Holiday parties are a great way to build camaraderie and show appreciation for your staff, even when they’re spread across the country or globe. Here are 10 tips for creating a memorable virtual celebration, regardless of your budget.
Host a virtual holiday gathering
Keep things simple by hosting an informal virtual gathering or happy hour. You could plan a themed happy hour, trivia night, or online game session and encourage employees to bring their favorite festive drink or snack.
Include global and contract workers
Invite any remote contractors you work with to make sure everyone feels included in the celebration, no matter where they’re located. Schedule the event so it accommodates multiple time zones so everyone can join. For international or non-holiday observers, consider alternatives like a year-end celebration or team appreciation week.
Send holiday gift boxes or care packages
Surprise your team by delivering a small gift to their doorstep. Holiday gift boxes can include hot chocolate, cookies, or other snacks that they can enjoy during the party. Sending something ahead of time is a great way to create shared excitement before the virtual event.
Do a virtual Secret Santa or gift exchange
Gift exchanges are always a hit at work and are fairly easy to coordinate. Use a site like DrawNames or Elfster to assign recipients and set spending limits. Participants can mail or email their gifts in advance, then open them together during your virtual party. If shipping is an issue, you could also have everyone donate to a charity their Secret Santa chooses.
Surprise your team by delivering a small gift to their doorstep. Holiday gift boxes can include hot chocolate, cookies, or other snacks that they can enjoy during the party.
Celebrate team diversity
Your team may represent many cultures and traditions, which makes the holidays a perfect time to celebrate diversity. Ask employees to share how they celebrate this season or to showcase a favorite holiday dish or decoration. This kind of sharing not only makes the event more meaningful but also helps foster a sense of belonging.
Having a virtual decorating party
A decorating party can recreate the energy of putting up holiday decorations in the office. Choose a time to meet online, play festive music, and decorate your home workspace. Employees can share before-and-after photos in a Slack thread or Teams channel. It’s a fun, low-cost way to bring holiday cheer to the workday.
Plan a virtual photo booth or group snapshot
Create memories by setting up a virtual photo booth during your celebration. Encourage your team to wear holiday hats or themed props, then take a group screenshot on Zoom. Free templates from Canva or filters built into video-chat tools make it easy to add a festive touch. You can even compile the photos into a digital holiday card to share later.
Play online games or holiday bingo
Games are a tried-and-true icebreaker for any remote team. Plan a quick round of holiday bingo, trivia, or a scavenger hunt using a free game board template. You can add small prizes or gift cards for the winners to keep things exciting.
Try a virtual escape room or team challenge
If you’re looking for a fun activity to do with your team, you might consider hosting a virtual escape room. Many online platforms now offer themed escape rooms or collaborative challenges for groups of all sizes. It’s a fun option that encourages teamwork and problem-solving while giving employees a break from day-to-day work.
Watch a holiday movie together
Pick a time when most people can join and stream a holiday movie as a group using a tool like Teleparty or Amazon Watch Party. Let employees vote on the film ahead of time and encourage everyone to bring popcorn or cocoa. For global teams, consider a casual “watch anytime” option and open a Slack thread for reactions and commentary.
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