How to throw the best virtual Christmas party

The work Christmas party: an annual excuse to dress up, have a drink and forget all about office politics for one night and one night only.

Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has robbed us of many social gatherings including this annual blow-out with our colleagues, 2020 has taught us that there are still many ways to have virtual fun. Thanks to modern technology such as Zoom and other video conferencing apps, we can still enjoy a festive celebration from the comfort of our own homes!

Fish4jobs has put together 6 helpful holiday hints for throwing a virtual Christmas party so you and your colleagues can end the year on a high.

Get creative with content

Admittedly, many of us may still be feeling a little “Zoomed out” from the onslaught of quizzes that occurred in the first few months of lockdown. However, if your team is feeling quizzical, this is an excellent way to get everyone involved and chatting for your Zoom Christmas party. Perhaps you can have each team member come up with a Christmas themed round of questions.

If a quiz is a no-go, there are many other virtual Christmas party games and activities to choose from. For example, Christmas classics like the After Eight game and charades are sure-fire hits and can also work over video.

Alternatively, you could tap into your team’s creative side, making Christmas decorations, decorative biscuits or perhaps even festive cocktails. To make these activities extra special, you could send all the required resources or ingredients to your team in advance.

Dress for the occasion

Just because we’re sat at home doesn’t mean we can’t crack out the same festive outfits we would if we were attending our usual soirees.

Be this a fabulous sparkling suit jacket, a light up jumper with baubles hanging off it or a pair of reindeer antlers, dressing for your virtual work Christmas party will help you to get in the festive mood and make the evening feel less like a normal night sat in!

You could perhaps even set a theme for your party – everyone could come as different characters from the Nativity, or, if you’re having a large virtual gathering, split people into teams and add a little competition. Team costumes could be anything from stars and snowflakes to presents and brussels sprouts.

Get the snacks in

No Christmas party is complete without festive finger food. This time of year, you can find delicious treats in the supermarket to suit both savoury and sweet teeth, with offers on our favourite crisps and treats galore. If you really want to get in the mood, you could take it one step further and create your own festive bakes – mince pies couldn’t be easier to whip up, whilst a classic biscuit can be made festive by the use of a Christmas cookie cutter.

Deck the halls!

If you haven’t already got a tree sparkling in your home, what are you waiting for? Real or artificial, a tree really helps turn up the Christmas vibes in any space and will look fantastically festive in the background of your webcam. You could string up some fairy lights, light some candles and decorate the mantlepiece to further the magic, and compare decorative efforts over Zoom, perhaps even offering a prize for best decorations. The warm glow of fairy lights also provides excellent lighting for the webcam!

Secret Santa

A workplace favourite, Secret Santa can be hilarious, it can be heartfelt, or it can be handy, depending on who your Santa is. Whilst we can’t exchange gifts in person, the wonders of the internet mean we can get things delivered pretty much anywhere in the world, using an online Secret Santa generator to draw names.

After the difficult year we have all had, this could also be an excellent opportunity to shop from small, local businesses. Everyone can then open their gifts together on Zoom, perhaps trying to guess who gave what to whom.

Christmas Party bundle

In a normal year, your team might be enjoying glasses of fizz, canapes and cocktails in a cosy pub or fancy venue, and not just because it’s Christmas but also as a thank you and celebration of all the hard work put in throughout the year.

While we can’t do this in the traditional manner at the moment, for many this has been a year more trying than any other, and as such, a “thank you” means all the more. To show your gratification, you could send your employees a box of treats, perhaps filled with a bottle of bubbly and some festive nibbles. There are a number of places to source these online, and it could again be a great way to support local businesses.

We hope that you’ve found these virtual Christmas party ideas and tips useful as you plan a remote get-together for your team. Merry Christmas from Fish4jobs!