Christmas Party Ideas for the Workplace

By popular demand, here are a few new Christmas party ideas for your next workplace event.  In addition to food, drinks, music, dancing, mixing and mingling, our company decided a couple of years ago to incorporate several optional activities into the evening.  For those who are uncomfortable being the center of attention while playing games or exchanging gifts, it has been a welcome change. Feel free to make these ideas your own, and incorporate them into your next party:

Gingerbread House Decorating Contest – we prepared several houses using graham crackers and Royal Icing, assembled them on cardboard cake rounds, then provided an assortment of decorating candies and Ziploc bags of extra icing, about 3/4 of a cup (see recipe below.)

Contestants simply snipped the corner of the bag and started decorating.

We gave them an hour to complete their house, and then gave each attendee a token to vote for their favorite.  A gift basket of holiday treats awaited the creator of the winning design, and everyone got to take their houses home to enjoy.

Bags and Tags

At this activity table, participants were able to decorate a set of gift bags and matching tags using a variety of scrapbook materials.

Beaded Ornaments

Participants at this table used a wire snowflake form and beads of all shapes and sizes to create a one-of-a-kind Christmas tree ornament to keep or give as a gift.

Photo Booth

This was an easy one – just set up a camera on a tripod in front of the Christmas tree, provide some inexpensive props from your local party supply store, and let your guests snap pictures like crazy throughout the evening.  What fun!

For more company Christmas party ideas, click here.

We would love to hear the ideas you’ve come up with that have been a hit at your workplace or family events – add your comments below.

Recipe for Royal Icing

It took 3 batches of the Royal Icing recipe below, one to create 12 gingerbread houses and two more batches to create 12 quart-size Ziploc freezer bags of icing for decorating, about 3/4 cup of icing in each bag.

2 lbs. confectioners sugar, sifted

1 cup egg whites (approx. 6 large)

1 tsp. cream of tartar

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the sugar and cream of tartar.  Add the egg whites and blend on low until eggs and sugar are incorporated.  Mix at high speed for 7 to 10 minutes until mixture is stiff enough to hold a peak.  Keep completely covered to keep from drying out too quickly – you can add a few drops of water if this occurs. Once dry, this icing is rock-hard.