How to Host an Unforgettable Virtual Holiday Party: 12 Ideas
If gathering in person for a corporate holiday party isn't an option, consider hosting it online. We've found engaging ideas for virtual parties that will work for any remote team.
If your team is small, everyone knows each other well, and a virtual holiday party can be relaxed and enjoyable. It's a great time to reflect on the past year, make plans, share funny stories, and toast to the future.
However, sometimes teams find it difficult to move beyond work-related topics and engage in casual conversation across screens. That's where quizzes, workshops, charades, and other virtual activities come in handy.
Virtual Secret Santa
Even remote teams can play this beloved game and anonymously exchange holiday gifts. The MySanta online service can help organize it.
One participant creates the game, invites coworkers, and draws names. The system matches players, and everyone can see to whom they will give a gift. Then, all participants secretly prepare gifts and send them to the recipients' addresses. The game process is made easier with wishlists, allowing each player to list their desired gifts.
The main rule in Secret Santa is not to reveal your identity until the end. Anonymous chats within the service help maintain the intrigue, where everyone can communicate with their Santa and recipient incognito.
Additionally, you can add exceptions within the service to prevent specific players from gifting each other, download participant lists, track who gifts whom, and more.
Once all participants receive their gifts from Secret Santa through mail or delivery service, you can hold a big group video call, unwrap gifts, and share impressions.
Culinary Workshop
You can invite a chef to teach colleagues how to cook a delicious dish over video call or ask someone from the team to share their signature recipe and cook it together. The key here is to maintain a cheerful mood and a relaxed atmosphere.
Online Bingo
A couple of rounds of Bingo can lighten the mood at a virtual holiday party. Each participant receives a card with numbers, and the game organizer randomly draws numbers from a bag, showing them to the players. If the number matches, the player marks it off their card. The winner is the one who marks off all their numbers first.
To simplify the game, use this free online bingo card generator to conduct free bingo games.
Virtual Company Quiz
Create a fun quiz with questions about the company and employees to test your team's knowledge and share some laughs.
Sample Quiz Questions
Who on the team is most likely to forget to unmute before speaking?
a) [Colleague's Name]
b) [Colleague's Name]
c) All of us!
What object frequently appears in the background during video calls?
a) A pet
b) A plant
c) Socks on the floor
What time of day are pets most likely to appear during meetings?
a) Morning
b) Lunch
c) Evening
Who in the team always tries to lighten the mood with jokes during calls?
a) [Colleague's Name]
b) [Colleague's Name]
c) None, we are all serious!
What distracts you most when working from home?
a) Coffee break
b) Social media
c) An unfinished series
What's the most common sound during your team's video calls?
a) Noise from kids/pets
b) Keyboard sounds
c) Neighbor's music
What informal "rule" does our team have for video calls?
a) Everyone must wear pajamas!
b) Background music is a must!
c) No jokes about Wi-Fi!
Who in the team gets most creative with virtual backgrounds?
a) [Colleague's Name]
b) [Colleague's Name]
c) Everyone's background looks the same!
Never Have I Ever
Another fun activity that's easy to organize remotely. The first player starts with "Never have I ever..." and others who have done that action raise their hand or take a sip of their drink. The game continues until everyone has taken a turn or the group decides to stop.
Sample Statements
- Never have I ever forgotten an important meeting.
- Never have I ever worn pajamas to work.
- Never have I ever taken a day off just to relax.
- Never have I ever sent a message with a typo to my boss.
- Never have I ever played games during work hours.
- Never have I ever slept on the job.
- Never have I ever forgotten to mute during a call and said something funny.
- Never have I ever tried the treats coworkers brought in.
- Never have I ever joked about someone at lunch.
- Never have I ever presented with a silly background.
Dance Flash Mob
Prepare a simple choreography to a holiday song and host a dance flash mob over video call. Let everyone dance their hearts out, then share impressions of how the year has gone.
Literary Readings of Holiday Stories
If your colleagues love books, invite each person to read aloud a passage from literature focused on Christmas or the holiday season. This unique virtual corporate event helps bring the holiday spirit alive, providing a break from hustle and routine.
Here are some book suggestions:
- "Winter Solstice" by Rosamunde Pilcher.
- "A Redbird Christmas" by Fannie Flagg.
- "Christmas Holiday" by Somerset Maugham.
- "Christmas Stories" by Charles Dickens.
- "Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett.
Holiday Conspiracy Theory
Before your virtual party, divide into teams of 3-4 and select a theme to discuss. Create humorous presentations or online posters to persuade colleagues of the existence of a Christmas conspiracy.
Possible Holiday Conspiracy Theories
- Santa Claus is actually a spy agent.
- Christmas trees are antennas for government signal transmission.
- All holiday gifts come from a parallel universe through magic portals.
- Christmas is a cover for a global experiment on human kindness under stress.
- Santa and capitalism: Santa is a Masonic symbol created by corporations to boost holiday spending.
- Snowflakes are microscopic spy drones.
Online Charades
One player must convey a word or phrase using only gestures and facial expressions. No sounds, lip movements, or pointing at objects are allowed. The first to guess gets a point and takes the next turn. The winner is the player with the most points. Play in teams to amp up the competition.
Phrases for Charades
Secret Santa
Twinkling lights
Kissing Under the Mistletoe
Singing "Jingle Bells"
Decorating a Christmas Tree
Building a Snowman
Shared Vision Board
A great idea for designers, marketers, and those who frequently use online boards like Figma. Open a shared access and create a collaborative vision board for the new year.
Best Video Contest
If your team has a lot of young, energetic people, why not hold a short video contest? Invite colleagues to shoot a clip around a holiday theme. Host a group screening of the videos and create categories for each participant: "Most Original Idea," "Best Editing," and "Funniest Video."
Fortune Telling for the New Year
Use Tarot cards, fortune-telling cards, or any prediction practice you can think of. The goal is for everyone to have fun and enjoy themselves.
5 Tips for Organizing a Virtual Party
Creativity and planning are key to hosting a unique call with your team.
- Choose a theme and format — a holiday party, a costume ball, a virtual world tour, a quiz, workshops, or online games. Find what fits your team's spirit and plan your virtual event.
- Incorporate interactive activities — they lighten the mood, help participants engage with each other, and make your online meeting entertaining and fun.
- Think of surprises — send colleagues small gifts or packages to join in the event, like ingredients for cocktails or snacks. Or organize a Secret Santa in advance, so everyone has a gift ready for the online party.
- Check the tech — ensure all participants have access to the necessary technology and platforms. Test applications if you plan to use third-party services.
- Create a festive atmosphere — prepare background music and use holiday-themed virtual backgrounds to set the mood. Encourage participants to dress according to the theme, adding fun and setting the right tone.
