How to Have the Best Virtual Holiday Party
Working remotely can feel lonely at times, especially during the holidays. Hosting a holiday party at work is a great way to show appreciation for your employees. It’s a special time of year when employees get to mingle and jingle and take a well-deserved break from the typical workday hustle.
A recent McKinsey & Company survey found that 35% of the workforce is entirely remote. So can your remote teams get in on the holiday festivities? Fortunately, your remote team members can still have a fantastic virtual holiday party to help them get in the holiday spirit!
What are virtual holiday parties?
If you’re new to remote work, you may ask yourself, “what are virtual holiday parties?” In short, they’re ways to celebrate the holidays online with your employees. They’re typically hosted over video conferencing platforms like Google Meet, Zoom, and Webex. Some popular virtual holiday party ideas include themed games and activities.
We’ve put together some fun and festive holiday ideas you can use as inspiration for your company’s next virtual holiday party.
Remote team-building events
Team-building events always have a way of being fun and productive. The good news is that it doesn’t stop during the holidays! You’ll discover various holiday-infused remote team-building activities that make anyone merry! Some annual favorites include slapstick wintery game show events, reliving classic games of the past with a holiday twist, or a holiday-themed competition!
Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger Hunt is a budget-friendly holiday activity. It’s super easy to play. Just gather a list of participants, create a video conference meeting, divide participants into teams, and have them work together to complete video, photo, and trivia challenges.
Cocktail Workshop
This cocktail-mixing workshop is a holiday event that can be a hit with a specific employee demographic. Of course, it does require purchases of alcohol and the mixes that go into making libations people love. It’s best for small or medium-sized groups over the legal drinking age. Supplies needed are access to the video conferencing platform, cocktail-making kit, shaders, shot glass, and glassware. Provide the participants with at least three delicious cocktail recipes and enjoy!
Coffee or Tea Tastings
Coffee is a standard in most employee offices, including virtual employees. There are professional coffee-tasting workshops out there. However, as long as you can distribute the coffee or tea samples to your employees, you can do it yourself. What a great way to put the pep in your employees’ steps this holiday season!
Holiday Icebreakers
Holiday icebreaker questions are an easy, no-cost way to host a virtual holiday party. Have everyone join the video meeting and start the party by asking questions like “what is your favorite childhood holiday memory” or “what’s your favorite holiday meal?” The Holiday Icebreaker is an excellent way to help get your guests comfortable, encourage participation and engagement, and get to know their coworkers better.
How to plan your virtual holiday party
- Schedule the date, time, and duration
- Make an itinerary
- Have holiday-themed games and activities
What is the optimal duration for a virtual holiday party?
There are usually three primary durations, such as:
- 60 minutes – quick, informal, and easy way to celebrate your team
- 90 minutes – fun, engaging, and memorable
- 120 minutes – the closest duration to an in-person office holiday party
The Wrap-Up
Want to take your next virtual holiday party to the next level? AdVenture Games is ready to help your virtual employees get into the holiday spirit! We offer a range of original and engaging programs to engage and show appreciation to your remote teams! Contact us for more information!
