{"id":702,"date":"2018-11-15T13:44:26","date_gmt":"2018-11-15T18:44:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.amsterdamprinting.com\/?p=702"},"modified":"2026-04-29T13:39:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T17:39:05","slug":"8-festive-office-holiday-party-ideas-and-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/15\/8-festive-office-holiday-party-ideas-and-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Your Office Christmas Party Festive &#038; Merry with These Ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Updated: 9\/19\/2024<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14788 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/header-1-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"Make Your Office Christmas Party Festive &amp; Merry with These Ideas\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/header-1-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/header-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/header-1-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/header-1-1536x1021.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/header-1-668x445.jpg 668w, https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/header-1-100x66.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/header-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote><p>Planning an office Christmas party is about more than decorations and food\u2014it\u2019s an opportunity to bring people together, celebrate the year\u2019s successes, and strengthen workplace culture. With thoughtful planning, engaging activities, and well\u2011chosen promotional gifts, a holiday gathering can feel festive, inclusive, and genuinely memorable. From interactive games and door prizes to branded swag and party favors, this guide shares creative ideas to help you host an office Christmas party your team will enjoy\u2014and remember\u2014long after the holidays end.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>1. Plan Ahead and Invite Early<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Between holiday travel, family get-togethers, and other events, people\u2019s schedules tend to fill up quickly this time of year, so get your invitations out early. Then give invitees just a hint of what you have planned, including office holiday party games, gift exchanges, or special menu items.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Create Excitement with Door Prizes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Nothing adds to the excitement like the anticipation of a door prize. Give each person a numbered ticket from a roll of tickets as they arrive and continue giving away more tickets during the entire event\u00a0for simple, fun and interactive things like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Everyone with a birthday in December<\/li>\n<li>Anyone wearing red<\/li>\n<li>Everyone working for the company 2 years or more<\/li>\n<li>Anyone that drove to the event with a co-worker<\/li>\n<li>If you have a live plant on your desk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Additionally, have drawings for door prizes frequently throughout the party. Consider offering a variety of promotional gifts, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/c\/journal-pen-gift-sets?id=3030\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Journal and Pen Gift Sets<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0A practical and thoughtful gift for the office worker.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/c\/personalized-drinkware?id=52\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Custom Drinkware<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Personalized mugs or tumblers can be a fun and functional souvenir.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/c\/blankets?id=65\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Branded Blankets<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> Cozy blankets are perfect for keeping warm during winter months and can be branded with your company logo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14789 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"Journals, Drinkware and Blankets\" width=\"673\" height=\"444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image-1-2.jpg 673w, https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image-1-2-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image-1-2-100x66.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 673px) 100vw, 673px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Add a Touch of Magic with Santa<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Surprise your guests with a visit from the jolly old man himself. Santa can distribute small gifts, pose for photos, and spread some holiday magic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Plan for Memorable Table Prizes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re planning a sit-down meal, pick one chair at each table and place a colored sticker on the underside. The person sitting in the marked chair gets to take home the table centerpiece or some other fun prize. And to ensure that everyone goes home with a gift don\u2019t forget to\u00a0have holiday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/c\/paper-gift-bags?id=2708\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">branded swag bags<\/a> at each spot. Fill branded swag bags with fun items like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/c\/flashlight-pens?id=2215\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Penlights<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0A handy tool for everyone.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/c\/custom-notepads?id=2610\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Custom Notepads<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Perfect for jotting down notes and reminders.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/c\/candles?id=3879\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Candles<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0A relaxing and festive addition to any home.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/c\/custom-keychains?id=54\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Promotional Keychains<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> A practical and memorable giveaway.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14790\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"Keychains, Pens, Candles\" width=\"673\" height=\"444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image-2-1.jpg 673w, https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image-2-1-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/image-2-1-100x66.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 673px) 100vw, 673px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Organize Interactive Games<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Organize a &#8220;Name That Song&#8221; game. Play snippets of holiday songs and have guests guess the title. Award points or raffle tickets to those who guess correctly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. Indulge in a Cookie Exchange<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Encourage guests in advance of the event to participate in a cookie exchange by bringing their favorite holiday goodies to the party. To ensure everyone can enjoy their goodies, provide guidelines in advance, such as pre-packaging cookies for easy take-home, avoiding items that require refrigeration, and suggesting a quantity per package (e.g., 1 dozen). Guests can even get creative with unique packaging\u00a0and presentation. And you guessed it, give tickets for participating.<\/p>\n<p><strong>7. Have an Optional Gift Exchange<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Yankee Swap: <\/strong>Have a fun and festive Yankee Swap! Ask each guest to bring a wrapped, wacky gift \u2014 the more outrageous, the better. Gather all the gifts under the Christmas tree and assign each guest a number. Starting with the first number, the person picks a gift and opens it. The second person can either &#8220;steal&#8221; the first gift or open a new one. This continues until all gifts are gone, with each gift only being &#8220;stolen&#8221; twice. Everyone will leave with a zany souvenir of the party!<\/li>\n<li><strong>Themed White Elephant: <\/strong>Give your White Elephant gift exchange a unique twist with a theme. Choose a topic like &#8220;80s nostalgia&#8221; or &#8220;DIY holiday crafts&#8221; and ask guests to bring gifts that fit the theme. This adds an extra layer of fun and ensures everyone receives a gift they&#8217;ll actually enjoy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secret Santa: <\/strong>For a more personalized gift exchange, try Secret Santa. Assign each guest a secret recipient and have them purchase a gift for that person. The recipients remain anonymous until the gifts are revealed at the party. This option adds an element of surprise and encourages thoughtful gift-giving.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>8. Send Guests Off with Promotional Party Favors<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Thank your guests for attending by sending them home with personalized party favors. Consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/c\/personalized-candy-chocolate?id=1894\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">personalized candy and chocolate<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/c\/bags-and-totes?id=47\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">custom bags<\/a> filled with small gifts.<\/p>\n<p>Remember,\u00a0the key to a great office Christmas party is to have fun and celebrate the holiday season together.\u00a0With these ideas,\u00a0you&#8217;re sure to create a memorable and festive event that everyone will enjoy.<\/p>\n<p>For even more inspiration,\u00a0check out our selection of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/c\/holiday-gifts?id=2371\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">branded holiday gifts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Happy Holidays!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Need Some Additional <\/strong><strong>Office Holiday Party Ideas?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Check out these ideas to add a little extra cheer this season:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Decorations: <\/strong>Transform your office into a winter wonderland with festive decorations like twinkling lights,\u00a0towering Christmas trees,\u00a0and holiday-themed centerpieces.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Food and Drinks: <\/strong>Fuel the fun with a delicious spread of holiday-themed snacks,\u00a0appetizers,\u00a0and beverages.\u00a0Think hot cocoa,\u00a0gingerbread cookies,\u00a0and festive cocktails\/mocktails.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Music: <\/strong>Set the mood with a playlist of classic holiday tunes that everyone can sing along to.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Icebreaker Activities: <\/strong>Get everyone mingling and having fun with icebreaker activities like holiday-themed trivia or a gift exchange.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Photo Booth: <\/strong>Capture unforgettable memories with a photo booth stocked with festive props and accessories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<h3>FAQs: Office Christmas Party Ideas &amp; Holiday Giveaways<\/h3>\n<h4>1. How do you plan a successful office Christmas party?<\/h4>\n<p>A successful office Christmas party starts with early invitations, clear planning, interactive activities, festive d\u00e9cor, and thoughtful giveaways that make employees feel appreciated.<\/p>\n<h4>2. What are good promotional gifts for an office holiday party?<\/h4>\n<p>Popular office holiday gifts include custom drinkware, journals and pen sets, branded blankets, notepads, keychains, candles, and swag bags filled with small, useful items.<\/p>\n<h4>3. How can you make an office holiday party more interactive?<\/h4>\n<p>Interactive elements like door prizes, table giveaways, music games, cookie exchanges, and themed gift exchanges help keep energy high and encourage participation.<\/p>\n<h4>4. What types of games work well at office Christmas parties?<\/h4>\n<p>Simple, inclusive games such as holiday music trivia, raffle drawings, themed gift exchanges (Yankee Swap or White Elephant), and icebreaker activities work best in office settings.<\/p>\n<h4>5. Why include branded party favors at a holiday office event?<\/h4>\n<p>Branded party favors give employees a take\u2011home reminder of the celebration, reinforce company culture, and help extend positive brand association beyond the event.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How do you plan a successful office Christmas party?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"A successful office Christmas party starts with early invitations, clear planning, interactive activities, festive d\u00e9cor, and thoughtful giveaways that make employees feel appreciated.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What are good promotional gifts for an office holiday party?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Popular office holiday gifts include custom drinkware, journals and pen sets, branded blankets, notepads, keychains, candles, and swag bags filled with small, useful items.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How can you make an office holiday party more interactive?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Interactive elements like door prizes, table giveaways, music games, cookie exchanges, and themed gift exchanges help keep energy high and encourage participation.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What types of games work well at office Christmas parties?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Simple, inclusive games such as holiday music trivia, raffle drawings, themed gift exchanges like Yankee Swap or White Elephant, and icebreaker activities work best in office settings.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Why include branded party favors at a holiday office event?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Branded party favors give employees a take-home reminder of the celebration, reinforce company culture, and help extend positive brand association beyond the event.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated: 9\/19\/2024 Planning an office Christmas party is about more than decorations and food\u2014it\u2019s an opportunity to bring people together, celebrate the year\u2019s successes, and strengthen workplace culture. With thoughtful planning, engaging activities, and well\u2011chosen promotional gifts, a holiday gathering can feel festive, inclusive, and genuinely memorable. From interactive games and door prizes to branded [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[654],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holidays-and-national-days"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=702"}],"version-history":[{"count":84,"href":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15713,"href":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/702\/revisions\/15713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amsterdamprinting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}