmas party ideas get a bad rap. They’re either awkward, too loud or feel like another meeting with fairy lights. But done well, they can be exactly what a tired team needs at the end of the year.
And according to Gallup’s workplace report, engagement is at its lowest point in a decade, which honestly tracks. People are wrapping up the year feeling disconnected, stretched and, in a lot of cases, just plain over it. While a Christmas party won’t fix that on its own, it can soften the edges. Small, low-pressure moments — cooking something together, making something, laughing over a game — help people feel like a team again.
The trick is keeping it simple and human. No forced fun, no long speeches, no cringe. Just activities your crew will actually enjoy after a long year.
So, what do you do for a staff party? From holiday potlucks and festive team building activities to creative paint and sip events and dance parties, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most interesting work Christmas party ideas your whole crew will love.
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- Creative Work Christmas Party Ideas
- Foodie Work Christmas Party Ideas
- Unique Work Christmas Party Ideas
- Virtual Work Christmas Party Ideas
- DIY Work Christmas Party Ideas
- Low Budget Work Christmas Party Ideas
Creative Work Christmas Party Ideas
1. Paint and Sip
Get creative with your crew and try a Christmas party activity that always gets people talking. Talented artists lead the session, guiding everyone through a festive painting while they sip something they enjoy.
If you’re on the West Coast, you’ll find plenty of paint and sips in Los Angeles or Sacramento. In the Midwest, Chicago has just as many ways to join in. Bring a favorite bottle to share, settle in and look for a paint and sip near you.
2. Pottery Classes
Help your colleagues create something they can actually use at home — or even create a thoughtful Christmas gift. Master potters guide everyone through shaping and decorating their own pieces, whether that’s a mug, a bowl or a plate that's truly one of a kind.
You can find pottery classes all over the country, including pottery classes in Boston, San Francisco and San Diego.
3. Dance Classes
What can you do for employees instead of hosting a traditional holiday party? Try inviting your coworkers to unwind with upbeat dance classes. They’re energetic, easy to join in on and give everyone a shared experience that breaks people out of work mode. Friendly instructors keep things light while guiding your group through a routine that works for all skill levels, so no one feels out of place.
Look for unique dance classes in NYC, Las Vegas, Orlando or a city near you.
4. Drawing Classes
For more creative work Christmas party ideas, go with something that gets everyone thinking differently. Drawing classes work well for mixed-skill groups because instructors break things down step by step, so even beginners feel confident. It’s a relaxing activity that helps people slow down, focus and tap into a side of themselves they don’t always get to use at work.
Your employees can keep their finished pieces on their desks or gift them during the December global holidays. And if your office is remote, online drawing classes make it easy to share the experience while everyone creates from their own home setup.
5. Gingerbread House Decorating Competition
If competition drives your team more than pure creativity, a gingerbread house competition is the kind of chaos they’ll love. Break everyone into small groups and let them loose with icing bags, gingerbread panels and every candy you can find. The teamwork happens naturally — people negotiate roof angles, troubleshoot collapsing walls and debate whether the front yard needs a marshmallow snowman or a pretzel fence.
You can keep it light and festive or go full-tilt competitive with categories like “Most structurally sound,” “Most unhinged idea pulled off under pressure,” or “Looks nothing like a house, but we respect the vision.” It’s one of those work Christmas party ideas (or family Christmas party ideas) that reveals everyone’s personality in the best possible way and gets the room buzzing without feeling forced.
6. Holi-Desk Decorating Contest
How do you make an office Christmas party fun? Turn the whole workplace into a decorating swap. Pair people up and let them surprise each other by transforming a desk into something festive.
Or flip it into a party game for Christmas: assign each person a teammate to decorate for, then have everyone walk around and figure out who styled which desk. Provide a stash of decorations or let everyone bring in their own flair for a work Christmas party idea that doesn't need a big budget.
Foodie Work Christmas Party Ideas
7. Cooking Classes
If your team debates the best local bakery or keeps a running Slack thread about lunch spots, lean into it. A cooking class turns that shared food obsession into an actual experience. A chef leads the menu, but the real magic is when everyone starts trading shortcuts, bragging about family recipes and claiming their dish is the best at the table.
You can find great cooking classes in Chicago or Baltimore, and plenty of Southern options in places like New Orleans. No matter where your everyone is based, there are cooking classes near you that make the whole experience feel festive without being complicated.
8. Online Cooking Classes
If your office is remote or hybrid, they can still share a Christmas meal together — just without the commute or the scramble to book a venue. Online cooking classes let everyone join in from their own kitchens while a top chef leads the recipe in real time.
Your team can learn how to build a festive charcuterie board for the holidays or tackle something special like homemade macarons to gift to friends and family. It’s the kind of work Christmas party idea that will be an event they won’t soon forget!
9. Gourmet Hot Cocoa Bar
A hot cocoa bar is an easy win if you want something festive without turning the office upside down. Set out good chocolate (dark and milk), a few milk options and classic toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream and candy canes. People can build a cup on their way through the kitchen and keep coming back for refills as the day goes on.
10. Holiday Potluck
A holiday potluck works well for small teams because it feels personal without needing a big budget. Ask everyone to bring a favorite snack or family holiday dish and put together a basic signup sheet (a party checklist will make planning easier) so the table doesn’t end up with seven trays of Christmas cookies (unless that’s the vibe).
It’s a great way to make the office feel a little cozier for a day and give everyone a real break from their usual lunch routines. And because it barely touches the budget, that’s a win for everyone.
11. Cater a Special Meal
Gather your crew for a proper sit-down meal before everyone disappears for the holidays. But instead of the usual grab-and-go lunches, order in something memorable — a catered spread from a local favorite, or even a food truck parked out front if you want to make it feel like an event.
Set a scheduled time for the meal so your employees can spend quality time together, for an idea that works well for people who prefer good food over big Christmas activities.
Unique Work Christmas Party Ideas
12. Acting Classes
If your team could use a confidence boost after a long year, acting classes are a surprisingly playful way to loosen everyone up. Instructors ease people in with improv party games for Christmas and simple scene work — nothing embarrassing, just enough to get people laughing and reacting in the moment.
It’s great for people who want something different from the usual sit-down Christmas lunch ideas. And if your workplace is remote, online acting classes let everyone join the activities from home without missing the group energy.
13. Photography Classes
Now that everyone has a camera in their back pocket, real photography skills can get a little overlooked. That’s what makes this such an enjoyable Christmas party idea. It gives your team a chance to learn the basics properly and see what their phones can actually do when they’re not just snapping lunch photos.
A professional photographer walks everyone through lighting, composition and how to take photos that actually look like something they can turn into their holiday cards. You'll easily find in-person classes or online photography classes that make it a good option for everyone to pick up the same skills.
14. Christmas Tree Decorating Competition
If your crew loves a challenge but wants something a little less chaotic than gingerbread architecture, a tree-decorating competition hits the sweet spot. Split into groups, hand out decorations and watch wildly different visions come to life. Make sure to grab photos at the end so the winning tree gets bragging rights long after the ornaments come down.
15. Merry Mystery Party
Treat your team to a thrilling, merry mystery party. Everyone gets a character, a motive and clues to follow and the fun comes from people committing just enough to their roles without taking it too seriously. Encourage everyone to dress their part as they hunt for who killed Papa Elf. It’s a playful holiday twist that gets people talking long after the mystery is solved.
16. Holiday Photo Booth
Hire a photographer to capture silly photos or one of those work Christmas party ideas that delivers. Lay out festive props — Santa hats, elf ears, tinsel, novelty glasses — and let everyone drift in and out for quick snaps between conversations. Before the day's over, make sure to grab one great team shot you can pin up around the office for the rest of the year.
17. Christmas Around the World
Another idea for teams who love food, culture or just hearing stories from each other is a “Christmas Around the World” gathering. Each person picks a country and shares a small dish, drink or tradition from that place, so the room fills with different flavors, memories and little snapshots of how people celebrate elsewhere. It’s surprisingly good for work culture because everyone gets to share something meaningful.
Create a signup sheet for various countries for each team member to present a unique food or activity to share with the group for an insightful and inclusive work Christmas party idea.
18. Caroling Karaoke Contest
Karaoke is chaos in the best way, and adding Christmas music only makes it more unhinged. Set up a machine, hand over the song list and let people decide whether they’re in a Mariah Carey mood or sticking with the classics.
Some will belt, some will whisper-sing, some will form last-minute duets — and that’s exactly the point. It’s a memorable way to wrap up the year and guarantee a few unforgettable moments.
Virtual Work Christmas Party Ideas
19. Online Mixology Classes
An online mixology class is basically a remote happy hour with structure — in a good way. Everyone logs in from their own kitchen while a mixologist walks them through shaking, stirring and building festive Christmas cocktails they can actually make again for Christmas dinner.
20. Virtual Wine Tastings
If your team leans more “sip slowly” than “shake vigorously,” a virtual wine tasting might fit better. A sommelier walks everyone through a lineup of bottles, breaking down flavor notes, pairings and all the things people politely nod along to during holiday dinners. And because no one has to be on site, it works especially well for small office Christmas party ideas or even offices spread across different locations.
21. Online Games
Some teams bond best by competing a little. Virtual game nights are perfect for that. A live host keeps things moving while everyone jumps between online trivia, virtual scavenger hunts, puzzle challenges and virtual escape room-style missions.
People can team up, go head-to-head or rotate through different mini-games depending on the vibe. You can join from anywhere, keep the energy high and give everyone something to talk about long after the screens close. If you’re meeting in person, you can spin the same idea into an office Olympics for a simpler version that’s just as lively.
22. Virtual Flower Arranging Classes
Virtual flower arranging classes are one of those activities people never expect to enjoy as much as they do. A florist shows everyone how to shape a bouquet or build a wreath, and suddenly the quietest person in your group is debating greenery choices like a pro.
23. Online Bingo
Custom bingo works especially well for virtual work Christmas party ideas for remote offices because it blends competition with a bit of personal storytelling. Build a board filled with squares tied to holiday traditions, inside jokes or little facts about your team. As people mark things off, you get this mix of guessing, laughing and learning things you didn’t know about your coworkers.
Keep a simple prize for the winner, but let the real payoff be the shared stories that surface along the way.
24. Origami Ornaments
Origami has been having a moment on TikTok and Instagram, especially around the holidays — quick folding videos, tiny paper stars, aesthetic desk décor, all of it. Turning that trend into one of your work Christmas party ideas gives your team something calming and hands-on to do after a long year.
Set out a stack of festive papers and let everyone try their hand at simple shapes like stars, trees or cranes. The fun isn’t in perfection; it’s in people laughing at their first slightly wonky fold and then feeling weirdly proud when the next one turns out great.
DIY Work Christmas Party Ideas
25. Woodworking Classes
There’s something satisfying about making a gift instead of buying one, especially at the end of a long year. Woodworking classes give your team that feeling of putting something together with their hands for a change. A carpenter guides everyone through simple projects like picture frames or cutting boards, so even first-timers walk away with something they can actually wrap and give to someone they care about.
26. Glass Blowing Classes
If your team loves anything artsy or hands-on, glass blowing feels like a real “wow, I’ve never tried this” moment. Instructors walk everyone through the safe bits — heating, turning, shaping — until a small ornament or bowl starts to take form. Whether they’re creating a beautiful bowl to enjoy at home or a colorful ornament to decorate their Christmas tree, this party idea is one they’ll never forget.
27. Sewing Classes
Sewing is one of those skills people always say they want to learn but never make time for. A holiday workshop fixes that. A sewing instructor breaks it down into simple steps so your team can make small, useful things like tote bags, cushion covers or little Christmas gifts for their loved ones. It’s a genuinely relaxing way to spend an afternoon. Whether they’re a beginner or a pro, they’ll enjoy learning this relaxing and useful skill for future holiday gifts for employees.
28. Ugly Sweater Station
Every office ends up doing ugly sweaters, but making them is way better than buying them. Set up a table with fabric paint, iron-on patches, pom-poms and anything sparkly or ridiculous. Have everyone bring in their own sweater or supply them with a t-shirt for their spin on an ugly Christmas sweater idea. Once everyone has gone through the station, have each team member wear their shirt around the office and remember to take a holiday photo!
Low Budget Work Christmas Party Ideas
29. Gift Exchange
What do you do at a small business Christmas party? A gift exchange idea is the easiest way to create instant chaos without spending much. Pick a budget, set the rules (white elephant, Secret Santa complete with Secret Santa questions, something themed — whatever suits) and let people loose.
The fun comes from the unwrapping, the strategic stealing and the oddball gifts people somehow think are perfect. It’s one of those memorable work Christmas party ideas that always gets people talking.
30. Holiday Movie Party
A holiday movie hour is a great low-key option for work Christmas party ideas. Wrap up the workday a little early, dim the lights and put on a Christmas classic everyone knows by heart.
Set up popcorn, drinks and a few festive snacks so people can settle in without it feeling like another meeting. And if you want to add a bit of interest without turning it into “forced participation,” weave in a few Christmas movie trivia questions between scenes. It keeps the energy light and gives everyone something to laugh about.
31. Costume Contest
Challenge your team to dress up as their favorite holiday character for one of the silliest Christmas party ideas. See who will play the best Santa or Buddy the Elf in the office. Take photos, vote for clever categories and don’t take it too seriously.
32. Sweets Exchange
Instead of a full potluck, a sweets exchange keeps things easy and still feels festive. People bring a batch of something small — cookies, fudge, peppermint bark, whatever their family makes every December. Set up a table where everyone can sample, trade or pack a little box to take home. It’s simple, budget-friendly and works even for teams with tight schedules.
33. Christmas Card Station
A Christmas card station is great for teams who love small, quiet moments over big activities. Put out blank cards, colored pens, stickers and stamps, then let people make cards for coworkers, friends or family. It doubles as both an activity and a practical way for everyone to tick something off their holiday list.
The end of the year is busy enough, which is why the best work Christmas party ideas are the ones that keep things simple and genuinely enjoyable. Whether your team connects over food, creativity, friendly competition or something hands-on, these work Christmas party ideas give everyone a chance to slow down, laugh a little and feel like a team again.
For even more fun work Christmas party ideas, check out experiences happening on Classpop!
