christmas presentation ideas for work

Work Wizardry

50 fun business christmas party ideas for workplace celebrations.

Misbah Mushtaq

May 5, 2024

Business Christmas Party Ideas For Work

As business expert who has planned and executed countless corporate events over the years, I can’t emphasize enough how crucial it is to make your company’s Christmas party a memorable and engaging experience. 

These annual celebrations offer a rare opportunity for colleagues to let loose, bond, and create lasting connections outside of the usual work environment. That’s why I’ve curated this comprehensive list of 50 fun business Christmas party ideas, drawing from my extensive expertise in event planning and team-building activities.

So, let’s dive in and explore these creative Christmas party ideas that are sure to make your workplace festivities a night to remember!

1. Ugly Sweater Contest

Encourage your team to embrace the spirit of festive fashion by hosting an ugly sweater contest! 

Set up a runway or stage area and have colleagues strut their stuff, showing off their most outrageous, over-the-top, or downright bizarre holiday sweaters. 

You can even appoint a panel of judges to award prizes for categories like “Most Creative,” “ Most Outrageous, ” or “ Best Couple/Group Coordination. ” This lighthearted competition is sure to spark laughter and friendly competition while allowing everyone to let their personalities shine.

2. Christmas Karaoke Showdown

Nothing brings people together quite like belting out classic Christmas tunes at the top of their lungs! Set up a karaoke station and encourage colleagues to channel their inner Mariah Carey or Michael Bublé. 

You can even make it a competition by having judges or audience members vote for the best performances. Or, for an added twist, create team karaoke battles where departments or groups perform together for bonus points.

3. Holiday Trivia Game Night

Test your team’s knowledge of all things Christmas with a trivia game night! Divide colleagues into teams and prepare a mix of questions covering holiday movies, songs, traditions, and pop culture references. 

You can even incorporate multimedia elements like movie clips or audio snippets for an added challenge. Offer prizes for the winning team and encourage some friendly trash-talking and celebrations throughout the night.

4. Festive Cocktail or Mocktail Competition

Bring out your team’s creative side by hosting a festive cocktail or mocktail competition! Provide a selection of ingredients and supplies, and challenge colleagues to craft their own unique holiday-themed beverages. 

You can even appoint a panel of judges to award prizes for categories like “Most Creative,” “Best Presentation,” or “Most Festive Flavor.” This activity is sure to spark lively conversations and encourage teamwork as groups collaborate on their concoctions.

5. Christmas Movie Marathon

Who doesn’t love cozying up and watching their favorite holiday flicks? Set up a cozy movie screening area complete with comfortable seating, warm blankets, and plenty of festive snacks. 

You can even create a ballot for colleagues to vote on their top picks, ensuring a diverse selection of classic and contemporary Christmas movies. Encourage everyone to dress in their pajamas or festive loungewear for an extra dose of holiday cheer!

6. Gingerbread House Decorating Competition

Tap into your team’s creative side by hosting a gingerbread house decorating competition! Provide all the necessary supplies, including pre-baked gingerbread houses, icing, candy decorations, and any other festive embellishments you can think of. 

Split colleagues into teams and let their imaginations run wild as they design and construct their edible masterpieces. You can even appoint a panel of judges to award prizes for categories like “Most Creative,” “Best Attention to Detail,” or “Most Festive Overall.”

7. Holiday-Themed Escape Room Challenge

Put your team’s problem-solving skills to the test with a holiday-themed escape room challenge! Create a series of puzzles, riddles, and challenges inspired by Christmas traditions, pop culture references, and festive themes. 

Split colleagues into small groups and give them a set amount of time to work together, unravel the clues, and “escape” the room. This interactive experience is sure to foster teamwork, critical thinking, and a sense of accomplishment when they successfully crack the code.

8. Festive Casino Night

Bring the excitement of Vegas to your office with a festive casino night! Set up various gaming stations featuring classics like blackjack, roulette, and craps, as well as fun carnival-style games like a ring toss or balloon pop. 

You can even create a custom “currency” system using holiday-themed tokens or play money. Encourage colleagues to dress up in their finest casino attire and offer prizes for the night’s top winners.

9. Christmas-Themed Murder Mystery Dinner

Add a touch of intrigue and suspense to your celebration with a Christmas-themed murder mystery dinner! Hire professional actors or enlist the help of enthusiastic colleagues to portray various characters in an engaging whodunit scenario. 

As the evening unfolds, guests will work together to solve the mystery by gathering clues, interrogating suspects, and piecing together the evidence. This interactive experience is sure to spark lively discussions, camaraderie, and plenty of memorable moments.

10. Holiday Talent Show

Showcase the hidden talents of your team by hosting a holiday talent show! Encourage colleagues to prepare festive-themed acts, whether it’s singing, dancing, magic tricks, stand-up comedy, or anything else they can dream up. 

You can even appoint a panel of judges to provide lighthearted critiques and award prizes for various categories. This event is sure to bring out everyone’s creative side and provide plenty of laughs and entertainment.

11. Christmas Carol Charades

Put a festive spin on the classic game of charades by incorporating beloved Christmas carols! Divide colleagues into teams and take turns acting out popular holiday tunes, with the rest of the group trying to guess the song title. 

You can even add bonus points for impressive singing or dance moves during the performances. This interactive game is sure to spark laughter, friendly competition, and plenty of memorable moments.

12. Festive Food Truck Frenzy

Treat your team to a delicious and unique dining experience by inviting a variety of festive food trucks to your party venue! 

From gourmet grilled cheese and hot chocolate trucks to decadent dessert and holiday treat vendors, the options are endless. Encourage colleagues to sample a variety of offerings and even host a “best dish” competition where they vote for their favorites.

13. Holiday-Themed Game Show Night

Channel your inner game show host by creating a night filled with festive-themed trivia, challenges, and interactive games! Split colleagues into teams and have them compete in rounds inspired by classic game shows like “Jeopardy!,” “Wheel of Fortune,” or “Family Feud.” 

You can even incorporate holiday-themed prizes and decorations to add to the festive atmosphere.

14. Festive Spa Day

Treat your team to a well-deserved pampering session with a festive spa day! Bring in professional masseuses, manicurists, and estheticians to offer a variety of relaxing services like massages, facials, and holiday-themed manicures or pedicures. 

You can even set up a cozy lounge area with warm beverages and healthy snacks for colleagues to enjoy as they indulge in some much-needed self-care.

15. Holiday Craft Workshop

Tap into your team’s creative side by hosting a holiday craft workshop! Provide all the necessary supplies and instructions for colleagues to create their own festive decorations, ornaments, or gifts. 

You can even invite local artisans or crafters to lead the workshops and share their expertise. This hands-on activity is sure to spark creativity, teamwork, and a sense of pride in their handmade creations.

16. Christmas Caroling Adventure

Spread some holiday cheer by organizing a Christmas caroling adventure for your team! Prepare a songbook of classic carols and hit the town, serenading local businesses, nursing homes, or even your own office building. 

You can even incorporate festive costumes or props to add to the merriment. This activity is sure to foster camaraderie, boost morale, and leave a lasting impression on those you encounter.

17. Festive Outdoor Adventure

Embrace the winter wonderland by organizing a festive outdoor adventure for your team! Depending on your location, you could plan activities like ice skating, and snowshoeing, sledding.

18. Holiday Movie Premiere Party

Roll out the red carpet and celebrate the season with a holiday movie premiere party! Set up a festive screening area complete with comfortable seating, themed decorations, and plenty of movie-themed snacks and refreshments. 

You can even have colleagues dress up as their favorite holiday movie characters for an added dose of fun. Before the main feature, consider showing festive short films or hosting a trivia session about classic Christmas movies.

19. Festive Game Truck Experience

Bring the fun and excitement of a video game arcade right to your party venue with a festive game truck experience! 

These mobile gaming units are equipped with multiple gaming consoles, comfortable seating, and a wide selection of holiday-themed and multiplayer games. Encourage colleagues to take breaks from the action and mingle over festive snacks and beverages for a well-rounded celebration.

20. Ugly Holiday Sweater Bar Crawl

Embrace the quirky tradition of ugly holiday sweaters by organizing a festive bar crawl for your team! 

Encourage everyone to don their most outrageous and over-the-top sweaters, and then hit the town, visiting various bars and pubs for holiday-themed drinks and appetizers. You can even create a themed “passport” and award prizes for the best sweaters or those who successfully complete the crawl.

21. Holiday-Themed Painting Party

Unleash your team’s creative side with a holiday-themed painting party! Hire a local artist or painting instructor to guide your group through the process of creating their own festive masterpieces. 

Provide all the necessary supplies, including canvases, paints, and brushes, and let the creativity flow. You can even incorporate festive music, refreshments, and a fun, supportive atmosphere for those who may be hesitant about their artistic abilities.

22. Festive Cooking or Baking Class

Treat your team to a delicious and educational experience by organizing a festive cooking or baking class! Bring in a professional chef or baker to teach your colleagues how to create holiday-themed dishes, desserts, or even cocktails. 

Depending on the size of your group, you could set up multiple workstations or have a demonstration-style class. Not only will your team learn new culinary skills, but they’ll also get to enjoy the delicious fruits of their labor!

23. Holiday-Themed Scavenger Hunt

Put your team’s problem-solving and teamwork skills to the test with a holiday-themed scavenger hunt! Create a list of festive clues or challenges that will lead participants around your office, neighborhood, or even a local park or shopping area. 

You can incorporate physical tasks, trivia questions, or even photo/video challenges for added fun. Offer prizes for the first team to complete the hunt, and encourage creativity and camaraderie along the way.

24. Festive Charity Fundraiser

Spread some holiday cheer while supporting a worthy cause by organizing a festive charity fundraiser. This could take the form of a bake sale, silent auction, or even a holiday-themed talent show or performance. 

Encourage colleagues to get involved by donating their time, talents, or handmade goods, and invite the local community to participate as well. Not only will you be raising funds for a great cause, but you’ll also be fostering a sense of community and giving back during the holiday season.

25. Christmas Tree Decorating Party

Kickstart the holiday season with a festive Christmas tree decorating party! Provide a tree (or multiple trees if you have a large team), along with a variety of ornaments, lights, tinsel, and other decorations. 

Split your colleagues into teams and challenge them to create the most beautifully adorned tree, with prizes awarded for categories like “Most Creative,” “Most Festive,” or “Best Teamwork.” This activity is sure to spark nostalgia, friendly competition, and a sense of pride in their collective creation.

People Also Read : 12 Days Of Christmas Gift Ideas For Work (50 Holiday Gifts For Your Employees, Coworkers And Team)

26. Holiday-Themed Game Night

Get your team’s competitive spirit flowing with a holiday-themed game night! Set up various stations featuring festive-inspired games like Christmas trivia, holiday bingo, or even classic board games with a holiday twist. 

Encourage colleagues to form teams and rotate through the different activities, earning points or prizes along the way. You can even incorporate fun holiday-themed snacks and refreshments to fuel the merriment.

27. Festive Photobooth Fun

Capture the memories and laughter of your holiday party with a festive photobooth! Set up a designated area with fun holiday-themed backdrops, props, and costumes, and let your colleagues unleash their silly sides. 

Encourage group shots, candid moments, and even themed poses or challenges. Print out the photos on the spot and provide festive frames or albums for everyone to take home as a memento of the evening’s festivities.

28. Holiday-Themed Lip Sync Battle

Get ready for a hilarious and high-energy night with a holiday-themed lip sync battle! Encourage colleagues to form teams or perform solo, and have them prepare epic lip sync performances of their favorite holiday tunes. 

You can even incorporate props, costumes, and backup dancers for added entertainment value. Appoint a panel of judges to award prizes for categories like “Best Choreography,” “Most Entertaining,” or “Best Costume.”

29. Festive Wine or Beer Tasting

Treat your team to a sophisticated and educational experience with a festive wine or beer tasting event. 

Bring in a professional sommelier or brewmaster to guide your group through a curated selection of holiday-themed beverages, sharing insights on flavors, pairings, and brewing techniques. You can even incorporate festive appetizers or small bites to complement the tasting experience.

30. Holiday-Themed Comedy Show

Laughter is the best medicine, especially during the hectic holiday season! Hire a local comedian or comedy troupe to put on a holiday-themed comedy show for your team. 

You can even incorporate festive-themed skits, improv games, or opportunities for audience participation. This event is sure to have your colleagues laughing until their sides ache, while also providing a much-needed dose of stress relief and merriment.

31. Festive Dessert Competition

Satisfy your team’s sweet tooth with a festive dessert competition! Encourage colleagues to showcase their baking skills by creating holiday-themed desserts, whether it’s cookies, cakes, pies, or even more inventive treats. 

You can even bring in local bakers or pastry chefs to serve as judges and provide feedback on taste, presentation, and creativity. Not only will your team get to indulge in delicious treats, but they’ll also have the opportunity to flex their culinary muscles.

32. Holiday-Themed Carnival or Fair

Bring the excitement of a carnival or fair to your office with a holiday-themed event! Set up various stations featuring festive games like a ring toss, balloon pop, or even a dunk tank (if you’re feeling daring!). 

You can also incorporate classic fair foods like cotton candy, caramel apples, or even a hot chocolate station. Encourage colleagues to embrace the spirit of the season and let their inner child run wild.

33. Festive Karaoke and Dance Party

Turn up the volume and get your team’s groove on with a festive karaoke and dance party! Set up a karaoke station with a wide selection of holiday tunes, and encourage colleagues to take the stage and belt out their favorite carols or pop hits. 

You can even incorporate a dance floor and hire a DJ or create a festive playlist to keep the party going all night long.

34. Festive Selfie Station

In today’s social media-driven world, a festive selfie station is a must-have for any holiday party! Set up a designated area with fun holiday-themed backdrops, props, and even a photo printer or digital sharing station. 

Encourage colleagues to snap silly selfies, group shots, and even create festive boomerangs or short videos to share on their social channels. You can even incorporate a hashtag or photo contest for added engagement.

35. Holiday-Themed Escape Room Experience

Put your team’s problem-solving and teamwork skills to the ultimate test with a holiday-themed escape room experience! 

Partner with a local escape room company or create your own immersive experience filled with festive puzzles, riddles, and challenges. Split colleagues into small groups and give them a set amount of time to work together, unravel the clues, and “escape” the room before time runs out.

36. Festive Game Show Night

Channel your inner game show host and bring the excitement of classic TV game shows to your holiday party! Create festive-themed versions of popular games like “Jeopardy!,” “Wheel of Fortune,” or “Family Feud,” complete with holiday-inspired questions, puzzles, and challenges. Split your colleagues into teams and have them compete for prizes or bragging rights.

37. Holiday-Themed Murder Mystery Dinner

Add a touch of intrigue and suspense to your holiday celebration with a murder mystery dinner! Hire professional actors or enlist the help of enthusiastic colleagues to portray various characters.

38. Holiday Masquerade Ball

Transport your team to a winter wonderland with a festive masquerade ball! Encourage everyone to don their most glamorous attire, complete with elegant masks and formal wear. 

Decorate your venue with twinkling lights, lush greenery, and an air of mystique and enchantment. You can even incorporate live music, ballroom dancing lessons, and a midnight countdown or unmasking ceremony for added excitement.

39. Festive Game Truck Experience 

Bring the excitement of a video game arcade right to your party venue with a festive game truck experience! These mobile gaming units are equipped with multiple gaming consoles, comfortable seating, and a wide selection of holiday-themed and multiplayer games. 

40. Holiday Cookie Exchange

Tap into your team’s baking talents and sweet tooth with a holiday cookie exchange! Encourage colleagues to bake their favorite festive treats, whether it’s classic sugar cookies, gingerbread men, or more unique creations. 

Set up a designated area for everyone to display and swap their homemade goodies, ensuring everyone goes home with a delicious assortment of treats.

41. Festive Cocktail Crafting Class

Elevate your holiday party with a festive cocktail crafting class! Bring in a professional mixologist or bartender to teach your team the art of creating delicious and visually stunning holiday-themed cocktails. 

Provide all the necessary ingredients and tools, and let your colleagues unleash their inner bartenders as they learn new techniques and flavor combinations.

42. Christmas Caroling Adventure

43. holiday pet costume contest.

For the animal lovers in your office, host a holiday pet costume contest! Encourage colleagues to dress up their furry (or feathery or scaly) friends in festive attire and bring them to the party for a fun-filled fashion show. 

You can even appoint a panel of judges to award prizes for categories like “Most Creative,” “Best Pet/Owner Coordination,” or “Cutest Overall.”

44. Festive Spa and Relaxation Retreat

Treat your team to a well-deserved pampering session with a festive spa and relaxation retreat! Bring in professional masseuses, estheticians, and even yoga or meditation instructors to offer a variety of relaxing services and activities. 

Set up a cozy lounge area with warm beverages, healthy snacks, and soothing holiday-themed music for colleagues to truly unwind and recharge.

45. Holiday Bonfire and S’mores Party

Embrace the cozy spirit of the season with a holiday bonfire and s’mores party! Set up a designated outdoor area with a crackling fire pit, plenty of seating, and all the necessary ingredients for making delicious s’mores. 

Encourage colleagues to bundle up, roast marshmallows, and enjoy each other’s company in a warm and welcoming environment.

46. Festive Poker Tournament

Put your team’s skills to the test with a festive poker tournament! Set up various tables and provide festive-themed poker chips or play money. 

You can even incorporate fun holiday-inspired prizes for the top winners or offer buy-ins with proceeds going to a charitable cause. This activity is sure to bring out everyone’s competitive side while fostering camaraderie and good-natured trash-talking.

47. Holiday Gingerbread House Competition

Tap into your team’s creative side with a holiday gingerbread house competition! Provide all the necessary supplies, including pre-baked gingerbread houses, icing, candy decorations, and any other festive embellishments you can think of.

48. Holiday-Themed Paint and Sip Night

Unleash your team’s inner artists with a holiday-themed paint and sip night! Hire a local artist or painting instructor to guide your group through the process of creating festive-inspired masterpieces. 

Provide all the necessary supplies, including canvases, paints, and brushes, as well as holiday-themed beverages and snacks to fuel the creativity.  

49. Festive Culinary Competition

Put your team’s culinary skills to the test with a festive culinary competition! Split colleagues into teams and challenge them to create holiday-themed dishes, appetizers, or desserts using a set of surprise ingredients. 

You can even bring in local chefs or food critics to serve as judges and provide feedback on taste, presentation, and creativity.

50. Holiday Trivia Game Night

Conclusion: .

As we’ve explored these 50 fun business Christmas party ideas, I hope you’ve found inspiration for creating a truly memorable and engaging celebration for your team. 

From festive games and competitions to unique themed events and interactive experiences, these concepts are designed to spark joy, laughter, and a sense of camaraderie among your colleagues.

So, cheers to a joyful and unforgettable holiday season filled with laughter, good cheer, and plenty of festive fun!

1. How can I accommodate different dietary restrictions or preferences at my holiday party?

When planning food and beverages for your event, be sure to consider any dietary restrictions or preferences among your team members. Offer a variety of options, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly choices. 

2. What if my budget is limited? Are there any low-cost or free options for holiday party ideas?

Absolutely! While some of these ideas may require a bit more investment, there are plenty of low-cost or even free options that can be just as fun and engaging. Consider hosting a festive potluck, organizing a white elephant gift exchange, or even a DIY craft station using inexpensive materials. 

3. How can I ensure that my holiday party is inclusive and respectful of diverse cultural traditions?

Inclusivity and respect should be at the forefront of any workplace celebration. When planning your holiday party, be mindful of different cultural traditions and beliefs among your team members. Avoid assumptions and consult with colleagues from diverse backgrounds to ensure that your activities and decorations are respectful and welcoming to all. 

Misbah Mushtaq, a creative soul and expert storyteller, has been weaving words into impactful narratives for over three years. On Fiverr, she's known for her compelling blogs that not only engage the audience but also resonate with their heartbeats. Misbah's writing is a tribute to the spirit of teamwork and the quiet dedication that fuels progress. Outside of work, she finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, reflecting the same warmth and appreciation in her interactions with the world around her.

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18 Best Free Christmas PowerPoint Templates With Holiday Winter Designs

Now you've got to give a presentation! With time at a premium, you need Christmas PowerPoint templates . These pre-built winter PowerPoint presentations already have most of the work done.

There's never enough time to do everything for Christmas. Before the holiday, you're rushing around the office to finish projects. Then, there are gifts to buy and decorating to do!

Why not save time with free Christmas PowerPoint templates for any Christmas PowerPoint backgrounds? They're professionally designed and easy to use.

Let's look at free Christmas PowerPoint templates in this article. You'll also sample professional  holiday PowerPoint template options from Envato Elements.

10 Top Premium Christmas PowerPoint Templates on Envato Elements

Here are five of my favorite premium Christmas presentation PowerPoint templates. They're all included with a subscription to Envato Elements. Take a look:

1. Tuzeo: Christmas Presentation Event PowerPoint

Tuzeo, a leading Christmas PowerPoint template, is a bright and cheerful template. You’ll get a 100 editable slides, comprising of fifty Christmas slide background designs. Included are options to edit the color themes and more. It’s one of the best Christmas PowerPoint templates for this  holiday season.

2. Winter PowerPoint - Christmas Slide Background

Clean and fresh, this aptly named winter PowerPoint premium template delivers cool style. It includes over thirty custom slides suited to almost any type of presentation. This winter PPT looks excellent at home, or work. No matter the nature of your presentation project, it’s ready to help.

3. Christmas PowerPoint Background Template

Using a Christmas PowerPoint template in Microsoft delivers holiday cheer right to your audience. This one's a top choice. 

The template includes 30+ unique Christmas PowerPoint background slides. You won’t find that much variety in any free Christmas PowerPoint backgrounds for PowerPoint! Each one's ready to customize, for easy sharing, or inclusion in a major PPT Christmas presentation deck.

4. Winter - Watercolour C hristmas Slide Template

The Winter PowerPoint template has an elegant, artistic flourish. You're sure to impress your audience with these animated holiday PowerPoint templates. Free animated Christmas PowerPoint templates don't have such attention to detail.

This C hristmas slide template is seasonally inspired and ready for winter. Free fonts and simple content placeholders are used throughout.

5. Christara - Xmas PowerPoint Template

Why build Christmas PowerPoint templates yourself? You can download expertly crafted designs. That’s precisely what you’ll get from the Christara template. It is packed with features like:

• easy-to-edit layouts that you can quickly customize
• team and infographic slides to introduce ideas and people
• contact slides to build social networks
• a cheery holiday aesthetic throughout

This is one of the best Christmas PowerPoint templates you'll find online. 

6. Merry Christmas PowerPoint Templates

This premium Christmas presentation template for PowerPoint is great to send family members, organize your secret Santa games and more! This Christmas themed PowerPoint template comes with clean layouts. Use festive PowerPoint Christmas backgrounds to light up the holiday cheer.

7. Minimal Christmas Presentation Template

This Christmas presentation template offers a clean layout that is ready to edit. Choose from 26 unique slide designs. Put together a presentation that will set your Christmas campaign and events apart.

Start experimenting with fun Christmas PowerPoint templates like this one. 

8. Amzora - Christmas PowerPoint Backgrounds

Christmas PowerPoint templates like Amzora are a great idea to spread the holiday spirit at the workplace. It comes with 30 unique slide designs to choose from. Graphics are built into the presentation so, no need for image editors.

9. Christmas Eve - Holiday PowerPoint Template

Are you preparing a Christmas marketing campaign our sale? Check out this Christmas Eve holiday PowerPoint template. Graphs are easily editable to through Master Slides.

10. Merryful - Christmas Slide Backgrounds

This premium Christmas PowerPoint template in Microsoft includes high quality vector icons and graphics. You can easily resize and edit. It's designed with a strong sense of usability in mind.

18 Free Christmas (& Winter-Themed) PowerPoint Templates to Download in 2024

Here's the deal:

• Every month Envato Elements offers 12 different hand-selected files, (fonts, presentations, videos, and more). Create a free account to download this month's free premium files now.

Spent all your money buying gifts and decorating? You might need free winter and free Christmas PowerPoint templates. We've scoured the web for 19 of the best free PowerPoint Christmas templates that you'll see below.

1. Winter Presentation - Christmas Background for PowerPoint  

Looking for free Christmas PowerPoint presentation templates? This holiday PowerPoint template for free uses winter inspired styling. This Christmas PowerPoint template is free and available from Microsoft.

2. PowerPoint Christmas Background

Christmas ornaments are used in this Christmas PowerPoint template. They’re unmistakable signs of the winter season approaching. They also adapt to a variety of presentation topics. 

3. Free PowerPoint Christmas Background - Ornaments

Free Christmas PowerPoint templates use ornament styling. This provides a festive feel to your slide deck. Use this for holiday party decks, announcements, slideshows, and more.

4. Free Holiday PowerPoint Background  

Looking for animated Christmas PowerPoint templates for free download? These free PowerPoint Christmas templates style themselves by showcasing ornaments on a tree.

5. Christmas Eve - Holiday PowerPoint Background  

This Christmas PowerPoint templates free download has snowflake graphics on each slide. PowerPoint’s built-in tools help you tailor each slide to your needs.

6. Holiday PowerPoint Background - Ornaments  

Here's another colorful option. This free Christmas background for PowerPoint offering has slides using images of holiday ornaments mountains. 

7. Snowman & Gift - Christmas Background for PowerPoint  

This set of free holiday PowerPoint templates backgrounds has snowman characters. Use it to build engaging slides. In PowerPoint, you can easily add text and images to each one.

8. Christmas Snowman Smiling PowerPoint Templates  

Looking for more snowmen in free PowerPoint Christmas templates? This Christmas background for PowerPoint has what you need. Start working with free winter PowerPoint templates like this one. 

9. Free Christmas Background PowerPoint

Use this wintry ornament PowerPoint Christmas background. Build a holiday presentation deck. It’s based around PowerPoint’s built-in slide designs, layouts, and options.

10. Free Christmas PowerPoint Template  

Free Christian PowerPoint templates for Christmas are good for holiday functions. You can also use them for holiday events and more. 

11. F ree Christmas PowerPoint Template Theme With Dog  

Bright graphics feature prominently in these free Christmas templates for PowerPoint presentations. This is a free winter PowerPoint template that's simple to use.

12. Free Christmas Background PowerPoint

These Christmas slide backgrounds are useful in a professional or personal setting. The snowy winter slides use images of ornaments to suggest celebration. 

13. Christmas PowerPoint Template FREE  

This Christmas PowerPoint template free download has a holiday aesthetic. These Christmas and winter free PowerPoint downloads are easy to customize. Use PowerPoint’s editing menus to make each slide your own.

14. Christmas PowerPoint Template Free Download

A handcrafted look makes these free winter PowerPoint templates signify the Christmas spirit. They're designed in 16:9 widescreen layout. It works well on many displays and projectors.

15. Snowy Winter - Holiday PowerPoint Background

Looking for free winter PowerPoint templates? This Christmas PowerPoint templates free download selection has seasonal graphics. Try out cute free Christmas PowerPoint presentation templates like this one.

16. Christmas PowerPoint Background - Globe

Snow globes are classic symbols of the holiday season. Add this free Christmas PowerPoint presentation templates download. Get this free PowerPoint Christmas template to start your design.

17. Star Decoration - Christmas PowerPoint Backgrounds Template

This Christmas PowerPoint template with free download is suitable for various presentations. 

18. Christmas Landscape PowerPoint Template  

A snowy landscape featuring Santa in this template. Customize this Christmas template to fit the needs of many holiday projects. It could work as a party slideshow, social planner, or many other concepts.

How to Customize Your Premium Christmas PowerPoint Template

We'll show you how to customize your template in five simple steps below. For this tutorial, we'll use the Winter Christmas PowerPoint Template . It’s a premium template from Envato Elements.

Let's get started:

1. Add an Image

For the first four steps, we'll use slide #5. Here's what it looks like without any edits:

This template has an image placeholder, which makes adding an image easier. With the placeholder click on the Insert Picture from File button. Locate the picture. Once you've located it, double-click on the picture that you want to use.

To add a picture without the placeholder, click on the Insert tab above the toolbar. Click on the Pictures button. Select the location of your image.

Once you've found the image, double click on the image to insert it into the slide.

2. Change an Object’s Color

To change an object’s color, click on the object that you want to change the color of. You'll know that the object is selected when there's a box and handles around it. Click on the Shape Format tab above the toolbar. 

Next, click on the Shape Fill button. Select the color that you want to change the object to.

3. Change the Font Color

To change the font color, select the font that you want to change the color of. You'll know that it’s selected when handles and a box appear around the text. Select the Home tab above the toolbar. Click on the Font Color button and select the color that you want to use.

4. Change the Font

To change the font of the text, select the text that you want to change the font of. Next click on the arrow next to the font button. This will cause a menu to drop down. Select the new font that you want to use.

5. Change the Background Color of the Slide

For this last point, we'll use slide #15. Here's what slide #15 looks like without any edits:

To change the background color, click on the Design tab above the toolbar. Next click on the Format Background button. This will cause a sidebar to appear. In this sidebar click on the Fill Color button. Select the color that you want to change the background to.

5 Tips for Making Great Holiday Presentations

Even the best presenter needs a few tips to help them succeed. In this section, let's consider five holiday-specific tips to help you give your best presentation yet.

For more tips check out our How to Use PowerPoint (Ultimate Tutorial Guide.) This single guide has everything you need to master the art of PowerPoint presentations. 

1. Include a Holiday Fun Fact

Every presentation needs an ice breaker. There's a ton of fun trivia related to the holiday season, so consider sharing a fun fact.

On your first slide, use a fun fact to start a conversation. Bonus points if you make it a trivia question to the audience!

2. Be Inclusive

If your presentation is for work or large groups, inclusivity is essential. That means considering that not everyone celebrates the same holidays that you do. 

The holidays are a fantastic time to build relationships with co-workers and colleagues. And when you show that you're considering their holiday too, they're sure to appreciate it.

With a bit of work, you can easily include all the holidays in your presentation.

3. Create a Holiday Reveal with Animations

Many holiday parties reveal a prize drawing or year-end award component. In that case, it helps to build suspense and excitement with your audience. Woking with animated Christmas PowerPoint templates for free download or premium might help.

This is a situation where PowerPoint animations dazzle the audience. Use the guide below to master the art of animations:

4. Remember Safety

Unfortunately, the holiday season also includes several hazards. Winter weather or tripping over a Christmas light cord can disrupt the holiday cheer.

Make sure to include a safety tip for your workplace holiday presentation. Your co-workers will appreciate that you're thinking of their well-being. 

5. Focus on Images 

Remember: your subscription to Envato Elements also includes unlimited stock photography . Why not add as many images as possible to your PowerPoint presentation?

For a complete guide to working with images, check out our tutorial below:

5 Winter-Themed Christmas & Holiday Cheer Slide Design Trends

Design trends can help you keep your holiday presentation up to date. Find the right C hristmas themed PowerPoint template for you. 

Here are some design trends for PowerPoint presentations:

1. Minimalism

Minimalism is a popular trend that's been on trend for a long time. A minimal Christmas themed PowerPoint template lets you focus on the content. 

When a slide is overcrowded then it can distract the audience. An overcrowded slide can look sloppy and unprofessional.

2. Custom Fonts

Custom fonts are a great way to personalize your Christmas slide template. Having a personalized custom font makes your Christmas slide template unique. As a part of subscribing to Envato Elements, you get access to custom fonts. You can use them on your Christmas PowerPoint templates.

3. A Lot of Images

The trend is to have more images than text on your Christmas slide template. Images are a great way to connect with your audience. 

But you don’t want to use too many images. Images can help your audience quickly understand what you’re talking about. Visuals are more likely to draw out the emotion in people than words are.

4. Icons and Graphs

When you use a graph on your Christmas slide template, you'll  present data in a way that's easy to understand. Graphs are more interesting than a list of numbers. 

Icons can also help you get your message across without using tons of words. Many Christmas PowerPoint templates come with icons or graphs. You can move them onto the slide of your choice.

5. Infographics

Infographics combine information and graphics. Infographics on your Christmas slide template can help explain information to your audience. 

Many Christmas PowerPoint templates come with infographics. Use them to present your information in an interesting way.

More PowerPoint Templates

Didn't see a Christmas themed PowerPoint template for your needs? Then dive in to find more premium PowerPoint templates here:

5 Benefits of Using the Best Christmas PowerPoint Templates With Pro Designs

Are you wondering if PPT templates are the best choice for you? You might wonder about the value of outsourcing the design work. 

Here are five reasons why you should use a top premium Christmas slide template for your next presentation in 2024:

• It saves you time . With a premium Christmas-themed PowerPoint template, most of the work and content has already been built. Just add your own details.
• The finished slide deck is the best possible presentation . The best Christmas PowerPoint templates have expert designs. You’ll end up with a much better slide deck. 
• Ideas are built into the slides . You don’t have to worry about forgetting important information. The best Christmas PPT templates have plenty of ideas to remind you what every presentation should include. 
• Plenty of customization options . Even though you start with a premade template, you don’t have to use those colors or fonts. Feel free to customize the font to match your needs and style.
• The slides stand out . Most presentations will use the Microsoft built-in presentation templates. Professionally-designed attractive Christmas PowerPoint templates are sure to stand out because it's unlikely that your peers will use custom PPT designs.

Envato Elements is a unique service. For a single flat rate, you get thousands of great PPT templates.

Sign up for Envato Elements. You'll get access to thousands of unlimited use graphics and templates. Choose from web themes to presentation templates , and more—all for one low price.

Common PowerPoint Questions Answered (FAQ)

PowerPoint is a powerful program for presentations. If you're just getting started with it, you might have some questions. Here are five common PowerPoint questions that new PowerPoint users have: 

1. Is PowerPoint Better Than Google Slides or Keynote?

All three programs can be used to create stellar presentations. Keynote is easy to use. Google Slides are easy if you need to collaborate with others. And PowerPoint has plenty of professional features. Learn more about each program and how they compare in this tutorial: 

2. Can I Add Timelines to PowerPoint? 

Yes, timelines are just one type of content you can add to your PowerPoint presentations. Learn how to add a timeline with this guide: 

3. Do I Have to Pay for PowerPoint?

The answer is yes and no. PowerPoint is a part of Microsoft Office, which isn't free. But you can access a free, online version of PowerPoint with limited features. Learn more about the differences between two PowerPoint versions here: 

4. Can I Turn My Presentation Into Video? 

Yes, you can. It’s not that hard. We've got a step by step tutorial that walks you through the entire process: 

5. How Can I Edit Master Slides?

Working with master slides in PowerPoint can save you a ton of time. But you need to know how to edit them to suit your needs. It’s not difficult once you know how. Learn more in this tutorial guide .

Learn More About Making Great PowerPoint Presentations

Creating a great PowerPoint presentation isn't easy. You can learn more about working with PowerPoint and making great presentations with these tutorials: 

The Best Christmas PowerPoint Templates on Envato Elements (With Unlimited Use)

You might have come to this article looking for free PowerPoint Christmas templates. And don't worry, we'll have plenty of free options later in this article.

What may surprise you is how much better premium Christmas PowerPoint templates are. With Envato Elements download unlimited Christmas PowerPoint templates .

With a single subscription, you unlock everything. That includes Christmas PowerPoint backgrounds and templates, and a library of other assets like:

• Stock photos . Perfect for complementing your Christmas PowerPoint presentation with seasonal imagery
• Graphics . Illustrations and icons can replace PowerPoint's limited built-in icons in your slides.
• Patterns and backgrounds . Including seasonal designs that are ideal for your Christmas PowerPoint template

Envato Elements' PowerPoint templates have modern and trendy Christmas slide background designs. Christmas PowerPoint templates with free downloads from Microsoft can't match them.

For a bit more cost, you've got a readymade presentation that helps you enjoy the holidays.

Design a Christmas PowerPoint Presentation Today

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that your presentation is ready to share! Apply all the Christmas slide templates and the tips in this tutorial. You're ready to build your best presentation yet.

Free Christmas Templates for PowerPoint presentations are out there, sure. But is using one the  best  use of your time? A premium Christmas PowerPoint template from Envato Elements is a gift to yourself.

Design your Christmas PowerPoint presentation quickly with the help of a template. Then, get back to enjoying some time off and time with those you care about.

Editorial Note: This post has been updated with contributions from Lex Soto , Sarah Joy and Brenda Barron . Sarah and Brenda are freelance instructors for Envato Tuts+. Lex is a staff writer for Envato Tuts+.

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Fun Virtual Christmas Party Ideas Perfect for Remote Teams

Updated on: 7 June 2023

What a year 2020 has been. 

From virtual learning to virtual award ceremonies, this year has replaced what we normally do in-person with Zoom calls for socializing, online classrooms and whiteboards for teaching, video-game broadcasting on Twitch, and Netflix and TikTok for entertainment. 

Now, with Christmas fast approaching, we are pulling out all the stops to find the perfect way to successfully host a virtual Christmas party. We also took some time to curate a list of virtual Christmas party ideas – ones that are actually doable and fun at the same time – that you can try out with your friends, colleagues, or family online. 

Send Virtual Christmas Party Invitations or Flyers 

After all the hours spent on online meetings , another Zoom call that may lag on for hours may turn the team off. To avoid making it seem like another meeting, it’s important to hype everyone up. The first step to doing this is the invitation. Instead of sending another meeting link or a calendar invite, share a virtual invitation or flyer . 

Get creative with Creately’s shape libraries for over 70 types of chart and diagram types and the built-in Google image search feature (like we’ve done with the templates below). You can also copy-paste or drag and drop logos and other design elements right from your own device.

Click on the links below to edit or share them online.

Alternatively, you can also turn it into a fun game by getting everyone to create a greeting card of their own; the best one obviously wins! 

Dress the Part

It’s a party after all so wear something festive. To encourage everyone to do so, you can make a game out of it with an ugly sweater or best-dressed contest. Even though you can only see each other through a screen, dressing up can do a lot to distinguish the party from your daily meetings. 

Virtual Company Talent Show 

Showing talent – whether singing a song, performing a magic act, or being a mime – can be easily done through video conferencing and that’s why it makes another great virtual Christmas party idea. You can have people sign up for time slots early on to make it easy to properly plan your party agenda.   

Here are 50 great talent show ideas you can try for this year’s virtual Christmas party. 

Two Truths and a Lie Christmas Edition 

You can turn this popular ice breaker game into a holiday-themed one by getting the participants to introduce Christmas-related two truths and a lie. It can be about Christmas family traditions, the weirdest Christmas gifts they’ve received, or what they love about the season.

Virtual Escape the Room 

Escape rooms offer an adventurous way to entertain everyone and improve team collaboration at the same time. Virtually you can play these by connecting over Zoom or other video conferencing platforms. Here are 24 virtual escape rooms you can have fun getting out of this Christmas. 

Christmas Tic Tac Toe

This classic game is another fun way to keep the crowd entertained. Make your game more Christmas-y with the game board templates below. Duplicate the game board for multiple pairs by simply copying and pasting it elsewhere on the canvas.

Decorate a Virtual Christmas Tree

Since you can’t actually meet up, make it a little bit different this year and decorate a Christmas tree – online. It can be a great way to keep the participants engaged and entertained. You can also turn it into a game by teaming them up and selecting the best decorated virtual Christmas tree. 

What do you need for this? Only an online canvas with real-time collaboration capabilities.

Below is a Christmas tree template you can use. You can create a library of Christmas tree decorations you prefer and copy and paste them right onto the canvas from your device. Use a Google Drive folder to store your library, so you can easily share it with your team, and using the Creately Google Drive plugin you can share the Christmas tree document through the same folder.

You can also search for decorations with the Creately canvas’s built-in Google image search capability. 

Tip: Press C on a bauble to attach a message or write about a memory on the virtual Christmas tree. 

Virtual Dance Party 

You certainly don’t have to be in the same room to bust out a dance move or two. You can create a playlist out of everyone’s favorite songs or use a random song generator to play music while you dance in the living room. Or have a virtual karaoke party taking turns crooning the tunes.

Christmas Crossword Puzzle 

A crossword puzzle is another great way to keep the participants engaged. While you can use a Christmas themed crossword puzzle, you can also make it more exciting by generating one with clues for what goes down in the office and among employees (i.e. Michael always steals the lunch of ….).

A Christmas Slide-Show 

There can be a drive full of previous office Christmas party photos that you might have forgotten. Reminisce those joyous occasions by gathering them and creating a quick presentation with them. 

You can also mix it up by getting individuals to create their very own presentation on a hilarious Christmas related topic (i.e. the weirdest Christmas traditions in the world). Optionally, you can also give the best presentation a prize, hence making a game out of it to hype things up. 

Name that Tune

Give this classic game a Christmas twist with a selection of holiday-themed tunes. Participants can hum the tune or mute their mics and sing the songs allowing others to read the lips to recognize the song. Here are some song suggestions you can try.  

Got More Virtual Christmas Party Ideas?  

Year-end holiday parties provide a great opportunity for teams to blow off some steam and get excited for the year ahead. Although this year you might not be able to gather, you can still have some fun with a virtual Christmas party.  You can tweak the usual Christmas traditions to suit a virtual environment, invent new ones altogether or choose from the list of virtual Christmas party ideas above. 

Let us know how it goes in the comments below.

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22 Awesome Virtual Christmas Party Ideas For Remote/Virtual Teams

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We may now be ankle-deep in the weirdest holiday season any of us can remember, but don't worry if you're still figuring out how to show your staff the appreciation they deserve after an incredibly trying year. To paraphrase the timeless words of Three Days Grace, it's never too late to put great virtual Christmas party ideas for work into action and round off 2021 on a positive note.

Let's face facts. It has been a ridiculously difficult 12 months, and they have tested us all on so many levels. Feelings of social isolation and loneliness have gone through the roof, and then continued skywards, work-from-home orders have put paid to established processes and ways of getting the job done, with potentially detrimental impacts on everything from efficiency to confidence.

Businesses should be keen to offer staff some seasonal rewards to acknowledge their achievements in the face of some serious obstacles. But can you really put on a fun, memorable and meaningful Christmas event for work when we're still in the middle of a global pandemic? 

Thankfully, at Eventcube, we believe the answer is a resounding yes, so deck the halls and prep the bells, be ready for a Christmas carol, here are twenty two virtual Christmas party ideas for work that are guaranteed to work. And if you missed our recent post on event planning tools that can make organising a breeze, we recommend taking a look at that, too.

It's time to make this year's virtual holiday party a success and get everyone clicking YES to your virtual Christmas party. Your virtual Christmas party planning starts here.

Our 22 Virtual Christmas Party Ideas For Remote Work are:

• The Cocktail Masterclass
• The Secret Santa
• The Craft Session - At Home Wreath Making
• The Christmas Market
• The Drive-in
• The Award Ceremony
• The Online Gameathon
• The Fancy Dress Christmas Party
• The Video Quiz Remixed
• Host An Online Charity Drive
• Host a Virtual Trivia Showdown
• Decorate Cookies
• Virtual Holiday Scavenger Hunt
• Virtual Christmas Time in Your City
• Guess the Gift
• Share Holiday Photos That Tell a Story
• Paint and Sip
• The Virtual Escape Room
• Online Talent Show
• Movie Night
• Book a Virtual Comedy Club Experience
• Support a Local Business

1. The Cocktail Masterclass From Mixology

Home restaurant kits were one of the success stories of 2020 - top quality dishes prepared by professionals delivered to homes for heating and eating. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the New Roaring Twenties have also given rise to a boom in home cocktail-making kits, and these can be a great way to bring people together when we can't actually come together physically.

With a pre-paid link sent out to staff in advance so they can pick their chosen ingredients (don't forget to offer non-alcoholic option

s), it's a case of fixing the time for the video call and then handing over to a professional mixologist who can teach attendees how to fine-tune the perfect tipple. Interested? Have a look at Mixology , one of the leaders in the UK market.

2. The Secret Santa - Elfster / Drawnames

Secret Santa is a usual feature on every list of virtual Christmas party ideas. It's a long-standing office tradition for good reasons since it's a fun and affordable way to ensure everyone gets a personal gift, helping cement bonds and letting people know how they are seen by colleagues.

The good news is, just because you're all working remotely this covert exchange of gestures doesn't have to be put on hold.

The likes of Elfster and DrawNames can make the entire process smooth, quick and painless, allowing managers to set the budget and individual staff members to choose a wish list of possible gifts for others to give them. 

The added bonus here is that by reading through those lists everyone will get to know each other even better, which could be a particularly huge help for firms that have taken on new starters over the course of this year.

3. The Craft Session - At Home Wreath Making

OK, so this is a bit like The Cocktail-making party, only instead of booze think stuff like gingerbread houses, holly and ivy wreaths, Christmas decorations and nativity scenes. In fact, if you can put an "art and craft" label on it, and people can feasibly make the item in their living room, you can pick pretty much anything for the focal point here.

You'll need to come up with a simple and cheap kit containing everything people need to make whatever the item is, get these out to everyone in advance of the chosen date, and then set up a video conference with one lead host who can talk everyone else through a step-by-step guide to completing the task. 

Obby.co.uk has a number of “at-home-learning” kits. Just bulk order them and send them out to your staff. The teacher will take the session live on Zoom. Simple. A good seasonal example is the at home wreath making kit session from Floral Merchant London.

For the best results, why not come up with competition categories that everyone can vote in at the end of the event, with prizes for each individual victor.

4. The 'DIY' Christmas Market

The explosion in Christmas Markets over the past couple of decades hasn't passed anyone by unnoticed. Themed on the traditional German icons, we've seen these pop up everywhere from the UK to Birmingham, Alabama. 

While many have understandably been cancelled this winter due to fears arising from the pandemic, many are still going ahead and can make a great real-world option.

But if you're struggling to find one nearby don't worry too much. Eventcube has heard that several firms are planning to run their own mini-markets in the company car park, and this doesn't have to be quite the monumental task it first sounds like. 

Nobody is expecting all the bells and whistles, just a little effort to brighten up what could otherwise be an incredibly dreary December. We'd recommend a simple set of COVID-19 -secure stalls offering homemade food and drinks like mince pies and mulled wine.

5. The Drive-in - DIY Cinema

The jury is out on whether the trend for drive-in music events is a good thing or one of the most ridiculous ideas for putting on parties during the pandemic. 

Nevertheless, the drive-in concept doesn't start and stop with Spotify chart-topping EDM stars from the United States. Drive-in cinema film screenings are the oldest example of drive-in entertainment, and you can also create your own version of this. It will surely make your Virtual Christmas Party one to remember.

With a couple of relatively basic bits of kit, which you can hire from professional companies , you can set up a small film night of your own to give people a reason to come together for a shared experience. 

Those who want to take the idea further should consider options for digitally connecting the cars, or at least the members of staff in them, with a video link to allow people to talk to one another during the show, without having to leave their seat. Top marks for any of the following hot flick picks: Bad Santa , Elf , Scrooged , Die Hard , It's A Wonderful Life .

6. The Award Ceremony

Again, this isn't so much a new idea as it is something that we need to think a bit differently about because of the dreaded COVID-19 situation. Company Christmas events have long played with corporate stereotypes by preparing fun and personal award categories that act as a great way of showing some real love for those who keep the wheels turning every day.

Due to the ongoing restrictions, you may need to run your award ceremony online, opening up a world of possibilities in terms of technological trickery to bring the evening to life. 

It's crucial to remember that these only really do what they are supposed to if everyone gets to walk away with a trophy, so if you're firm is made up of more than 20 or so staff members it might be better to consider a different option, or at least be aware of how repetitive this could be and think of a few ways to vary and switch-up proceedings.

7. The Virtual Gameathon

Video games have enjoyed a boom year in 2020 for obvious reasons, and one of the most visible trends in the gaming world has been the explosion in people watching other people play through titles, or livestream themselves to show off their joypad prowess. Meanwhile, mobile games are continuing to grow in popularity, and there are endless ways to network and play against online contacts. It's a safe idea when you need to organise a virtual Christmas party on short notice.

So why not show just how on-point you are by embracing this idea for the office Christmas event? Simply select one of the many fun holiday party games and then organise how the competition will work based on what the games involve. 

Next,coordinate a live-streamed contest where employees can watch one another going head-to-head, no matter where they are logging in from. Have a read of our blog on 11 proven virtual event and live streaming tips if you're unsure of how to pull this one-off.

And it does not have to be only a video game. Here's a perfect example of something old school that still works like a charm. "The most likely to" is one of the many seasonal superlative holiday party games. It requires remote coworkers to recognise which teammate is most likely to perform in a specific way. For example, who is most likely to:

• Spend a fortune on cupcakes?
• Procrastinate shopping until December 24th?
• Fall while dancing?
• Cry while watching a romantic Christmas movie?
• Tell a long-ish Christmas story?

The employee who gets "mentioned" the most wins. You can keep track of all your winners and decide on a king or queen. This fun game still remains one of the more creative virtual Christmas party ideas on the list. It's a tremendous virtual team-building exercise as well.

8. The Virtual Fancy Dress Online Party

Who doesn't like donning a costume, ideally homemade, and getting silly with their colleagues? Fancy dress can be a great way to lighten the mood and break the ice, as obviously everyone is quite literally wearing a talking point. It goes without saying this can be done either in a face-to-face situation (with appropriate social distancing this year) or in the virtual world.‍

There are tons of ways to put unique twists on this one, too. Specifying an overarching theme is the most obvious, and that could work really well when combined with another of our virtual Christmas party ideas for work, say the Christmas movie night or cocktail party.

You could also consider running virtual quizzes wherein people have to guess who is impersonating who, adding an air of mystery to proceedings and encouraging employees to think well beyond the box. You can even hire a quizmaster from companies like Quiz Quiz Quiz .

9. The Video Quiz, Remixed

Most of us were sick to the back teeth of Zoom quizzes by about Week 4 of Lockdown 1.0, meaning these days the very mention of that phrase risks triggering your employees with suppressed memories of hours spent watching family members bickering resurfacing from the deepest recesses of their minds. Taking that into consideration, we recommend giving these a wide berth.

But that doesn't mean the basic principle can't be adapted. One of the most fun holiday party games we have played in this least-fun-of-years involved treasure hunting objects around the house to fit simple, broad descriptions or categories, and then having a vote on whose interpretation was the most accurate, smile inducing or innovative. Like our virtual secret santa idea, this can really help staff get to know each other better, and in our opinion that can only ever be a good thing.

10. Host an Online Charity Drive

Giving back to the community can be an incredible way to bring people together. Giving during your virtual holiday party will make you feel warm and fuzzy on top of being fulfilled, which is something everyone wants at this time.

Hosting an online event that encourages philanthropy will not only be fun with your colleagues; you can raise money too. A virtual casino night is a great way to do both - all proceeds go towards the charity of choice while having some good old Christmas gambling thrown in.

Play some of your favourite Christmas party games for prizes that go directly to your chosen cause. You could offer guests an opportunity to have access only by donating money. 

Setting up a digital tip jar for donations is also a great idea. This year, you can also get your team in the spirit of giving by paying for teammates to complete holiday-themed dares, and then donating all proceeds from this activity towards charity!

11. Host a Virtual Trivia Showdown

Give them something more than just a virtual office Christmas party. Get creative by assigning remote workers into small teams and have each one come up with their own attack on Christmas trivia questions that cover popular movies or holiday songs associated with different traditions around the world.

Clearly, it is a great way to make any online event more enjoyable. Just prepare questions for each person and split them up into teams so that there's plenty of competition going around. 

Immediately after the round, collect teams' answers in a private online chat. Keep score and at the end of each round, announce who won. Team trivia is one of the best virtual Christmas party ideas to get competitive while having your team combine collective knowledge (and earn bragging rights.)

12. Online Cookie Decorating - Simply Recipes 

You can't go wrong with this idea for a traditional Christmas party. All your guests will have to do is decorate their cookies, and you're all set.

You can find a selection of online cookery decorating over on Simply Recipes Best Online Cookie Decorating Classes blog post. Be quick though - these group sessions are selling like hotcakes (literally)! 

Guests are sure not disappointed even if they don't know how—these easy treats only take minutes before being enjoyed by everyone at home together as well as those who attend individually.

The best part—you can use the cookie decorating kits to design the goodies together and compare results. Or, let each teammate upload them into one photo album or social media group where everyone votes on which ones they like better. You can even announce winners during your video call with a live poll voting system, so all participants will know who won at once.

13. Virtual Holiday Scavenger Hunt

This one is perfect for remote employees. You could send your virtual holiday party guests on a quest, create a group chat and open it up with challenges like finding odd or difficult items to complete this fun activity together.

You can be as simple or complicated as you want, making it a popular item in our list of virtual Christmas party ideas. An example could be about finding the biggest Christmas tree in town.

Have your Christmas party guests post pictures in the chat as they check each item off the list. Then, discuss everyone's favourite images in your video call. 

A scavenger hunt is always an easy icebreaker that will get everyone talking, and for distributed teams, it offers a glimpse into everyone's hometowns.

The team members can also scour the house for seasonal clues, like when your pet is dressed in Christmas clothes or how a rich person celebrates Christmas. People could share one Family photo that went wrong this year. 

There are so many possible prompts that you can hunt. To make it fun, you could turn the hunt into a race with teams or award points based on originality and absurdity.

14. Virtual Christmas Time in Your City

Christmas looks different in every city. It does. While some build snowmen, others hang lights on palm trees. You can celebrate the wonderful way by embracing all of your team members' hometown traditions with virtual tours of their homes.

It would also be amazing to direct some of your team members in gathering photos and videos that document how residents enjoy these events. Ask them to prepare a short video of their city and take the rest of the group on an "in-depth" tour. It's like taking a vacation without the hassle of going through security and being stuck in traffic.

One of the best things about virtual celebration events, in general, is that it gives you access to experiences that would otherwise be out-of-reach.

15. Guess the Gift

We bring you the perfect virtual Christmas party gift game. Most of us love snooping for presents and trying to guess what's inside based on its size, shape. You can harness this curiosity and make it a fun virtual holiday party activity. Before your party, ask each teammate to wrap and photograph an object. Then ask each player to take photos of their unwrapped presents.

Take several pictures with a bit of wrapping paper removed each time. Others can guess the object before all the paper is gone. If someone guesses correctly, then they get something from your treasure trove.

It's always exciting when people finally find out what we're hiding - plus, there are points awarded if their team solves the mystery quicker (points don't matter as much here). There are not many virtual Christmas party games that are as relaxing as this one.

16. Holiday Photos That Tell a Story

What makes a great virtual Christmas party? Taking part and re-living the moments that make up who we are as individuals and families is a fun activity. Sharing photos that tell a story is an easy way to make your virtual Christmas party feel warm and inviting. Team members could request holiday pictures with their favourite Christmas memories.

Every picture tells a story, and it's important to know the one behind the favourite photo, making it a heartwarming activity for any virtual event this festive season. It would be great to know the most famous Christmas story of anyone's family.

17. Paint & Sip - Perfect Virtual Holiday Party Idea

The virtual holiday party will be a blast with a paint-n-sip virtual event. Choose your painting, provide instructions for supplies needed and then watch as other participants can follow along. It's easy because all you have to do is send them the required list of items or include step-by-step videos, so they know how it's done.

You get to connect with coworkers online, paint and drink wine together. Whether it's wine, beer, or cocktails- any good beverage will make your virtual paint and sip more enjoyable. In fact, a nice glass of your favourite drink is a key ingredient of any memorable virtual Christmas party.

Events company Merriment Atelier offer a paint and sip party planner kit that comes bundled with free pre-recorded video content to help you get started. Your team will be painting and sipping in a carefree way in no time. 

18. Virtual Escape Room

Escape rooms are a popular choice since the concept has successfully moved online, making it one of the most practical virtual Christmas party ideas. The general premise is that all teammates are locked inside a room. There's only an hour total time given to complete all puzzles within it - which will allow for successful "escape." Teamwork also comes into play here, with everyone being on their toes at every turn.

Virtual Escape Room is a fun way to combine teamwork, problem-solving skills, and creativity. It makes the perfect addition to your team's virtual holiday party.

19. Online Talent Show

Your employees are more than the skills you see them use in your workplace. A virtual Christmas event can be a great way to showcase their other gifts while also connecting on an individual level.

Treat yourself to an evening of entertainment as you enjoy the various talents on show, including holiday songs and dances. You can even get involved by voting for your favourites or entering a competition.

20. Movie Night

Now is a great time to watch movies with friends, especially if you're stuck at home with the pandemic. Use Sync-Video or Watch2Gether so that everyone can enjoy them at once.

Always choose a movie suited for a virtual holiday party and gather around and watch a movie with your friends! There is one simple twist, though.

Get everyone involved with an easy-drinking game. Pick some holiday-related words and, whenever they're used, take a drink. Also, let your teammates share what they are munching on (Christmas cookies, popcorn, or candy canes, e.g.)

21. Book a Virtual Comedy Club Experience

After everything that's happened over the past couple of years, we all need something to make us laugh. Luckily for your employees, you can send them a private link that will allow them access and connect via secure video chat like never before-no matter where they live.

Escape Team Events is a company specialising in creating immersive events where you can enjoy several different comedians throughout the evening. You can expect to have a great time with plenty of laughs and make your virtual holiday party a big success.

If you've been looking for a way to give your team a laugh they deserve and provide income to talented comedians, then virtual comedy night is exactly what you need. Not only does it allow comics who are struggling with making ends meet an opportunity; but it also gives back in two ways: humour provides relief from stress which boosts our immune system—and spending money helps support those that have found themselves without enough work.

22. Support a Local Business

Whatever you need to organise a memorable virtual Christmas party, your friendly local business can come and deliver on every aspect. So get in touch with that local pub or bar or a restaurant. Call and ask them if they can help with your virtual holiday party. It's a noble cause that is a win-win for everyone involved.

Need more advice for your events? Take a read of some related articles below:

• Top 12 Best Hybrid Event Platforms
• Top 8 Best Event Planning Tools
• How The Events Industry Adapted to COVID12 By Going Virtual (A Study) 
• Hosting Virtual Events: 11 Proven Virtual Event Tips

21 Most Engaging Work Christmas Party Ideas For Hybrid And Remote Teams

Can you hear the bells ringing? 

It's that time of year again - my favorite for going all out with twinkly lights and fun decorations at home and work, cheering everyone up with my classic elf pranks and gingerbread latte runs!

And I’m not the only one.

Surveying 14,600 people across 18 countries in 2022, TGM Research found that about 81% of the participants stated Christmas is the most awaited time of the year.

Additionally, according to a 2022 study by Mitie, the holiday spirit positively influences workplace dynamics. 62% of people report a better mood at work as Christmas nears.

The Christmas holiday, originally to celebrate Jesus's joyous birth , has become a global symbol of reunion, joy, love, and grace. 

Depending on the country, Christmas Eve (December 24th) and Christmas Day (December 25th) could be public holidays for all, while other Christian communities celebrate a more extended holiday throughout the Advent Season .  

This spirit of joy and unity can be an excellent time to foster community and togetherness in the workplace.

And it is not confined to physical spaces.

Drawing from my experience designing and delivering employee engagement for various companies, I am constantly excited to discover new ideas for team bonding during this festive season, no matter where we are.

In this piece, I will share my favorite picks for Christmas celebrations.

These ideas are designed to strengthen team bonds and boost engagement, which is crucial for maintaining a cohesive and happy team following any hybrid work schedule.

Whether you're all about fun happy hours and warm, face-to-face gatherings, or you're more like us and love adding little festive moments into daily team routines, there's always something for you to have fun with the team on this occasion.

• 15-minute Christmas Games Ideas
• Christmas Fun Competition Party Ideas
• Exciting Christmas Happy Hour Ideas
• Christmas-related Workshop and Activities Ideas 

15-minute Christmas Game Ideas for Remote Teams

Who says screens are a barrier to fun and connection?

I’ve curated a list of exciting games that work like a charm online and offline. 

The best part is that each game is quick and effortless to set up. 

So you don’t have to worry about your limit on time, but still spread the holiday cheer this Christmas.

1. Break the Christmas Ice

Icebreakers are always a great way to foster team bonds, but they become even more crucial during Christmas (and yes, the pun is intended 😉). 

In the enchanting winter atmosphere, icebreakers “warm up” our interactions, draw team members closer, and engage remote employees in the festive spirit.

Imagine yourselves answering this question, “ If you could be one of Santa's reindeer, which one would you be and why? ” It is a unique way to explore each other’s personalities and fun facts. 

And all the craziest ideas and inside jokes will come after the “ What would it look like if you could design a new outfit for Santa? ” 

Try out our exclusive Christmas icebreaker questions :

You can further customize the AI-powered icebreaker questions generator by putting your team members’ names and letting the “virtual facilitator” call out everyone on their turns.

If you much into this kind of virtual icebreaker, check out similar ideas:

• Christmas Would You Rather Questions : “Embarrassing Christmas moment or heartwarming Christmas memory?”, “Hot chocolate or Tea?”, “New or Reusable Christmas tree?” Let’s find out your team’s preference and what it can say about them.
• Christmas Wish: Ask about people’s childhood wishes they sent to Santa Claus.
• Sing the word: Sing a Christmas song, and at whichever term you stop, the next person has to start a new song with that given word.
• Christmas around the world: Each member will share how they celebrate Christmas in their country and culture. 

2. Christmas Bingo

Prepare to unleash laughter and lively interactions over a typical Zoom call with Christmas Bingo games. 

• In this activity, each member will receive a slightly different bingo card, in which the order of the content is mixed up. 
• When the host picks up a calling card that describes an image or an activity that you have, you mark it with a pen or put a candy on the square. 
• Whoever fills in the vertical or horizontal line first is the winner.

If a bingo square says, "Has a pet cat on Christmas," it can lead to team members sharing pictures or stories about their pets. 

This kind of personal sharing creates deeper connections and opens up lines of communication beyond just work-related topics.

When discussing each other’s vibes and fun stuff, does it feel much more like a tight-knit family gathering around the holidays?

You can do more to customize your Bingo sheets in three styles:

• Christmas Graphic: Create bingo cards with different icons on each square – a Santa Claus, ginger cookie, Christmas bauble, bell, and more. Each sheet will have a different combination of rows or columns. To play, simply call out the items or show images of these holiday symbols.
• Christmas Experience: Each square shows a cherished Christmas experience that people might have been through, like “building a snowman,” “drinking hot cocoa by the fireplace,” “having a Christmas movie marathon,” or “celebrating Christmas in a different country.” As each experience is called out, people can mark their card if they’ve done it. Playing this version will remind me of one’s good memories and traditions. Deep conversations will naturally flow then. 
• Christmas Activity: This version is all about letting people actively participate and interact with each other. Plan your bingo cards with fun, holiday-related activities like “Sing a Christmas carol,” “Share a favorite holiday recipe,” “Describe your unique holiday cocktail,” or “Show off your ugliest Christmas sweater.” People must complete a row or column to win by acting out what each square says. 

Bonus: You can consider festive awards like a giant Santa sock for presents or an e-grocery voucher to spread holiday cheer.

3. Tease Your Brain With Christmas Trivia

A trivia game is a fun way to bring up a lot of noise and lovely chaos in gatherings.

By having a list of good questions about any topic, you can let the team compete over what they know. 

It's amazing to see the excitement around interesting facts, like the capital of Iceland or who invented the zipper.

This way, we also learn together and grow closer as a team. 

To make it more lively than just an ask-and-answer format, you can play Trivia with the team through platforms such as Kahoot! (an interactive tool designed for engaging, competition-focused games), Mentimeter (a simple tool to create your own Trivia sets), or TriviaMaker (ready-to-play online Trivia collections).

I recommend the list of Christmas Trivia questions below:

4. Draw Telepathy Christmas Edition

The drawing game is very interactive and can challenge how well your team members understand each other. 

The sky is the limit.

Accuracy is not a fundamental parameter of this game. Creativity is!

Our favorite game at FlexOS is Gartic Phone in the “Normal” mode. In the game:

• One person writes a sentence (about anything Christmas-related.)
• The following person visualizes the sentence.
• The next one writes a sentence about the visualization they see. 

The final work for your sentence will be very different from what you imagine. And that’s precisely the fun of it!

Secret spice:

• Try different modes for a fresh experience each time, such as Knock-off (drawing from memory), Ice Breaker (answering a question with drawings), Animation (building up on other's art to create a GIF), or Story (work together to weave a narrative).
• At the end of the game, share the screen and see how a sentence or image has been transformed through your team’s filters.

5. Christmas Scavenger Hunt

For people who spend most of their office time sitting in one place looking at the screen, a scavenger hunt is a great way to explore your office and talk to colleagues.

The game requires you to find as many items on the list as possible. Set a specific timeframe, like an hour, to add excitement.

How detailed and explicit the scavenger hunt list is totally up to you, but it might look something like this:

Such activities break the monotony and foster team bonding and creativity.

You can quickly adapt this for virtual teams. Share a list of items on-screen and challenge team members to find 7-10 items in their homes within 5 minutes.

There is no limit to how creative they can be.

Adjust the difficulty level of the scavenger hunt based on your team's enthusiasm and engagement:

• Easy : Give broad descriptions such as “Something red,” “Something smells good,” or “Something you can eat.”
• Medium : List specific items such as “A sock,” “A pink bauble,” or “A gingerbread.”
• Hard : Challenge the team with riddles or questions. For example, “The thing children usually put at the head of their bed for Santa.” or “A brown and round cake that is very popular at Christmas.”

6. Family Feud Christmas Edition

If you, like me, are an early Gen Z, you might recall the excitement of Family Feud from family nights. 

For those unfamiliar, Family Feud is a popular game show where teams compete to name the most popular answers to survey questions.

It's more than just a game; it's about team brainstorming, strengthening bonds, and ensuring everyone feels included.

What You'll Need:

• Prepare a list of Christmas-themed questions
• Conduct a brief survey within your team to find answers and assign points based on the answers.

I recommend these topics for the holiday to delve into your team's holiday preferences and traditions:

• What's the most popular Christmas movie?
• Name a staple food at every Christmas dinner.
• Where's the top Christmas travel destination?
• What's this year's most popular Christmas gift?
• What is your team's favorite Christmas song?

Here's how to play Family Feud:

• Divide your team into two groups and introduce the game using our Random Team Generator .
• Each round focuses on different topics. 
• Teams take turns guessing the most popular answers.
• Award points based on how popular each answer is. The team with the highest score at the end of each round wins.

Try our Random Team Generator:

Random team generator, unique christmas party competitions to boost camaraderie.

I still remember my colleague once showed up to work wearing a sweater with our worst team selfies on it to compete in the Ugliest Sweater Contest.

Such fun competitions are fantastic for nurturing team spirit and getting everyone to work together.

Here are some festive competition ideas to help your team get into the holiday spirit:

7. Christmas Desk Decoration Contest

The most effective way to feel the Christmas spirit is to bring it to where you work - the desk. No matter where that desk is.

John Coleman, the author of “HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose,” spent a whole HBR article on how “a beautiful workplace can make your life more joyful and meaningful.”

A fun desk decorating contest can encourage people to make their (home) working space more customized and enjoyable, especially during this festive season.

From classic to playful, people can pick their favorite theme for an impressive working desk transformation, such as Gingerbread House, Elsa Castle, cozy Santa Claus House, or Minion Paradise.

How to organize the Christmas Cubicles Contest:

• Pick a day and time that works well for most people to attend, like an afternoon a few weeks before Christmas. The decorating period should start at least a week before the contest date to give everyone ample time to plan and execute their designs.
• Set a budget cap , such as $20 or $30, to ensure fairness and encourage creative use of limited resources. This way, everyone is on the same playing field, and it's all about creativity, not just spending.
• Prepare simple guidelines detailing the contest rules and announce the contest to your team.
• For voting , ask participants to upload before-and-after photos of their desks to a dedicated Slack channel. The photo with the most likes and comments will win. Alternatively, you can have a live vote during the contest day, in person, or on a Zoom call. 
• Prepare fun awards like "Most Festive," "Most Creative," and "Best Budget Decoration" so that everyone has something to cheer on.

If your team is worldwide and not tied to a physical workplace, the "Home Office" Decoration Contest might fit you better. 

In this version, team members will decorate their work-from-home corner. Then, you can hold a virtual tour on a designated day for voting on the best decor. 

Otherwise, if you don't have much time for decorating but still want to have some kind of this Christmas makeover, consider the simple "Christmas Frame" Contest, where everyone has to show up with the most impressive Zoom background and effects. 

Let's see who has the best Holly Jolly virtual look!

8. Christmas Team-up Office Decoration

After individual cubicles are decked out in festive glory, why not extend this spirit of creativity to our shared spaces? That's where Christmas Team-up Office Decoration comes in.

Live, laugh, love, Christmas. It has to be Christmas everywhere we go.

And you don't need to spend much money to make your office look nice! Instead, reusing items from last year's decoration or using recyclable materials found in the office could be a creative push.

To organize this activity, you need to:

• Pick a time for everyone to decorate their assigned areas together. It could be a light Friday night or span over the first week of December.
• Divide the office into teams , each responsible for a specific area like the pantry or meeting room.
• Encourage teams to brainstorm and plan their decoration ideas together.

Who else could be a judge for your decorating competition if it’s not your boss?

Try inviting the office’s janitors and tea ladies. 

They know every nook and cranny of the office to be fair judges for which team has best captured the Christmas spirit.

9. Christmas Tree Decorating Contest

A Christmas tree is the heart of the Christmas spirit in every household. 

In countries that celebrate Christmas, people can spend days working on their trees. So why not show off your effort to “flex” and gain recognition?

How to organize a Tree Decorating Contest:

• Announce a time frame and a portal where people can post a photo of their Christmas tree.
• All the team members have one day to vote for their favorite tree. Each person can vote for two trees.
• The picture with the highest number of likes wins the game. 

You can even post the tree photo on social media, hashtag your company competition name, and tag your friends and family members for likes and comments!

10. Ugliest Christmas Sweater Competition

Christmas is the time to bring out the best layering and sweater outfits in your closet. 

But let's make it more playful, and show us your ugliest sweater. It is a way to embrace fun and laughter - the season's spirit. 

A sprinkle of creativity can help you leverage an existing sweater in your wardrobe into a winning one. 

How to own the ugliest Christmas sweater in the room:

• Screw the design standard: Mix the brightest color with the most random images possible. You can also print yourself or your team on the sweater.
• Turn yourself into a Christmas tree: Wrap yourself in a tinsel garland.
• Accessories: Don’t forget to match your sweater with a giant pearl necklace, mismatched socks, and a pair of Crocs. 

If you’re about to organize this competition in the office, create a runway for every participant to showcase themselves fully. 

The host can also ask interactive questions with candidates to know their inspiration.

A perfect award for this competition would be the missing piece to enhance the look. How about a funny Christmas tree hat to match with the ugliest sweater?

11. Christmas Team Photo Contest

Photos are beautiful memories that you can revisit every time you want.

A Christmas photo contest at work is an efficient way for people to keep the best memories with their workmates. 

If you’ve already lived up your office with a festive Christmas look, a few extra steps below will 10x engage your teams:

• Announce the activity that each person will take a picture in the office (with the most creative or funniest pose!)
• Copy our Photo Collage template, and share the link with your team. This is where the team can upload their photos and call for votes.
• Those who have the most votes will win. I suggest these surprise awards for more cheerfulness:
• Santa’s Funniest Elves: for whose most entertaining photo.
• Best Themed Dress: for those who wear well-thought-out Christmas-themed attire in their photo.
• Best Christmas Pet Cameo: for those who have a pet in their Christmas photo in a fun or cute way.
• Best Storytelling Photo: for whose photo tells the greatest story or message,

Cheers To Exciting Christmas Happy Hour Ideas

Happy Hour is the best! 

It's the perfect time for our team to kick back and chill out. 

We always have a good time over drinks, catching up, and making great memories.

Are you, too?

And we’re all searching for great ideas to turn an upcoming Christmas Happy Hour a blast, aren’t we?

Here are some not-so-obvious happy hour ideas from my side for your remote, multi-cultural teams:

12. Share Holiday Potluck

Christmas is about sitting with your loved ones and sharing a meal. 

Our food can tell a lot about us. A potluck meal can be a chance for a diverse team to learn about each other’s culture and favorite food memories.

Each team member can bring one Christmas-themed food to the office for a holiday potluck and have a mini lunch feast together. 

How to have a cozy full course:

• Design your team’s menu to include appetizers, main courses, or desserts.
• Let people sign up for what they will bring.
• Don’t forget your vegetarian colleagues and team members who don’t eat onions.

For virtual teams, although you cannot share the food, you can:

• Organize a virtual meal where people can introduce the traditional Christmas food in their country.
• Have a meal online while watching music videos or a movie together.

13. Reach Out To Special Catering Ideas

I've always found that great food is the heart of any Christmas celebration.

Holiday catering creates an excellent space for people to get together and talk about their work, life, and whatever they want to.

Catering vendors can also relieve the burden and let you fully enjoy the party.

For small teams of 5-7 people, you can sit, dine, and engage in deeper conversations with a full course menu.

For bigger teams, consider having a finger food or cake menu. This way, it’s easier for people to grab their food and move around, talking to each other or getting involved in other activities.

Some possible catering ideas are:

• 3-Course Plated Dinner - Garden salad, roasted turkey breast with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie for dessert.
• Family-Style Dinner - Mixed greens salad to share, lasagne baked in a pan with garlic breadsticks, and Christmas cookies and brownies for dessert.
• Fondue Party - Cheese fondue appetizer, salad, and chocolate fondue for dipping fruit, cakes, and marshmallows.
• Holiday Sliders - Mini burgers, pulled pork, and fried chicken sliders with Christmas cookie milkshakes.
• Tapas Style - Bacon-wrapped dates, spiced meatballs, olive tapenade, manchego stuffed peppers, and flatbread.
• Antipasto Skewers - Mozzarella, salami, artichoke hearts, olives, and cherry tomatoes on skewers.
• Loaded Potato Skins - Crispy skins with cheddar, bacon, green onion, and sour cream with chili on the side.
• Cupcake Tree - Christmas tree display of frosted holiday cupcakes.
• Yule Log Cake with Berries - Chocolate swiss roll cake with whipped cream and fresh raspberries.
• Assorted Christmas Cookies - Display of decorated sugar cookies, gingerbread people, and finger sandwich cookies.

No matter the team size, it’s all about engagement and connection on such a special occasion. But a little nudge makes it go easier!

P/S: Don’t forget a vegetarian or someone with alliumphobia in your team! 

14. Guess Your Christmas Secret Santa

The best feeling at Christmas is exchanging gifts with your loved ones.

However, the value does not lie in the materialistic price of the present but in showing attentiveness to each other. 

We play this every year and still have our first-time excitement up to this day.

How to host a Secret Santa:

• Each member is randomly assigned a Santa baby, to whom you will give a present.
• In 1-2 weeks before the gift exchange day, Secret Santa has to secretly and subtly take care of and support their Santa baby without being too obvious.
• The host can set the maximum budget for the presents.
• On the gift exchange day, each person has to guess who their Secret Santa is based on their previous conversations and actions during the last week.

For virtual teams, Secret Santa can send the recipient:

• A Christmas letter.
• A recommended list of favorite music and movies.
• Host a virtual date to bond with each other.

15. Host A Christmas Movie Night

Whether it is an online or offline team, a movie night is an effortless way to relax and bond with the team.

What you’ll need: 

• A conference room or open space with comfy seating. Make sure there is a wall/screen to project the movie on.
• Preparing logistics, including projector and speakers. Test everything beforehand to ensure the best experience on your team's Christmas date.
• Some movie snacks like popcorn, hot chocolate (it’s Christmas!), and cookies.

Here is the curated list of Christmas movies that your team can choose:

• Home Alone (1990) - A classic series that constantly ranks #1 every Christmas. People will always enjoy watching the little boy Kevin using his witty tricks to trap the silly thieves who want to rob the house.
• A Christmas Carol (2009) - A beautifully written story by Charles Dickens. The film follows Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation on a fateful Christmas Eve, filled with a stellar cast and stunning cinematography.

Besides the above classic movies, bond with your Gen Z team over:

• Mean Girls (2004) : Just like Mariah Carey's music, the film is the Christmas anthem for youngsters.
• Frozen (2013 and 2019) : Join Anna and Elsa in the kingdom of Arendelle as they navigate their way through love, self-acceptance, and the bonds of sisterhood.
• A Christmas Intern (2023) : The movie is about a retired mother who becomes an intern for her daughter’s business - Cyber Santa. The film will be released on December 16.

Best Activities To Celebrate Christmas

Handmade gifts are the most expressive way to show your genuine care and love for the recipients.

Besides its practical purpose of making a gift, organizing a crafting space or handmade workshop can also boost people’s well-being at work.

Here are some activity ideas that get your team excited every holiday season:

16. Set Up A Christmas Card Corner

No matter what present you select for this year, a Christmas card is a must-have, right? 

A simple handmade card can sometimes say even more than its actual content. 

It can also be a simple way to show your care and appreciation to your teammates.

Any office can foster the spread of love by setting up a dedicated corner for card crafting. 

Here’s how to Set up a Christmas Card Corner:

• Choose a place that is easily accessible but not too crowded. You want people to have space to sit and craft their cards.
• Prepare materials, including papers, markers, colored pencils, watercolor paints, tinsel garlands, stickers, scissors, envelopes, and more.
• If you want it to be a lively activity, set up a self-service snack bar (with cookies, tea, and chocolate) and a cozy photo booth for people to take pictures with their unique cards.

To encourage your team to join the crafting, consider:

• Place samples of decorated cards for inspiration.
• Ask a dexterous person in your team to help people craft their cards.
• Print out simple origami instructions on how to do a deer or a Santa Claus.

17. Make Your Own Christmas Wreath

Hanging a wreath is like hearing the doorbell of Christmas.

That’s why I believe a Christmas wreath workshop is one of the great ideas to ring the festive bell in the office. 

Many vendors have the expertise in organizing wreath-making workshops for companies. 

For the group of 20 people, the price is around 45-85 USD per person. 

They can help you prepare the logistics and guide your team through the process.

However, if you are a small team and prefer to figure things out together, you can prepare the materials, turn on online tutorials, and experiment with the idea yourselves.

What you’ll need for the materials:

• Wreath rings
• Florist wires
• Evergreen Oak
• Dried florist products

18. Mold Your Christmas Pottery

Are you ready to get your hands dirty to make beautiful decorations?

It’s time to get your fingers off the keyboard and touch some clays.

The easiest way to organize a pottery class in the office is to collaborate with an external vendor. 

The price is generally around 60-100 USD per person, depending on the level of customization and if you want to have a polished bring-home product.

Some interesting Christmas pottery stuff you can make:

• Christmas tree-shaped plate
• Spoon holder
• Candle holder

19. Light Up The Christmas Scented Candle

We do not only see Christmas, we feel it. 

The cold, the snow, the excitement, the smell - those are signifiers of Christmas.

A scented candle class can hit all the boxes. It is quick and easy to do, budget-friendly, and loved by every recipient. 

The price is around 20-50 USD per person, which gives you flexibility to tailor it to your preferences. 

Smells that yell Christmas:

• Roasted Chestnut
• Gingerbread

20. Bake The Christmas Cake

In the article from The University of Alabama of Birmingham, Gavin Jenkins, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy, shared:

“In our literature, there is a recognition that breadmaking can make people happier, support creativity and give people a sense of achievement.” - Dr. Gaven Jenkins

A Christmas cake workshop can be a therapy session in and of itself. 

Most vendors make their workshops beginner-friendly; thus, there is no pressure to have prior baking experience. 

Some vendors bill on the number of cakes. Otherwise, the price for each person is around 100-200 USD. 

You can integrate the workshop with a decoration contest to double the fun. 

21. Mix Your Drink

As someone who loves experimenting with cocktails, I think mixology is such a fun skill to learn - it's like edible art!

You can plan a mixology workshop after the Happy Hour party or before your movie time. Perfect date, right?

The price is around 60-80 USD per person for all ingredients provided. Virtual classes on mixology cost around 30-40 USD. 

While professional mixology workshops have their place, I'd love to save some money and keep things casual by mixing cocktails as a team over Zoom.

It's an excellent way for us to unwind and get creative with the ingredients we have at home.

• Let everyone pick their favorite recipe.
• During the scheduled gathering, we can each make the drinks step-by-step and share mixing tips or modifications based on what we have on hand.

The best part is enjoying the fruits of our labor together (even if virtual) before signing off for a holiday break. Let's toast to our mixology skills!

Christmas Is Around The Corner

Before you know it, the most magical time of the year will be right at your office doorstep. 

For physical and virtual teams alike, with a wide range of ideas, activities, and some thoughtful consideration, the Christmas blessings can blur all borders and bring us all together.

Let's make this festive season extra special by creating lasting memories in the workplace and embracing the spirit of togetherness. 

We wish your work family a joyful holiday season!

More FlexOS

At FlexOS, we want to help you stay ahead in the future of work.

Here are some other popular tools and articles you'll love:

• Icebreaker Questions : You can let ChatGPT create unlimited icebreaker questions for you.
• Virtual Icebreakers : Want more than just questions? We created and collected 14 fun games.
• Happy Work Anniversary : Don't let an opportunity get by to celebrate and recognize your team.
• 30 60 90 : Looking at a new role? Hiring someone new? Chat with our AI and create a 30-60-90 day plan.
• Get to Know You Questions : Hundreds of questions to get to know your team members better.

Also, check out our deep-dive guides on the most important topics for leadership and managing remote teams :

• Remote Work
• Employee Engagement
• Employee Surveys
• AI in the Workplace
• Hybrid Offices

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Blog > 15 Creative Ideas to make your virtual Christmas Party successful

15 Creative Ideas to make your virtual Christmas Party successful

11.23.20   •  #christmas #ideas #party #presentation #powerpoint.

With Covid-19 still being around this December, we once again are facing new issues. Usually, it is the time of the year to get together with colleagues, friends and the entire family, and enjoy a good time together. But in an age where we are obliged to stay at home and practise social distancing, what can we do about our beloved Christmas parties? Luckily, we are here to the rescue, as we got 15 great ways to make this year's Christmas party virtual, and thereby safe for everybody. The following article includes games and other activities that are very entertaining and can be done online without a problem. These activities are perfect for both your business Christmas party and private Christmas parties.

1. Virtual Christmas Dinner

Going to a restaurant and dining together is one of the most common activities for Christmas parties, especially for company Christmas parties. Having some drinks, enjoying good food and having fun chatting with your colleagues or friends can definitely be considered a highlight in every year! However, going out to eat, especially with a large group of people, should definitely be avoided in current times and is even prohibited in some countries. If you still don't want to dispense with a dinner together, there are great virtual alternatives! Everyone could, for example, cook their favourite meal at home - then you meet & eat virtually while chatting with your fellow chefs about their meals. You could even decide on one recipe you all enjoy and everyone cooks the same meal at home: this will give you even more the impression of dining together! If some or all of you do not like to cook, you could always get take-out instead.

• dine together
• also possible for larger groups
• very natural & casual

2. Holiday Charades

You can never go wrong with a nice little round of charades! For those of you who don't know what charades is (is there anyone, really?): it's a game where you draw from a pot of words, act out said word (you're not allowed to talk), and your fellow players must guess what it is. Since you obviously cannot draw from the same pot of words when you're in a video conference, you will have to use another method. You can either a) let every person think of a word that they want to act out for themselves or b) use an online word generator like ( The Game Gal ), where you can choose the game "Holidays" and category "Christmas" to get words that are suited for your Christmas charades.

• get moving & be active
• fun activity
• great for smaller groups

3. Christmas Card Competition

This activity is the most fun if some or all of you know how to use Photoshop or similar software (but it also works if you don't, since you could easily use PowerPoint, Paint, or literally any other program that lets you manipulate or create images). It only takes a little preparation in advance, but it is definitely worth it: everyone creates a Christmas card - there are literally no boundaries here. You can go as wild on glitter, santa hats, and other cheesy elements as you want. In fact, naming the whole thing "Ugly Christmas Card Competition" makes it even more funny. Once you meet online, everyone shares their design and says a few words about it. If you want, you can choose a winner in the end (Who had the best/worst card?). This activity guarantees some good laughs, which we all need right now! P.S.: If you work in a design company, this activity is an absolute must!

• creative exercise
• especially for people who enjoy design

4. Gratefulness Exercise

Christmas is the time to be grateful for what you have, to review life and to appreciate the moment. Especially when times are hard, it is incredibly important to remind yourself of the things that are working out in your life and to really appreciate what you have. For this little activity, each person writes down what they are grateful for at the moment - it can be major things like a good relationship with your family or your job security, or just minor everyday things like the good breakfast you had today, or that the weather outside is nice. Once everyone has written down what they are thankful for, read your things out aloud. As more and more people share their positive thoughts, all of you will benefit from a real positivity-boost, too!

• strengthens mental health
• connects people
• no preparation needed

5. Sing (or listen to) Christmas Songs together

Christmas carols are an essential part of every Holiday party. For many, there is nothing better than getting together with loved ones and singing all the songs we know so well. Even though it is not as nice as singing together in person, singing together in a video conference can be really entertaining as well. Maybe there is even someone who can play the guitar or the piano while the others sing along? If none of you are keen on singing, you can always just listen to music instead. That way, you all can have a private concert featuring Wham!, Mariah Carey and many more at home!

• music connects people
• works with both small and larger groups

6. Would You Rather - Christmas Edition

"Would you rather" is a game where players are given two (im)possible scenarios, and they have to decide on which one they'd rather face. You can easily play it in video meetings, just be sure every participant has one sheet of paper that says "A" and one that says "B". (make sure the letters are readably on camera) Now, one of you is going to start reading the scenarios out loud. On the count of three, everyone holds either the "A" or the "B" card into the camera. You will definitely get some surprising answers - it is then always fun to discuss them in the group afterwards! There are tons of Would You Rather - scenarios that you can find online, but since it's for a Christmas party, we also wanted to give you some Christmas-related scenarios to work with:

Would you rather...

• A. have a carriage with flying reindeers
• B. have a little elf who follows you around and helps you with anything
• A. celebrate Christmas at home
• B. celebrate Christmas somewhere far away

Would (Do) you rather...

• A. buy presents on time / in advance
• B. buy presents last-minute shortly before Christmas Eve
• A. want "Last Christmas" to be the only song you can listen to for the rest of your life
• B. want "The Grinch" to be the only movie you can watch for the rest of your life
• A. spend Christmas in the snow
• B. spend Christmas on the beach
• A. never get any presents for Christmas
• B. never eat any Holiday dinner

Use SlideLizard and make the game even more fun!

If you want to see the results (as in percentages of people choosing A and B), and make voting as easy as possible, be sure to check out SlideLizard . That way, you can simply enter the questions on your PowerPoint slides, fellow players connect over their browser on their phone or notebook and can simply vote for their preferred option. You'll find out more about SlideLizard at the end of this article.

• also great for large groups

7. Holiday Pictionary

Pictionary is just like charades, but instead of acting out words, you have to draw them! There are even some online tools (like Scribble.io ), that automatically give you terms to draw and reward points to those who get it. But you could also easily adapt the game and just play it during a regular video conference: the person who draws just shares their screen, and then uses a software of their choice (like Paint, Photoshop, or GIMP) to draw the term. Just like with charades, you can either make up your own words, or you use an online word generator ( e. g. The Game Gal ), where you simply choose the game "Holidays" and category "Christmas" to get a variety of terms centred around Christmas.

• also for larger groups

8. Christmas Trivia

Most people LOVE trivia quizzes, and so do we! You really can't do anything wrong when going for a classic trivia game at your Christmas party, it doesn't matter if you play with your business colleagues, friends or family. It becomes especially great when you adapt the questions and centre them around Christmas. Feel free to use the ones we prepared here:

What is the Christmas tree's origin country?

• The Czech Republic

Which one of the following is NOT one of Santa's reindeers?

What is often used to decorate Christmas trees in Poland?

• spider webs
• ripped book pages

Which one of these is the best-selling Christmas song of all time?

• All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
• Last Christmas - Wham!
• Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid
• White Christmas - Bing Crosby

A Japanese tradition is to spend Christmas eve...

• away from your husband or wife.
• in Irish pubs.

Trivia Quizzes with SlideLizard

Conducting Trivia quizzes without the mess of people randomly shouting out answers (or nobody wanting to answer at all) can be tricky, especially online. We recommend using a tool like SlideLizard : the quiz participants can log in with a QR-code or a short URL in their favourite browser (on their mobile phone or laptop), and they will be able to vote directly over their device. That way, you will also be see the amount of people who voted for a certain answer.

• learn something new
• also works with very large groups

9. Storytime

This is a very casual exercise, but it definitely helps if you've somehow ran out of things to talk about during your online Christmas party! The concept is that everyone thinks of an interesting story about themselves (ideally involving Christmas) - and then tells that story to the others. As mentioned, this is very simple, but we love it, because you can learn so many fun new things about the people you're with. Especially when doing this activity with work colleagues at your business Christmas party, there are usually a lot of new interesting things you can learn about them. We often don't take enough time in our daily life to really listen and enjoy, so your online Christmas party might be the perfect place to finally do so!

• learn something new about friends/family/colleagues

10. Christmas DIY-Session

If a bunch of creative people get together for an online Christmas celebration, a little DIY-session is absolutely necessary! There are literally no boundaries as to what to do here, really (it depends on available time and skill, though). There are thousands of inspirations and tutorials online for little Christmas decorations, such as origami reindeer, crafting a candle holder, or making your own Christmas tree decoration. You can choose which one you would like to do (we recommend using a DIY-project with supplies most people have at home), and then get together in your virtual space, crafting together, chatting or listening to Christmas songs while doing so.

• make beautiful Christmas decoration

11. Christmas Karaoke

Unfortunately, we cannot visit our favourite karaoke bars at the moment. The good news is: you can make your own home a karaoke bar. And what's the only thing that is better than regular karaoke? Right, it's Christmas karaoke. So get out your best speakers, open YouTube and look for a karaoke version of your favourite Christmas song! Chances are everyone in the video conference will immediately join you and dance and sing along.

• get into Holiday-mood
• can be super funny

12. Share your favourite recipes

This again is a pretty easy activity you can do without much preparation. Christmas is a time for friends and family, but it is also a time for culinary highlights! So why not use your online Christmas party to share your favourite Holiday recipes with your friends or colleagues? It can be fun to learn what different people or families are cooking during the Christmas holidays, and it is a perfect source for inspiration. To take it to the next level, you could even show pictures or make whole presentations about your holiday food preferences. It is the ultimate activity if lots of foodies attend your Christmas party!

• improve cooking skills
• get new ideas

13. Year Review

Let's be honest: 2020 probably wasn't anyone's favourite year. Still, if we really think about it, most of us have had a lot of of positive experiences and beautiful moments. Stopping for a moment in December and reviewing the past year is something we all should do, and it is even better when we do it together! It helps to conclude the past 12 months, making us ready for the next 12 to come. So why not, for this year's Christmas party, let everyone briefly sum up their year? You can mention highs and lows, your favourite moments, special events, things you are proud of or grateful for, and basically anything else that comes to mind when thinking about this past year.

• draw a conclusion to this year

14. Two Truths and a Lie

"Two Truths and a Lie" is another game that is very popular due to it being both super easy and super fun. If you don't know the game - here's how it works: Every player thinks of 3 facts about themselves. 2 of them should be true, and one should be made up. The other players then have to guess which one of the statements is the lie. If you want to crown a winner, you can reward yourself one point for each lie that you have caught. And of course, if you play this game at your virtual Christmas party, be sure to give the facts a Christmas-y twist, such as: 1. As a kid, I didn't enjoy Christmas very much; 2. I've spent the last 2 Christmas eve's alone because my partner had to work; 3. I once forgot to buy my mother a Christmas present; (these are all made up, by the way!) This, again, is a great way to get to know your colleagues at a business Christmas party.

• little preparation needed

15. Dramatic Christmas Story Reading

There is an endless number of Christmas stories. And if you think that they're all just for kids, think again! Many have a truly deep meaning and truth in them, some are extremely funny, and some are really exciting. Maybe there are a few storytellers in your virtual Christmas meeting? If so, having two or three people read some stories is a great element in any holiday party! And for the very advanced story tellers or writers (or for people who aren't shy and want to try something different): why not do a Christmas-themed poetry slam? That will definitely be something to remember.

• get into Christmas-mood
• works for small and big groups

How to conduct your Christmas party this year

In order to make your Christmas party work this year, you'll have to use a tool for online conferencing. There are many great options available, and you probably already found your favourite software. If you want to incorporate activities like live polls or trivia quizzes, or find an easy way to share content with everyone attending your Christmas party, we want to introduce you to SlideLizard: it is an amazing tool that is directly integrated in PowerPoint - you can share live streams, your slides, conduct polls and quizzes, make live Q&A sessions, get audience feedback and so much more. And the download is free! So if you are looking to spice up not only your Christmas party, but also step up your presentation game, you should definitely get SlideLizard right away!

Related articles

About the author.

Pia Lehner-Mittermaier

Pia works in Marketing as a graphic designer and writer at SlideLizard. She uses her vivid imagination and creativity to produce good content.

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21 virtual Christmas party ideas to make your team merry

The ho-ho-holidays are upon us, and after another hectic year, we could all use some festive fun — fun being the keyword. No one wants to sit through another end-of-year Zoom meeting, especially not when the only holiday-themed thing about it is that ugly sweater Jim from HR is wearing.

So, put aside the virtual Pictionary, charades, and printable BINGO cards — we've got some truly fun ways to ring in the holiday season. These virtual Christmas party ideas work for both team member and client appreciation events, and they'll have everyone clicking YES! on that online RSVP.

21 virtual Christmas party ideas to make the season bright

All of these ideas are virtual and remote-friendly — you can pull them off using standard video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet. But, if you want to throw a more involved holiday event or you're planning an online party for a larger team, look for an event platform with multiple virtual rooms. Then, incorporate multiple virtual holiday party ideas.

Run a few activities simultaneously, and allow guests to move around the virtual space. This gives your remote team and clients the freedom to attend the activities that interest them and curate their own holiday event experience. Here are 21 of our favorite activities for a virtual Christmas party.  

1. Host a holiday mixology party

If your team loves a craft cocktail, but you want to differentiate your holiday party from your virtual happy hours , hire a professional mixologist to teach guests how to make holiday-themed cocktails like cranberry sparklers or pumpkin pie old fashioneds.

Arrange to have your holiday spirits (pun very much intended) delivered to your guests before the event, or send a virtual credit card so they can pick up the supplies themselves.

2. Provide the food, gifts, and supplies

Much like how a mixology class requires liquor and mixers, most holiday activities require some sort of supplies. Even if your plan is to keep it simple with a few holiday party games, your guests will have more fun with drinks and snacks in hand. Set them up with everything they need by giving them a Hoppier card .

With Hoppier, you can deliver virtual credit cards straight to your guests' inboxes. You'll set the budget for each card and decide where guests can spend their funds — limit spending to food and drink vendors, or leave the options open so your guests can use the money to buy Christmas gifts for their secret Santa or donate to charity.

You can set a time limit on the cards, too. Have the spending window close at the end of your event, and any money that your guests didn't use will get refunded to your account so you can add it back into your budget for the new year.

3. Host an online charity drive

Encourage a little Christmas giving with a charity event. A virtual casino night is a great way to raise money — with the proceeds going to a non-profit of your choice. But, there are many other ways to make giving a part of your virtual Christmas party.

You can offer everyone a virtual credit card and let them donate the balance to a charity of their choice. Or, you can play your favorite holiday party games and make a donation to the winning team's favorite charity as the prize.

4. Organize a secret Santa

This classic gift exchange isn't just for in-office Christmas parties. Use a platform like Elfster to take the tradition online. Elfster will automatically pair a gift giver with a recipient, supplying the recipient's name and address so givers can send their gifts ahead of time. Your team members can even make a wish list so their secret Santa knows exactly what they want. On the day of your event, attendees can show off their secret Santa gifts and guess who they came from.

5. Enjoy an online White Elephant

Secret Santa isn't the only gift exchange in town. With a White Elephant party, your team can act like the Grinch and steal each other's Christmas presents. This is a popular in-person Christmas game, but you can do it with your remote employees too.  

Using White Elephant Online , guests can upload an image of an item from Amazon or anywhere else on the internet to serve as their gift. Then each of your team members can virtually open and steal gifts. Once the game is over and you know which team member won each item, the gift givers (or your office manager ) can purchase the gift and ship it to the winner.

6. Host a holiday trivia showdown

This fun game can get fiercely competitive. Turn it into a team building activity by assigning your remote employees to small teams. Then let each team show off their holiday knowledge by answering Christmas trivia questions that cover holiday movies, songs, traditions, and history.

7. Name that Christmas tune

Have fun with holiday songs in this easy Christmas game. You don't need an MC or even a lot of forethought to add this activity to your event agenda. Just open up a Spotify Christmas playlist, and play 10 to 20 seconds of each song. Have your team members guess the song title and offer a themed prize for the winner (like a pair of headphones, a bluetooth speaker, or a collection of Christmas records).

8. Invite online carolers

If you love Christmas carols but you're not ready for a full-blown karaoke session, leave the singing to the professionals by hiring a virtual caroling troupe . Host a caroling concert, or have carolers pop in when you're transitioning from one activity to the next.

9. Enjoy a Christmas rock concert

If the soft melodic stylings of Christmas carols aren't your team's style, invite a rock band to perform instead. Depending on your company's budget, you can invite a well-known band to play at your virtual Christmas party, or look for a local band or cover band to perform rockin' versions of your holiday favorites.  

10. Watch a classic Christmas movie

Get your team together to watch a Christmas classic like "It's a Wonderful Life," "A Christmas Story," or "Home Alone." With apps like Teleparty and Kast , you can sync your screens and send messages through the live chat box. Start your viewing party with some casual conversation before you play the movie. Then wrap up the event by talking about the film or asking about team members' holiday plans.

This activity provides a nice balance between social time and downtime. Make it a true Christmas treat by hosting it in the middle of the workday so your remote team can take a mental break before the holidays.

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11. Build gingerbread houses

This Christmas tradition is creative, fun, and a little bit sticky. Send each of your virtual guests a gingerbread house kit, or send a virtual credit card so they can choose their own ingredients and decorations. Then, ask everyone to decorate their gingerbread house live at the event. Encourage a little team competition by voting on the best decorations and offering a prize for the winner (like adding a little extra spending money to their virtual credit card).

12. Make gourmet hot chocolate

Virtual coffee is for every other day of the year. For your virtual Christmas party, invite a chef or culinary instructor to teach guests a variety of hot chocolate recipes. You can create boozy beverages or experiment with family-friendly flavors, like peanut butter or peppermint. Hot chocolate is an easy treat, so your guests won't need any cooking prowess to participate.

13. Decorate Christmas cookies

This classic Christmas party idea works well in a virtual setting, and guests don't need to be able to bake to take part. Send out DIY cookie decorating kits to all your attendees before the party. Kits typically include pre-baked sugar cookies, frosting, and sprinkles. All your guests need to do is decorate.

14. Create holiday cards

For another festive virtual team building activity , split your attendees into small groups and have each one create their own Christmas card using Canva templates . At the end of the design challenge, ask each group to show off their Christmas cards, and have everyone vote on the best one.

15. Design your own Santa hats

Get crafty for Christmas by decorating Santa hats. Send each of your guests a hat in a classic or quirky color, include a few art supplies — like paint, glue, and glitter — and spend your virtual Christmas party decorating your hats. Leave time at the end for everyone to model their creation.

16. Add a Christmas photo booth

A virtual photo booth, like Snapbar , superimposes a themed background behind party guests and then takes a screenshot. Guests can take a pic where it looks like they're at the North Pole or in Santa's workshop. Then, they can add stickers and text, and upload the photo to social media.

17. Deck the halls in your own homes

A fun way to get to know each other is to share a bit of your home lives. Ask guests to do some decorating on screen. Whether they're hanging ornaments on their Christmas tree or sprucing up their mantle, everyone can talk about their favorite Christmas decorations and traditions. This makes a great family-friendly activity, so invite team member's partners and kids to join too.

18. Go on city-wide scavenger hunts

Take a cue from GISH (The Greatest International Scavenger Hunt), and send your holiday party guests on a quest around their separate hometowns. Create a group chat, open it a week or so before your holiday get together, and give guests a list of items to find (like odd holiday decorations) or challenges to complete (like sitting on Santa's lap).

You can make these as simple or complicated as you'd like. You can even limit it to one item (like find the biggest Christmas tree in your town) if you want to make it easy on your attendees.

Have your party guests post pictures in the chat as they check each item off the list. Then, discuss everyone's favorite images in your video call. This activity is an easy icebreaker that will get everyone talking, and for distributed teams, it offers a glimpse into everyone's hometowns.  

19. Tour a Christmas market

One of the magical things about virtual events — and our online world in general — is that they give you access to experiences that would be out of reach in real life. For example, you can arrange for your distributed team to tour a traditional Bavarian Christmas market.

Reach out to a local host through a site like Airbnb Experiences or Withlocals , and ask them to take you on a virtual tour. They can show you their favorite shops and explain some Bavarian Christmas traditions. Create a hybrid experience by sending your guests a gift box of traditional Bavarian Christmas foods and crafts so they can experience things for themselves as the host explains their significance.

20. Host an underwater Christmas

In the northern hemisphere, we're used to a snowy Christmas season, but on the other side of the world, this holiday is warm and sunny. Experience a summer Christmas in Australia by taking your team on a virtual tour of the Great Barrier Reef . You can download David Attenborough's tour or arrange an event with a local company. This experience will transport you from Christmas in the Great White North to Christmas with a great white shark.  

21. Celebrate around the world

If you want to take your virtual travel plans to the extreme, go country hopping. In real life, you could never travel to five countries in under two hours (real life is so boring!), but with the magic of the internet, you can deliver this holiday magic.

Similar to touring a Christmas market in Bavaria, organize tours with local hosts in a variety of countries. Ask them for a brief tour (think 20 minutes each) of one of their favorite Christmas traditions. You can attend a Krampus parade in Austria, take part in a roller skating mass in Venezuela, learn about the Yule goat in Sweden, visit a lantern festival in the Philippines, and enjoy Candlemas in Mexico — all from the comfort of your home office.

Spread some Christmas cheer

'Tis the season for giving. Whether you're giving back to your virtual team or your clients, these virtual Christmas party ideas will create an online party experience they actually want.

Regardless of which activity you choose, you can make the experience more accessible by providing the tools, supplies, and funds your guests need to participate. The easiest way to get supplies to all your event attendees is with a virtual credit card they can use to make purchases from their favorite shops and restaurants.

Hoppier virtual credit cards allow your event guests to order food, drinks, Christmas gifts, or art supplies for your holiday activities. Schedule a demo to see how Hoppier can streamline your virtual Christmas party planning.  

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11 Totally Free Virtual Christmas Party Ideas for 2024 (Tools + Templates)

Lawrence Haywood • 22 April, 2024 • 15 min read

The fact that searches for ‘virtual Christmas party’ were almost 3 times higher in August 2020 than in December 2019 speaks volumes about how quickly the world has changed recently.

Thankfully, we’re in a much better situation than we were at this time last year. Still, for many in 2023, virtual Christmas parties will still be playing a huge role in family and workplace festivities.

If you’re looking to bring the festive cheer online again this year, kudos to you. We hope this list of 11 fantastic and free virtual Christmas party ideas will help!

Your Guide to the Perfect Virtual Christmas Party

4 reasons a virtual christmas party this year won’t suck, 11 free virtual christmas party ideas.

• Free Christmas Quizzes (for Download!)

The All-in-One + Free Tool for a Virtual Christmas Party

Bring the christmas joy.

Connect with loved ones near and far with AhaSlides’ live quizzing , polling and gaming software! See how it works here 👇

Sure, a global pandemic may be at fault for changing tradition, but we’ve already shown we can deal with it. Let’s go again.

If you’ve got a positive attitude and the right enthusiasm for throwing a virtual Christmas party this year, here are 4 reasons why you should:

• Great for remote connection – Chances are that at least one of your party guests wouldn’t have been able to make it to a live party anyway. Virtual Christmas parties keep family and work ties solid, no matter how far away the guests are.
• So many ideas – The possibilities for a virtual Christmas party are virtually endless. You can adapt any of the ideas below to suit your guests and keep the festive cheer flowing throughout.
• Super flexible – Not needing to travel anywhere means that you can knock out parties with your family, friends and colleagues all in the same day! If that’s too much, and if you’re not relying on transport, you’re able to change the dates at the drop of a hat.
• Great practice for the future – You may have already experienced a virtual Christmas party last year; who’s to say how many more we’ll have? As more workplace staff go remote, and with us all now acutely more aware of the threat of pandemics, the reality is that these types of online festivities may carry on. Better prepare for it!

Here we go then; 11 free virtual Christmas party ideas suitable for a family, friend or remote office Christmas!

Idea #1 – Christmas Ice Breakers

What better time of the year can there be to break the ice? This is especially true when it comes to a virtual Christmas party, where newcomers might be a bit overwhelmed with what’s going on.

Fluid conversation might be hard to come by before the booze starts flowing. So, break opening a few festive ice breakers might get your party off to a flyer.

Here’s a few ice breaking ideas for a virtual Christmas party:

• Share a hilarious Christmas memory – Give everyone 5 minutes to think of and write down something hilarious that’s happened to them during past holidays. If it’s embarrassing, you can easily make it anonymous!
• Alternative Christmas lyrics – Offer the first part of a Christmas carol lyric and get everyone to come up with a better ending. Again, the anxiety shackles are off if you make answers anonymous!
• Which image or GIF best describes your Christmas so far? – Provide a few images and GIFs and ask your audience to vote on which one best describes their hectic holiday period.

If you’re looking for more, we’ve got 10 great icebreaker games here ! Best for hybrid workplace parties and any of these ideas can be adapted to any virtual Christmas party with family and friends.

Idea #2 – Virtual Christmas Quiz

You probably noticed this already, but Zoom quizzes really took off in 2020. They’ve become a staple of virtual offices, virtual pubs , and now, virtual Christmas parties.

Technology has more than met the social demands that this and last year have brought. You can now make super fun, interactive quizzes online and host them live for free. Super fun, interactive and free is totally our bag.

Click on the images below to get live quiz templates on AhaSlides!

Family Christmas Quiz

Christmas Movie Quiz

Christmas Music Quiz

❄️ Bonus: Play a fun and not family-friendly Goopy Christmas to spice up the night and get guaranteed waves of laughter.

Idea #3 – Christmas Karaoke

We don’t have to miss out on any drunk, spirited singing this year. It’s perfectly possible to do karaoke online nowadays and anyone on their 12th eggnog might be practically demanding it.

It’s also super easy to do…

Just create a room on Sync Video , a free, no-sign-up service that lets you precisely sync videos so that every attendant of your virtual Christmas party can watch them at the same time .

Once your room is open and you have your attendants, you can queue up a bunch of karaoke hits on YouTube and each person can belt their holiday heart out.

Idea #4 – Virtual Secret Santa

Okay, so not technically free, this one, but it can certainly be cheap !

Virtual secret Santa works the same way as it always does – just online. Pull names out of a hat and assign each name to a person attending your virtual Christmas party ( you can also do all of this online ).

Delivery services naturally step up their game during Christmas. You should be able to get pretty much anything delivered to the house of whoever you were assigned.

A couple of tips….

• Give it a theme , like ‘something purple’ or ‘something personalised with the face of the person you got’.
• Put a strict budget on gifts. There’s usually a lot of hilarity that results from a $5 present.

Idea #5 – Spin the Wheel

Got an idea for a Christmas-themed gameshow? If it’s a game worth its salt, it’ll be played on an interactive spinner wheel !

Don’t fret if you don’t have a gameshow to pitch – the AhaSlides spinner wheel can be spun for pretty much anything you can think of!

• Trivia with Prizes – Assign each segment of the wheel an amount of money, or something else. Go round the room and challenge each player to answer a question, with the difficulty of that question depending on the amount of money the wheel lands on.
• Christmas Truth or Dare – This one’s a lot more fun when you have no control over whether you get a truth or a dare.
• Random Letters – Choose letters at random. Could be the basis of a fun game. I dunno – use your imagination!

Idea #6 – Origami Christmas Tree + Other Crafts

There’s nothing to dislike about making an adorable paper Christmas tree: no fuss, no mess and no money to spend.

Simply tell everyone to grab a sheet of A4 paper (coloured or origami paper if they have it) and follow the instructions in the video below:

Once you’ve got a virtual forest of multi-coloured fir trees, you can make other cute Christmas crafts and show them all off together. Here are a few ideas:

• Hex Star (Easy)
• Present (Medium)
• Santa (Medium)
• Reindeer (Challenging)

Again, you can use Sync Video to make sure everyone at your virtual Christmas party is following the steps of these videos at the same pace.

Idea #7 – Make a Christmas Present(ation)

Been quizzing since the start of lockdown began? Try mixing it up by getting your guests to make their own presentation on something unique and festive.

Before the day of your virtual Christmas party, either assign at random (maybe using this spinner wheel ) or let everyone choose a Christmas topic. Give them a set number of slides to work with and the promise of bonus points for creativity and hilarity.

When it’s party time, each person presents an interesting / hilarious / wacky presentation. Optionally, get everyone to vote on their favourite and give prizes to the best!

A few Christmas present(ation) ideas…

• The worst Christmas movie of all time.
• Some pretty nuts Christmas traditions around the world.
• Why Santa needs to start obeying animal protection law.
• Have candy canes become too curvy?
• Why Christmas should be renamed to The Festivities of Iced Sky Tears

In our opinion, the more insane the topic, the better.

Any of your guests can make a really gripping presentation for free using AhaSlides . Alternatively, they can easily make it on PowerPoint or Google Slides and embed it in AhaSlides in order to utilise live polls, quizzes and Q&A features in their creative presentations!

Idea #8 – Christmas Card Competition

Speaking of creative virtual Christmas party ideas, this one can get some serious laughs.

Before the party, invite your guests to try and make the best/funniest Christmas card they can. It can be as elaborate or simple as they like and can include pretty much anything.

Pretty much no graphic design skills are necessary for this one as there are some great, free tools out there:

• Canva – A tool that gives you heaps of templates, backgrounds, Christmas icons and Christmassy fonts to make a Christmas card within minutes.
• PhotoScissors – A tool that helps you cut faces out of photos super easily and download them for use in Canva.

As you can maybe tell, we made the above image in about 3 minutes using both tools. We’re sure that you and your party guests can do a better job in just as quick an amount of time!

Get your guests to present their crafted creations during your virtual Christmas party. If you want to turn up the heat, you can promise prizes for the top-voted answers.

Idea #9 – Wrapping Paper Recreations

Ever watched a kid have more fun with wrapping paper or a cardbox box than with the gift contained within? Well, that kid could be you in Wrapping Paper Recreations !

In this one, each player gets given or chooses a well-known movie. They then have to recreate a famous scene from that movie using mounds of used wrapping paper from opened presents.

Recreations can be 2D artworks or 3D sculptures, but must use nothing other than wrapping paper and traditional wrapping tools (scissors, glue and tape).

Make it competitive and offer a prize to the most highly voted recreation!

Idea #10 – Christmas Cookie-off

Laptops in kitchens guys; time to make some really simple Christmas cookies together!

Christmas Cookie-off is a great compromise for the fact that we’re all eating socially distanced meals this year. It’s a virtual Christmas party activity that challenges cooking and artistry skills in equal measure.

Most simple cookie recipes only require ingredients and equipment already in the average house. They take about 10 minutes to cook and are a wonderfully social way to stay connected during the party.

This particular recipe amplifies the fun with a simple icing design in the shape of emojis . You can get everyone to recreate their favourite emojis and have a poll for whose is the best at the end!

Idea #11 – Online Christmas Parlour Games

As Victorian Britain gave the world so many aspects of the Christmas we know today, it’s only right to honour the era through Victorian-style parlour games (with a modern twist).

Parlour games have enjoyed a huge resurgence in recent years. Why? Well, many of them are easily adaptable to the confines of pretty much any online setting, including a virtual Christmas party.

Here are a few that are great for family, friends or colleagues…

• Fictionary – Read out a strange word and get each guest to take a stab at what it means. Display all the answers in an open-ended slide and then ask everyone to vote for which answer was most likely to be correct and which answer is the funniest. Give 1 point to the highest voted in each category and another point to anyone who actually got the right answer. (See the GIF above for how to do this for free on AhaSlides).
• Charades – Perhaps the parlour game is Charades. You know how this one works, so it should come as no surprise that it works just as well during a virtual Christmas party!
• Pictionary – This old classic now has a modern twist. Drawful 2 lets you take pictionary online and even removes the pain of trying to think up images to draw. Simply download the game, invite everyone to your room and draw the hilariously obscure picture concepts as best you can.

Note that Drawful 2 is a paid game. Of course, you can just do regular pictionary on paper if you don’t want to fork out the $5.99.

👊 Protip : Want more ideas like these? Branch out from Christmas and check out our mega list of 30 totally free virtual party ideas . These ideas work fantastically online at any time of year, demand little preparation and don’t require you to spend a penny!

No matter if it’s an ice breaker , a Christmas quiz , a presentation or a live round of voting you’re looking to include in your virtual Christmas party, AhaSlides has you covered.

AhaSlides is a completely free and super simple tool to take your virtual Christmas party to the next level. You can use it to make or enhance most of the ideas we mentioned above by adding a lightly competitive factor to your party!

Want an Unforgettable Christmas Party?

Lawrence Haywood

Former ESL teacher and quiz master converted to the wild slide. Now a content creator, traveller, musician and big time slider preaching the good word of interactivity.

Tips to Engage with Polls & Trivia

More from AhaSlides

18 creative Christmas video ideas

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Virtual Christmas party ideas

Personalized video and meme ideas, festive social media video ideas, youtube christmas video ideas.

Whether you’re celebrating the festive season in person or remotely this year, creating holiday videos for social media is the perfect way to connect with family, friends, and colleagues. 

From Christmas party presentation ideas to videos for vlogmas, we've curated a list of unique and beginner-friendly Christmas video ideas you can create and share in seconds.

Read on to get inspired with these Christmas video ideas you can create for free with Clipchamp .

1. Video Christmas party invitations

If you’re planning a virtual Christmas party, you’ll need to send potential attendees to a meeting room link on Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Share the holiday spirit this December by sending a magical virtual Christmas party invitation video. Just personalize a ready-to-use video template and send your video invite directly to their smartphone or share it on social media. 

2. Christmas eve virtual call party

Set up your laptop, tablet, or smartphone to be together virtually this Christmas eve. Throw on your favorite pair of festive pajamas, eat some classic holiday treats, share memorable past holidays and stories, and cheers to another magical Christmas eve. Don't forget to add a festive meeting background for the final touch.

3. Name that Christmas tune

How well do you know Christmas songs? A little friendly competition is a great way to get your entire group to laugh, sing, and enjoy the holiday season. On a Zoom party or virtual call, your host can play snippets of classic Christmas songs on YouTube, and guests can try to guess the tune. You can even create teams and prizes for the winners. You can screen record your competition to watch it in the future.

4. Virtual Christmas gift exchange

Secret Santa and white elephant are Christmas classics, but they usually require you to exchange gifts in person. This year, send an e-gift or post your present in the mail, and have your recipient record themselves opening your gift, showing them enjoying it. You can use your smartphone or our webcam recorder to film for free, then edit your snippet into a fun Christmas video.

5. Corporate Christmas presentation

Share annual highlights or throwback photo slideshows from past Christmas parties with a corporate Christmas presentation. Merge together videos and images from your OneDrive or Microsoft Photos, add an AI voiceover, soft background music, and save in 1080p for the best quality. You can even add your branding and animated logo to make your presentation more polished and professional.

6 . Christmas video meme

Memes are everywhere all year round. So why not create a funny Christmas-themed meme and share it with your friends? Personalize one of our unique meme video templates to create a funny video in seconds. Add an AI voiceover to make your meme even funnier.

7 . Virtual Christmas card video

If you want to send season’s greetings to your loved ones, valued customers, or other contacts around the globe, create a virtual Christmas card video with auto compose . You can create a fun virtual Christmas card that your recipients will love. Just add your images and videos, and let AI do the rest for you.

8 . Say thank you with a video

It’s that time of year again to say thank you. Express your gratitude with a personal video too. Simply record a message to your employees, coworkers, students, or family members expressing your thanks for their support and hard work. Use our ready-made template for inspiration and easily add in your personal media to the video. Share your wholesome video straight to social media like Instagram or TikTok .

9 . Personalized Merry Christmas videos

Easily say Merry Christmas face-to-face this December using our online webcam recorder . You can record and retake your Christmas message in your web browser with no professional setup necessary. You can even adjust colors and add filters, stickers, overlays, and captions.

10. Create a year-in-review video

The end of the year is a perfect time to reflect back on your year, your favorite memories, and what made this year special to you. Upload your best images and videos you’ve snapped over the year and create a simple highlight video . You can post these short slideshow videos to Instagram and TikTok, and they might even go viral!

11. Share a Christmas recipe

Baking and cooking are some of the most popular holiday activities and traditions worldwide. From gingerbread houses to traditional roast dinners, create a recipe video that will make your viewer's mouths water. Add on-screen instructions, ingredients, and key messages with animated text , and use royalty-free festive background music . Share your top tips, favorite recipes, and even epic fails to YouTube and Instagram .

12. Post an inspirational holiday quote

Inspire your followers and spread joy this holiday season with an uplifting quote video for social media . Add your favorite Christmas quote to an on-theme festive background, use sound effects, and personalize colors.

13. DIY Christmas home decor

From paper trees to baubles, create a family-friendly video showcasing quick and easy DIY Christmas decor ideas. Using the speed selector , turn your how-to video into a timelapse, or slow down your tutorial to make your instructions easier to comprehend. You can also use the picture-in-picture effect to overlay a webcam recording of yourself to your tutorial video.

14. Christmas movie list

Whether your favorite Christmas movie is Will Ferrell's Elf or throwback to '80s classic A Christmas Story, create a list of your all time favorites to share on social media. Inspire others with a slideshow video of the best Christmas movies. Just use colorful backgrounds, Christmas music, and overlay with animated text .

15. Vlogmas

'Tis the season to participate in the annual vlogmas festivities. Daily vlog everyday in December to create entertaining YouTube videos . If you're not sure on some vlogmas ideas, share your activities decorating for Christmas, putting up the Christmas tree, and wholesome baking and cooking. Don't forget to add your Christmas intro and outro video as well.

16. Christmas gift guides

Do you love giving gifts and want to share your thoughtful gift ideas? In a quick gift guide video for YouTube, share your shopping hauls, where to purchase, and gift ideas for your parents, partners, pets, and friends! You can even resize your video to share on TikTok.

17. Product review videos

If your favorite brands have released an advent calendar or Christmas gift packs, create a product review video to share to your loyal followers. From skincare and makeup to jewellery and food, share your thoughts in a fun unboxing style review video. Add sound effects , transitions, and Christmas stickers.

18. Charity videos

Inspire your viewers to give back this holiday season with a charity video. Share your Christmas volunteering and some of your favorite causes to donate to. This is the perfect way to spread kindness in your community and give back this Christmas. Add on-theme borders , and text overlays to share your message.

Now that you’re full of video ideas, it’s time to start creating your very own festive video with Clipchamp for free or download the Clipchamp Windows app . 

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Home > Holiday Team Building > Christmas Contests

Updated : November 1, 2023

30 Fun Christmas Contest Ideas for Work

Christmas contest ideas for work are entertaining activities to get the team in the holiday spirit. Examples include asking team members to decorate their virtual or in-person office space or door, hosting a Christmas cookie decorating competition, or playing Name that (Christmas) Tune. These contests encourage employees to interact socially while bringing the feel of Christmas to the office during the season.

These contests are examples of holiday team building ideas , Christmas party entertainment ideas , and Christmas spirit week activities .

This article includes:

• virtual Christmas contest ideas for work

Christmas door decorating contest ideas for work

Christmas party contest ideas for work.

• office Christmas competition ideas

So, here are the best Christmas contest ideas for work!

Virtual Christmas contest ideas for work

When team members are remote, getting the whole group in the spirit of Christmas is hard. Hosting a virtual contest is a fantastic way to encourage team building while celebrating the holiday season.

1. Best Office Decorations

One of the best virtual Christmas contest ideas for work is to challenge each team member to decorate their office space. You can choose to set a theme or simply allow each participant to decorate however they desire. You can turn decorating into a virtual competition by encouraging team members to decorate their home office and show it off to the entire group. Then, have all participants vote on a few different categories for winners. For example, most creative, most colorful, and most traditional. You can also have separate categories for Zoom backgrounds and fully decked desks.

Check out this list of Xmas office decorating ideas .

2. Lightning Scavenger Hunt

A lightning scavenger hunt is a perfect game to tweak into a great Christmas contest idea. For this activity, schedule a Zoom meeting, but do not give attendees any idea what the contest will be. During the meeting, challenge each team member to find the most festive item in their house. You can give the group a time limit, for example, 30 seconds. After participants return, allow time for the whole group to describe their item and why it should win. This activity has the double benefit of encouraging team members to practice essential skills, like communication and sales pitches.

3. Virtual Charades

It is easy to play a Christmas version of virtual Charades. For this game, ask team members to join a Zoom meeting. After members log in, privately message a participant a Christmas song, movie, story, or tradition. Next, pin or spotlight the player, so the actor appears large and on center screen rather than being another small box in gallery view. Then, the player acts out the word using only motions and gestures while the rest of the team guesses. The first player to shout the correct answer or type it in the chat wins the round.

4. Christmas Tree Creations

This virtual game takes some preparation. Before the scheduled party, either send a package of items to each participant or send a list of items to buy. The supplies are simple and affordable. For the game, ask team members to create the best Christmas tree using only a pipe cleaner, tinsel, and beads. After everyone finishes their creation, ask team members to vote on the best tree.

Here is a list of office Christmas tree ideas .

5. Remote Secret Santa

Secret Santas are a classic holiday activity that many offices hold. While pulling off this event virtually is a bit more challenging, it is a great way to build relationships among the team while getting the group in the holiday spirit. A few weeks before the holidays, assign a Secret Santa to each team member. You can find various apps and generators that will assign Secret Santas for you. Then, ask each participant to send a special holiday gift to their designated person within a set budget. Once team members have received their gifts, schedule a Zoom meeting where the whole group can open their presents in front of each other. To make this activity more like a contest, ask participants to follow specific rules, then have all team members vote on the best gifts. For example, have a category for the best bang for your buck, most useful, and most creative.

Check out these virtual gift exchange ideas .

6. Christmas Costume Contest

Hosting a virtual costume contest is a wonderful way to make team members feel connected at Christmas time. The entire team can meet with members dressed as their favorite Christmas characters over Zoom, or you can upload photos to a shared online photo album. You can even expand the dress-up options into songs. As team members hang out virtually, they can share why they chose that character and enjoy the holiday season remotely. You can have a few categories for the contest, like most festive, traditional, and creative. Then, ask all attendees to vote on their favorites.

7. Is it a Christmas Movie?

You can find so many Christmas movies to watch during the holiday season. Simply turn on the television in December, and you can choose between about 101 films to watch. Team members imagine how non-holiday movies could become a holiday favorite in this fun game. For example, create a deleted or extra scene in which an elaborate Christmas event happens. The contest shows which team members can create the best “new” Christmas movie.

Office doors are wonderful places to show the holiday spirit. Here is a list of fun and unique, door-decorating ideas to involve the whole team.

1. Movie-Themed

One of the best Christmas door decorating contests is a movie-themed challenge. You can limit the movie choices to holiday options or open it up to all movies. You can find so many movies to get inspiration. A few examples might be turning the door into Rudolph and making the doorknob his shiny, red nose or recreating the snowball scene from Elf with a collection of paper snowballs next to Buddy’s arm.

2. Door Wrapping

If you are looking for a creative door decorating theme, then consider a wrapping contest. You can encourage team members to treat their door like a present and challenge participants to wrap it creatively. You could even encourage entrants to hide a present beneath the paper and leave clues for coworkers to guess the object.

3. Holiday Characters

One of the best ways to decorate a door is to turn it into your favorite holiday character. Team members can choose examples like Frosty the Snowman to Santa or The Grinch. Using only paper and other office supplies, participants can make a character to adorn their door.

4. Ugly Christmas Sweater

Ugly Christmas sweaters are a staple every holiday season. Turning office doors into oversized Christmas sweaters is one of the best door decorating contest ideas. Participants can use paper, fabric, ribbons, and bows to make their entry look like an ugly Christmas sweater. Team members can choose a pattern or even create a picture. If you would see it on a sweater, then it can be a door for this challenge.

Pro tip: Crafty and ambitious entrants can yarn bomb the door.

5. Traditional Holiday Scene

It is hard to find a more idyllic holiday scene than a fireplace with stockings over it next to a tree and presents. You can ask team members to recreate the homiest holiday scene possible using only paper and office supplies. Participants should attempt to build a fireplace with stockings across their door or choose another vista that feels like Christmas.

6. Christmas Tree

While there might not be space for team members to put entire trees in their office, they can turn their doors into one. A fun door decorating competition is to see which employees can recreate a beautiful Christmas tree on their door. You can encourage team members to use paper, ribbons, ornaments, and tinsel to make a decorated evergreen across their door.

Contests are an excellent way to encourage participation at work parties or events. This list of Christmas party contest ideas for work includes fun ways to get the whole team involved.

1. How Many Ornaments?

A great party contest idea is to have team members guess how many ornaments are in a large container. To make the challenge even more complicated, choose a variety of sizes and styles of ornaments. You can place some small sheets of paper, pens, and a bowl to hold folk’s guesses. Sometime during the party, reveal the actual number of ornaments and the closest guesser. Be sure to have a prize for the winner, as well.

2. Reindeer Antlers

Reindeer Antlers is a contest idea sure to get lots of laughs from the whole group. For this game, divide the team into two groups. The only supplies you need are two sets of pantyhose, 15 to 20 small balloons, and ribbon. For preparation, cut the toes off of the pantyhose. During the game, one player from each team must put the pantyhose on their head while the rest of the team blows up the balloons and fills the legs to create the antlers. Then, tie off the ends of the ribbon. The team to finish the fastest wins.

3. What’s in the Stocking?

If you are looking for a fun game to play at a Christmas work party, then consider What’s in the Stocking? In this fun game, participants attempt to figure out what is in a large Christmas stocking by feeling the outside. Before the party, fill a stocking with fun Christmas items. For example, candy canes, decorations, and ornaments. During the party, allow team members to pass around the stocking and only feel the outside. Then, ask each participant to write down their guesses. The player who gets the most correct answers wins.

4. Holiday ABCs

A unique contest idea is asking team members to create a holiday item for each letter of the alphabet. If you divide the group into teams, then you also encourage team building, as well. This activity becomes a contest if you add in unique challenges along the way. For example, team members must complete physical challenges at certain letters or set up letters in different areas of the room, so teams must race around to each location as they think of words. The first team to find a word for every letter wins.

5. Baby’s First Christmas

A fantastic way to encourage team participation and host a contest is to post a baby picture wall where guests try to figure out which picture belongs to which teammate. Before the party, ask team members to bring in a photo from their first Christmas. Then, arrange the images on a board with only a letter underneath each one. The contest involves participants guessing which picture belongs to which team member. The player who identifies the most correct answers wins the contest and receives a prize.

6. Christmas Meme-off

Most folks love a good meme, and hosting a Christmas meme contest is one of the best ways to kick off the holiday season. To play this game, have several screenshots from classic Christmas movies. After you hang up these photos on a wall, place a black sheet of paper under each one. Then, allow time for participants to jot down a phrase that goes with the picture to create an epic holiday meme. Finally, ask a group of judges to choose the best line for each photo for the ultimate collection of Christmas memes.

7. Christmas Trivia

Christmas trivia is one of the best party contest ideas for your holiday soiree. Trivia is a fantastic way to get the entire team involved and in the holiday spirit. You can find Christmas-themed trivia examples online or come up with your own based on questions from classic holiday songs and movies. To make this a fun competition, plan a trivia tournament, where teams compete to get to the final round.

8. Christmas Brackets

Team members who enjoy fantasy football will love this Christmas party contest. For this activity, have a list of favorite Christmas songs or movies. Then, assign a song or movie to each team member. Next, create a bracket of all the songs or movies, whichever you choose to use. Each participant must “sell” their song or movie, and then all attendees at the party must vote for their favorite in each head-to-head. Continue through the bracket until you have a single winner.

9. Hold Your Tongue

Many words are common to hear around the holidays. In fact, some of these words are incredibly difficult to avoid. Hold Your Tongue is a fun and unique holiday party contest. The point of the game is to catch team members who say a specific word. At the beginning of the party, give each attendee a list of words to avoid along with five clothespins. Some examples are snow, Santa, elf, Christmas, and travel. Participants should place the pins on their shirts. During the party, challenge team members to catch each other saying a word on the list. If a teammate catches another saying a banned word, then they get to take one of the clothespins. The participant with the most clothespins at the end of the night wins.

Here are more office Christmas party ideas .

Office Christmas competition ideas

These competitions are unique ways to get team members active and involved. You can host these at a party or simply incorporate them during workdays throughout the holiday season.

1. Candy Cane Relay

Hosting a candy cane relay at work is one of the best office Christmas competition ideas. You need a boxful of small candy canes, several pairs of chopsticks, some large bowls, and a few stockings to play this game. Before the game, divide the group into teams. Then, provide each team with a bowl full of candy canes. Once the teams are ready, give each player a chopstick. The game’s goal is to transfer as many candy canes as possible to the team stocking using only a chopstick held in your mouth. The team with the most candy canes in their stocking at the end wins.

2. Living Snowman

Having the team create living snowmen using basic office supplies is one of the best challenges for a Christmas party. First, divide the team into groups of three or four participants. Each team needs one player to be the snowman. The rest of the team must decorate the volunteer like a snowman using toilet paper and basic office supplies. You can encourage groups to complete the look by making hats, scarves, and buttons.

3. Name That Tune, Christmas-Style

The music lovers in the group will love this office competition. You can easily adapt Name That Tune to a holiday version where a host plays small bits of a Christmas song or reads a single line. The team member to finish the line or shout out the title wins.

4. Holiday Bowling

If you are looking for a Christmas competition idea to get the entire team having fun, then consider Holiday Bowling. For this event, you need some Christmas ornaments and giant jingle bells. Be sure to get shatter-free ornaments. Then, remove the top part of each ornament and set them up in formation on a table upside down. Ask team members to bowl a jingle bell from a couple of feet away. You can even turn this into a whole, ten-frame bowling game.

5. Snowball Fight

Hosting a snowball toss is a fantastic way to encourage teamwork, and you do not need actual snow. This tasty twist on the classic winter favorite only requires some bowls and marshmallows. For this game, ask each team to have one player hold a bowl on their head while the other tosses marshmallows into the bowl. The team with the most marshmallows in the bowl wins.

6. Ugliest Christmas Sweater

When planning your holiday party, be sure to announce this competition on the invitation. You can encourage team members to wear the ugliest Christmas sweater they can find. At the party, ask a judge or a panel to rank the sweaters, or choose the best example at the party. An easy voting method would be a wall with polaroid snapshots of each contestant where all attendees can vote. Or, hand out a sticker to each guest to place on their favorite sweater. You can also choose categories, like ugliest overall, most creative, or brightest.

7. Christmas Cookie Challenge

One of the most delicious office Christmas competition ideas is to host a cookie challenge. Before the event, be sure to set some ground rules. Bakers should bring a couple dozen of their favorite cookies and copies of the recipe. At the event, lay out the cookies, but do not label who made each batch. Guests can taste each cookie and take one home to enjoy later. Then, ask participants to vote on their favorite baked goods.

8. Christmas Cookie Decorating Competition

Cookies are a favorite part of Christmas. Hosting a Christmas cookie decorating competition allows team members to show their creative side while enjoying a tasty treat. All you need is cookies, icing, and sprinkles. You can make this competition easy by purchasing break-and-bake or pre-made cookies from the grocery store, along with icing and sprinkles from the baking aisle. Then, have participants vote on the most festive cookie, and then everyone can enjoy the results together.

Christmas contest ideas for work are fantastic ways to get the entire office in the holiday spirit. Whether your team is in-person or remote, you can find various ways to encourage festive and friendly competition. You can keep this activity uncomplicated by hosting a Christmas song or movie bracket or choose a more elaborate competition by having team members create antlers out of balloons and pantyhose. Whatever activity you choose, some friendly competition is a fun and unique way to kick off the Christmas season while encouraging team building and relationships.

Next, check out holiday swag ideas .

FAQ: Christmas contest ideas for work

Here are the answers to common questions about Christmas contest ideas for work.

What are office Christmas contests?

Office Christmas contests are games and activities that encourage team members to compete in a friendly way. These competitions can be as simple as Name that (Christmas) Tune, where participants try to figure out a holiday favorite from only a short clip or single line or more complicated like hosting a Christmas cookie decorating contest.

What are some good ideas for workplace Christmas contests?

You can find a variety of Christmas contests to play at the workplace. For example, host an ugly Christmas sweater competition where the team member in the ugliest sweater wins a prize. Or, you can challenge team members to decorate their office doors festively.

How do you hold a company Christmas contest?

You can find many ways to host a company Christmas contest. For example, if your team is virtual, then you can have a Christmas-themed show and tell and challenge participants to find the most festive item in their house to share with the group. A cookie competition is a delicious and fun way to host a contest for in-person offices. Or, team members can play a fun game like Snowball Toss, where pairs try to toss and catch marshmallows in a bowl.

Author: Carly Hill

Arguably the #1 Christmas fan. I believe it’s never too early to get started decorating your next tree!

The #1 Virtual Holiday Party for remote teams

Home Collections Special days Christmas Company Christmas Party Presentation Ideas

Company Christmas Party Ideas PowerPoint & Google Slides

Christmas Party Presentation Slide

A company Christmas party is an annual event that many businesses host to celebrate the holiday season with their employees. It's an opportunity for colleagues to unwind, socialize, and have fun outside of the workplace. The party may include food, drinks, music, games, and other entertainment. It's a great way to boost employee morale and foster a sense of community within the company. Many companies use the Christmas party as a chance to recognize and thank employees for their hard work throughout the year. Using this template can help you to keep your audience engaged and interested throughout your presentation. 

Features of the template

• 100 % customizable template and easy to download. 
• Template are available in different nodes & colors.
• The template is contained in 16:9 and 4:3 format.
• Easy to change the template colors quickly.
• Highly compatible with PowerPoint and google slides.
• Spread the holiday cheer with our festive Christmas Party template - perfect for planning your next office or family celebration!
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20 Work Christmas Party Activities & Ideas

The holidays are upon us – you know what that means. It’s time to start thinking about the office Christmas party!

This year, instead of the usual cookie-cutter event, why not try something a little different? Here are 20 fun Christmas party activities and ideas to get your team in the holiday spirit.

Work Christmas Party Ideas

1. secret santa gift exchange.

This is undoubtedly a classic game that will keep your team excited for weeks! Draw names from a hat and have each person buy a small gift for their Secret Santa. Set a spending limit (i.e. £20) and have everyone bring their wrapped gift to the party. Then, take turns opening them up in front of everyone. This is a great way to spread some holiday cheer without breaking the bank.

By introducing themes like “Sustainable Gifts” or “Gifts that Spark Joy”, the experience can be elevated. Colleagues can engage in guessing games, trying to determine who their Santa was based on the nature of the gift. The anticipation, the unveiling, and the stories that come with it not only add joy but also deepen bonds among team members, making it an indispensable Christmas idea.

2. ‘Tis The Season Scavenger Hunt

Get everyone into teams and send them off on a scavenger hunt around town (or even just the office). The objective is to find items or take photos related to Christmas. For example, you could search for:

• Christmas lights
• Christmas tree
• Elf on the shelf
• Gingerbread house
• Wrapped present

A scavenger hunt is not just a game; it’s an adventure. When looking to infuse energy into Christmas party activities for work, this is a top-tier choice. It’s more than just a hunt; it’s about reliving memories, collaborating, and being part of an exhilarating experience, making it an essential among work Christmas party activities.

3. Virtual Christmas Party

If you can’t be together in person, a virtual event is the next best thing. There are lots of great games and activities that can be done online, so get creative and have some fun!

Organising a themed virtual background competition or even a ‘Best Dressed Festive Desk’ contest can spark joy. Or, engage in online games or host a virtual carol session where each team delivers a performance. The essence is to recreate the magic of a physical work Christmas party in the virtual realm, making it inclusive and joyous for all.

Alternatively, get in touch with us today to plan your virtual event. We have curated dozens of exciting and interactive experiences to help transport you into a world of escape rooms, trivia tournaments, and so on.

4. Narnia Themed Party

If you can get the team together in person, however,  a Narnia themed party will go down a treat. You can decorate your space to look like a Winter Wonderland dream and have some fun activities inspired by the book. This is sure to be a hit with all of your guests and ensures a night to remember.

In the treasure trove of work Christmas party ideas, a theme like Narnia stands out. An enchanting mix of fantasy and festivity, it promises a magical experience. From snow-sprayed decorations to wardrobe entrances, the office can be transformed into a winter wonderland. The very essence of being in a fictional land, combined with the festive spirit, promises a party that’s spoken about for years.

Pssst – we organise themed events , too! Get in touch with us to learn more about our themed events and Narnia package.

5. Holiday Movie Trivia

Festive films have always been an intrinsic part of the holiday season. What better way to celebrate than by merging the joy of cinema with Christmas party ideas for work?

Get everyone in teams and test your knowledge of all things holiday movies . You can make it as easy or difficult as you’d like – from naming the movie after hearing a quote, to identifying a scene from a screenshot. The winning team gets bragging rights until next year!

Delve deep into holiday classics, from the enchanting world of “It’s a Wonderful Life” to the comedic adventures in “Home Alone.” Design questions that challenge recollections and ignite bursts of laughter. Don’t just limit it to questions – enact scenes and let teams guess, or play snippets of soundtracks. With a hot cocoa in hand and a room filled with movie buffs, this trivia night promises to be a Christmas event to remember.

6. Gingerbread House Decorating Contest

Among the most tactile and delightful Christmas party activities is the Gingerbread House Decorating Contest. It’s not just about showcasing artistic skills, but also about collaboration and creativity!

Provide a mix of traditional candies and unexpected decorations to encourage innovation. Throw in challenges: perhaps a two-storey gingerbread house or one themed on a famous building? As teams compete to construct the most stable and aesthetically pleasing gingerbread masterpiece, the air fills with a mix of competitiveness and sweetness, making it a must-have in your list of work Christmas ideas.

7. Festive Photo Booth

In the age of Instagram and Snapchat, photo booths have regained their allure. Enhancing your work Christmas party with a themed photo booth is both nostalgic and modern. Think of props that resonate with office jokes, merged with Christmas classics like reindeer antlers or Santa’s hats. Each click captures a memory, a moment of silliness, camaraderie, or festivity. Plus, these photos serve as a year-long reminder of the joyous occasion, ticking the box as one of the most interactive Christmas office activities.

8. Christmas Carol Karaoke

Have some festive fun with karaoke ! From belting out timeless classics like “Jingle Bells” to more modern tunes, this activity is bound to be filled with tunes and laughter.

Create a leaderboard and throw in some quirky awards like “Most Creative Rendition” or “Best Duet.” Not only does it promise hearty laughter and potential sing-along sessions, but it also serves as a platform for team members to shed inhibitions and bond over shared hilarity.

9. ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas Storytelling

One person starts telling the classic poem ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas… but they can only say one line before passing it onto the next person in their team, who then has to continue the story using the next line. This activity is sure to create some hilarious results!

The power of storytelling is eternal. And when it intertwines with Christmas, magic happens. This activity is more than just narrating; it’s about passing the baton, listening, and co-creating. As teams sequentially build upon the story, unexpected twists and hilarious interpolations are bound to emerge. This not only fosters listening skills but also creativity, making it a thoughtful yet fun addition to your Christmas party ideas for work.

10. DIY Ornament Making

Get crafty with this activity! Provide some materials like construction paper, glitter, glue, etc., and have each person make their own holiday ornament to decorate the office with. You could even turn it into a competition and have people vote on their favourite ornament.

Crafting is therapeutic, and when it combines with festive themes, it’s doubly joyous. Offering a DIY Ornament Making session is not just an activity; it’s a gift. Participants can create personalised ornaments to adorn the office tree or take home. From glittery snowflakes to photo-filled baubles, the possibilities are endless. Moreover, it fosters a sense of ownership and pride every time one glances at the tree, making it a cherished choice among Christmas office activities.

11. Visit The Local Christmas Market

Is there a Christmas market happening near your office? If so, treat your team to a trip to the market. Heading to a market is great as all you have to do is turn up! If your budget allows, consider giving all members a voucher for some festive food from one of the stalls.

There’s something uniquely heartwarming about Christmas markets. The aroma of roasted chestnuts, the sound of carolers, and the shimmer of holiday lights bring forth the festive spirit. Integrating a local market visit into your work Christmas party is not just about fun; it’s an opportunity to appreciate local artisans and traditions. Allocate a few hours for the team to wander, shop, and indulge in festive treats. A group visit creates shared memories and offers a refreshing break from the usual office environment, ranking high among rejuvenating Christmas event ideas.

12. Holiday Jeopardy

Just like the TV game show, but with questions (and categories) all about Christmas! This is a great activity for getting people talking and laughing as they compete against each other in teams.

Educational, entertaining, and undoubtedly festive – that’s Holiday Jeopardy for you. This game format can be tweaked to encompass everything Christmas-related, from history to popular culture. Tailor the questions to suit your team’s knowledge level. As the buzzer sounds and teams race against time to answer, the room is sure to buzz with excitement and enthusiasm. To ramp up the festive spirit, infuse rounds with Christmas movie themes or famous holiday song lyrics. This interactive and engaging format seamlessly blends fun and learning, making it a cornerstone of Christmas party activities.

🔍 You can find a template for Holiday Jeopardy here .

13. Tinsel Toss

This one’s sure to get people laughing! Divide into teams and stand opposite each other (about 10 feet apart). Each team member takes turns trying to toss a piece of tinsel onto their opponents’ heads until one team has no tinsel left “in play” – they’re the losers!

Amid the list of Christmas party ideas for work, the Tinsel Toss is one that guarantees heaps of laughter. It’s not just about skill, but also strategy. Will teams aim for the head or loop it around an arm? It’s a brilliant icebreaker, especially for larger offices or teams that don’t often work closely. As tinsel flies and strategy discussions intensify, the atmosphere becomes lighter, making it a delightful inclusion in your Christmas party activities.

14. Holiday Bingo

This is a great game to get people mingling and laughing. You can either make your own bingo cards with holiday-themed items or activities, or you can find printable versions online. To make things even more fun, offer prizes for the winners!

Bingo, with its element of chance and thrill of the game, is a crowd-pleaser. Give it a festive spin, and you’ve got a winner! Instead of numbers, use holiday elements like ‘Santa’s hat’, ‘Mistletoe’, or ‘Eggnog’. As participants eagerly wait for their elements to be called out, the room fills with an air of suspense.

15. Tree Decorating Competition

This is a star among Christmas office activities. Split into teams and see who can decorate the best Christmas tree. It’s best to carry this out in the office (if you have space!) so that the trees can stay up throughout the whole festive period. This means that, no matter how good (or bad!) the decorating is, employees will always be reminded of the fun that was had.

Unleashing the team’s creativity while kindling the festive spirit is the essence of this activity. Give each team an undecorated tree and an assortment of ornaments, lights, and tinsels. Set a timer and watch as chaos, creativity, and camaraderie blend to give birth to festive masterpieces. It’s not just about beauty; it’s about teamwork, strategy, and resource allocation.

16. Christmas Bake Off

Get your guests baking with a festive bake off! Whether you’re making gingerbread houses or Christmas cookies, this is a great way to get people into the kitchen and working together. Make sure to have some tasty prizes for the winners!

Few things spell Christmas like the sweet aroma of baked goodies. While baking is a treat, doing it with colleagues elevates the experience. Teams can be tasked to recreate classic recipes or invent new ones. Judges can evaluate based on taste, presentation, and creativity. But beyond the competition, it’s about learning, sharing, and celebrating culinary talents.

17. Ugly Jumper Contest

This is a classic Christmas party activity that is sure to get people laughing. See who can come up with the most creative, ugly Christmas jumper. Don’t forget to post some photos on the socials for all to see!

An all-time favourite among Christmas event ideas, the Ugly Jumper Contest is both hilarious and heartwarming. Encourage everyone to either create or purchase the most outrageous Christmas jumper they can find. It’s not merely about how ludicrous the jumper looks, but the story behind its choice. Watching colleagues showcase their creative or comically poor taste in holiday fashion is an exercise in camaraderie and laughter.

18. Christmas Movie Night

Nothing says Christmas like a good Christmas movie. Get your team together and have a festive movie night. You can make it even more fun by having themed snacks and drinks, or even a costume contest!

Movies have a magical way of uniting people, and what better genre than Christmas movies to enkindle the holiday spirit? Convert your office space or a conference room into a mini-theater. Stack up on popcorn, set up a projector, and curate a list of timeless Christmas classics.

Whether it’s the laughter from “Elf” or the lessons from “A Christmas Carol,” the shared cinematic experience is bound to evoke emotions and nostalgia.

19. Hot Chocolate Station

Set up a hot chocolate station with all the delicious toppings you can think of. Employees can then come and go as they please, having as much hot chocolate as they like. Who can create the most festive-looking brew?

When the cold winter air nips, nothing warms the heart and hands like a cup of hot chocolate. Elevate this simple pleasure into an interactive experience by setting up a station complete with toppings like whipped cream, marshmallows, sprinkles, and caramel. Watching colleagues concoct their version of the perfect hot cocoa can be as entertaining as savouring the drink itself. Incorporate this into your work Christmas party, and it’ll not only warm bodies but also foster connections, as colleagues share their favourite hot cocoa memories and recipes.

20. Leave It With The Experts

If you want to take the stress out of planning your Christmas party, why not leave it with the experts? We have over 25 years of experience organising events across the country, meaning we know exactly what it takes to make your Christmas event a success. Get in touch today if you’re looking for stress-free, impactful, and memorable Christmas office activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i ensure everyone feels included in christmas celebrations.

Diversify your activities! While some may love traditional Christmas party activities, others might appreciate non-religious festive fun or multicultural celebrations. Always seek feedback and suggestions from the team when planning.

How do I decide on a budget for the work Christmas party?

Consider the company’s financial health, the number of participants, and the kind of event you’re envisioning. Remember, there are plenty of budget-friendly Christmas event ideas that are equally engaging.

Are virtual Christmas parties effective?

Absolutely! Virtual parties can be just as fun and engaging with the right activities. It’s a great way to include remote employees and ensures that everyone can celebrate safely, especially if there are health concerns or travel restrictions.

How can I make the Christmas party memorable?

Personal touches go a long way. Custom decorations, unique activities (like a Narnia themed party or ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas storytelling), and capturing memories through photos or videos can make the event stand out.

Can I combine our Christmas party with team-building exercises?

Yes! Many Christmas office activities, like the ‘Tis The Season Scavenger Hunt or the Gingerbread House Decorating Contest, naturally promote teamwork and collaboration. They can be both festive and constructive.

How early should I start planning our work Christmas party?

The sooner, the better! Especially if you’re considering popular venues or hiring experts, it’s good to start at least a couple of months in advance to ensure availability and accommodate everyone’s schedules.

Do I need to give out gifts during our work Christmas party?

While gifts are a kind gesture, they’re not mandatory. If budgets are tight, focus on experiences and memories. Activities like Secret Santa can also ensure everyone gets a small gift without putting strain on the budget.

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Jobscan > Resume Formats

Resume Formats That Help Get You Job Interviews

Find out how to choose the best resume format to showcase your skills, experience, and achievements.

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A good resume format organizes your skills, experience, and achievements. It tells hiring managers what they need to know.

Having a good resume format is important for another reason. It helps applicant tracking systems (ATS) read and understand your resume.

ATS is a computer software that most companies use today to help them hire employees. One of the main jobs of ATS is to screen the hundreds of resumes that come in for every job opening.

If your resume isn’t formatted the right way, the ATS will have trouble reading it. This makes it far less likely that a hiring manager will see your resume.

Don’t worry! Choosing a resume format isn’t as hard as it sounds. This article will guide you through the process.

By the end of it, you’ll know which resume format is best for your situation.

The 3 basic resume formats

There are three basic resume formats to choose from. They are:

• Chronological – Lists your work history in order, starting with your most recent job first.
• Functional – Focuses on your skills and accomplishments instead of your work history.
• Hybrid – Places your skills and accomplishments at the top, before your work history.

It’s important to understand the pros and cons of each format. This allows you to choose the one that best suits your specific situation and career goals.

After choosing a format, consider using a resume template to help create your resume. A template is a pre-designed layout that provides a structured framework for presenting your skills and experience. All you have to do is fill in your information.

Jobscan has a variety of free resume templates you can use. Our templates come in all three resume formats and each one is ATS-friendly.

Chronological

The chronological resume format

Also known as the “reverse chronological” resume, this is the most common type of format. You’re most likely already familiar with it.

As the name suggests, this format lists your most recent job first. Then your second-most recent job, your third-most recent job, etc…

Why do hiring managers like the chronological resume?

Hiring managers often prefer the chronological resume format for several reasons:

• It’s easy to follow – Recruiters can scan through your resume. It’s easy for them to find the companies you’ve worked for and the positions you’ve held.
• It’s the most traditional – Hiring managers are very familiar with this format. It won’t confuse them.
• It shows your career growth – Your work history makes it easy for recruiters to see how your career is going.

Who should use the chronological resume format?

Because this resume format focuses on work experience, it’s often used by job seekers who:

Have a strong work history

This format is ideal for job seekers who have lots of relevant work experience. It allows recruiters to see your career trajectory at a glance. They can get a good sense of the breadth and depth of your expertise.

Work in traditional industries

Many traditional industries prefer the chronological format. These industries include finance, engineering, healthcare, and legal professions. These sectors generally place a strong emphasis on a candidate’s work history.

Have a stable career path

The chronological resume is good at showing steady career growth within an industry. Hiring managers like to see this because it shows commitment.

How to set up a chronological resume

The reverse chronological resume contains the following sections, from top to bottom:

• Contact Information : Begin your resume with your name, phone number, and email address. You can also include a professional website or LinkedIn profile (if applicable).
• Resume Summary : This is a short statement about your goals, qualifications, and experience. It should provide a snapshot of your professional profile.
• Work Experience : This is the heart of the chronological resume. List your jobs in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. Include the company name, job title, and dates of employment. Add a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments for each role.
• Education : This section should also be in reverse chronological order. List degrees earned, school names, and graduation dates. You may also want to list academic honors or certifications relevant to your field.
• Skills : This section allows you to highlight relevant skills. Include both hard and soft skills.
• Additional Sections : Depending on your background, you may choose to include more sections. These could include volunteer work, hobbies, publications, or foreign languages.

You don’t have to create your resume from scratch. You can use a resume template. This is a pre-designed layout that includes all the sections listed above. All you have to do is fill in your information.

Jobscan has free resume templates . Each one is ATS-friendly and can be easily customized to suit your needs.

Pros and cons of the chronological resume format

• Draws attention to employment gaps – Shows if you’ve had periods of unemployment or job breaks.
• Not ideal for career changers – Does not highlight your transferable skills. These are important if you are making a significant career change.
• Less focus on skills – Does not immediately highlight your specific skills. These are listed later in a separate skills section.
• Emphasizes career progression – Highlights promotions, increased responsibilities, and relevant experience.
• Preferred by recruiters – This makes it easy for them to assess your work history.
• Shows career stability – A stable career shows commitment to a job or industry.
• ATS-friendly – Applicant tracking systems are familiar with this format. They should have no problem reading and understanding your information.

Functional resume format

This is also known as the skills-based resume format. It’s quite different from the chronological resume format.

The chronological format focuses on your work history. The functional format focuses on your skills and achievements. It minimizes your work experience.

This has several advantages:

• Focusing on your skills helps recruiters see if you can do the job.
• This format downplays negatives like employment gaps, career changes, and limited work experience. Instead, it focuses on positives, such as your transferable skills.
• This format also focuses on achievements that are relevant to the job you’re applying to. This makes it easier for recruiters to assess your capabilities.

Why do hiring managers like the functional format?

Actually, hiring managers don’t like the functional resume format!

This is because the lack of work experience makes it hard for them to understand your career. The functional format can also hide periods of unemployment. Hiring managers prefer transparency.

Another big reason why you shouldn’t use the functional resume format is that it’s not ATS-friendly.

ATS scan resumes for specific keywords, job titles, and dates. They use this information to assess an applicant’s qualifications for a specific job.

But functional resumes don’t focus on job titles and dates. So the ATS might have trouble reading and understanding them. As a result, functional resumes may not receive high rankings from an ATS.

Who should use the functional resume format?

While we don’t recommend using a functional resume, it can help certain job seekers. Especially those who:

Have transferable skills

Are you considering a career change? The functional format might be for you. It emphasizes your transferable skills that are relevant to the desired role.

Transferable skills are abilities that you can use in any job in any field or industry. They include things like communication, problem-solving, leadership, time management, organization, and adaptability.

Have limited work experience

The functional resume is for recent graduates or people with limited work experience. This is because it highlights things like your school achievements, hobbies, and volunteering.

Have employment gaps

The functional format downplays gaps in your work history. It redirects the focus of hiring managers toward your skills.

How to set up a functional resume

When creating a functional resume, follow this structure:

• Contact Information: This is the same regardless of which resume format you choose. Include your name, phone number, email address, and location.
• Resume Summary: The resume summary provides a concise snapshot of your qualifications. It should touch upon your unique skills, expertise, and accomplishments. The goal is to attract the reader’s interest.
• Skills Section : This is the heart of your functional (or skills-based) resume. This section should include a combination of hard skills (technical abilities specific to the job) and soft skills (transferable skills like communication , leadership , problem-solving , etc.).
• Use bullet points when creating your skills section. List your most relevant skills first. Whenever possible, try to include achievements that display relevant skills.
• Work Experience: Whatever work experience you have should come after your skills section. Don’t list detailed job descriptions. Instead, focus on the accomplishments, projects, and experiences that show your skills.
• Education : Include information about your educational background. This includes degrees earned, institution names, and graduation dates. Also include relevant coursework, certifications , or academic achievements.

If you don’t want to build your functional resume from scratch, try Jobscan’s free resume templates . They’re easy to customize and each one is ATS-friendly.

Pros and cons of the functional resume format

• Lack of detailed work history – Employers often want to see your work experience to see if you can do the job.
• No career timeline – Recruiters may find it hard to grasp the chronology of your work experience. This is because the focus is on your skills.
• Less suitable for established industries – Some industries focus more on work history.
• Highlights skills and achievements – This shows employers that you have what it takes to do the job.
• Good for career changers – This format focuses on your transferable skills. These give recruiters a good idea of your potential.
• Hides employment gaps – This format can lessen concerns about gaps in your work history.

Hybrid resume format

The hybrid resume format is becoming more popular. It combines the best aspects of the chronological and functional resume formats.

That’s why it’s called a hybrid .

The hybrid resume emphasizes both skills and work history. It features a dedicated skills section at the top of the resume. Below that is a chronological work experience section.

This format is especially helpful when you have lots of work experience but also want to show off your skills and accomplishments.

Why do hiring managers like the hybrid format?

Hiring managers appreciate the hybrid resume format for several reasons:

• It strikes a balance – Recruiters can see your skills and your work experience.
• It focuses on key skills – Sometimes recruiters want to make sure you have the skills to do the job. This resume format tells them immediately.
• It shows career progression – The hybrid resume provides a clear overview of your career path.

Who should use the hybrid resume format?

Anyone can use the hybrid resume format to great advantage. It’s especially suited to job seekers who:

Have a diverse skill set

You might have the perfect skills for the job. But your work experience is a little weak. This format allows you to feature your skills while downplaying your work experience.

Want to emphasize achievements

The hybrid format allows you to showcase achievements as well as skills at the top of your resume.

Are changing careers

The hybrid is good if you are transitioning to a new field. It focuses more on your transferable skills and slightly less on your work history.

How to set up a hybrid resume

When creating a hybrid resume, follow this structure:

• Contact Information : Begin with your name, contact details, phone number, and email address. You can also include your professional website or LinkedIn profile (if applicable).
• Resume Summary: Try to distill your entire resume into a short, easy-to-read blurb. Summaries can help career changers who need a place to explain a shift in career trajectory.
• Skills Section : Use bullet points to list your skills and achievements. Include both hard skills and soft skills.
• Work Experience: List your jobs in reverse chronological order. Start with your most recent or current position. Include the company name, job title, and dates of employment. Also, include a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments for each role.
• Education : List your education as you would on a chronological resume. Include degrees earned, school names, and graduation dates. You may also want to list academic honors or certifications relevant to your field.

If you don’t want to build your hybrid resume from scratch, try Jobscan’s free resume templates . They’re easy to customize and each one is ATS-friendly.

Pros and cons of the hybrid resume format

• Can result in a longer resume – The hybrid format may result in a longer resume. This is due to the inclusion of both a skills section and a detailed work history. But this shouldn’t be a problem as long as your resume isn’t more than two pages.
• Requires more thought – It can be hard to achieve the right balance between skills and work history. It requires thoughtful consideration and planning.
• Highlights your skills – By showing your skills first, this format captures the attention of hiring managers who are looking for them.
• Showcases your career progression – This format includes a chronological work experience section. This gives employers a good sense of your professional background and experience.
• Adaptable – The hybrid resume is flexible and easy to customize for specific jobs.
• ATS-friendly – ATS should have no problem reading this type of resume format.

If you’re still not sure which format to use for your resume, follow this flowchart to help you decide based on your situation.

How to format your resume so an ATS can read it

It’s important to choose the right resume format. But it’s also important to optimize your resume layout and content for an ATS.

If your resume is not optimized for an ATS, it’s less likely to make it into the hands of a hiring manager. Even if you have relevant skills and experience.

Here are some tips for creating a resume that will get past the initial screening of an ATS.

• Use standard fonts – Stick to common fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Avoid fancy or decorative fonts. The ATS may not recognize them.
• Keep it simple – Avoid excessive formattings, such as tables, images, or graphics, as they may confuse the ATS.
• Use simple headings – Use headings like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills”. The ATS can read these without a problem.
• Use plain text – Stick to basic formatting like bullet points and simple indentation. Avoid using headers or footers, text boxes, columns, or special characters.
• Use a font size that is easy to read – The recommended font size is 11-12 pt for regular text and 14-16 pt for section titles.
• Use the right margin – Make sure that the margins on all sides of your resume are 1 inch so that it doesn’t look too crowded.
• Include relevant keywords – Read the job description and pick out prominent keywords. Incorporate these keywords throughout your resume. This helps the ATS recognize your qualifications. It will then rank your resume higher in the search results.
• Use standard file formats – Save your resume as a .docx or .pdf file. These formats are widely compatible with most ATS systems.
• Avoid abbreviations and acronyms – Spell out acronyms and avoid excessive abbreviations. The ATS may not recognize uncommon abbreviations.
• Keep the file name simple – When saving your resume, use a simple file name. You could use the word “resume” for example. This makes it easier for the ATS and hiring managers to identify and organize your file.

Pro Tip : Use Jobscan’s free resume templates to start building your resume. All our templates are ATS-friendly and easy to customize.

5 tips for writing a resume that will get you interviews

Here are some additional tips that will help you create an effective resume:

Tailor each resume to the job you are applying for

Don’t make the mistake of sending out the exact same resume with every application. Yes, it’s easy. It’s also ineffective.

Instead, read the job description to find out which skills and qualifications are most important. Then try to include those skills on your resume.

When you use the same language on your resume that’s found in the job description, you increase your chances of getting an interview.

Highlight achievements as well as responsibilities

While it’s important to list your job responsibilities on your resume, you also want to highlight accomplishments .

Responsibilities are what you did. Accomplishments are how well you did it.

For example, if you increased sales or reduced costs, be sure to mention these accomplishments.

Use action verbs

Action verbs paint a clearer picture of your qualifications. They increase the overall impact of your resume.

Instead of simply stating that you were “responsible for” a certain task or project, explain how you took charge and made it happen.

For example, you could say that you “spearheaded a new initiative” or “coordinated a complex team effort.”

Use numbers

Try to use numbers whenever possible. Numbers show the true scope of your accomplishments to hiring managers.

Instead of saying that you “Created marketing campaigns” you could say that you “Created 10 successful marketing campaigns that generated a 20% increase in leads.”

Use active voice, not passive

Always try to use active voice instead of passive voice when writing your resume. Active voice is more direct, concise, and easier to read.

In active voice, the subject of the sentence is doing the verb. In passive voice, the subject is being acted upon by the verb.

If you’re not sure whether your resume is using active or passive voice, try running it through the Hemingway editor . It’s free and will tell you if you’re using passive voice.

Additional resume resources

Selecting the right resume format is the first step to creating an impactful resume. To learn more about how to create a resume that will stand out, check out these additional resources:

• How to Write a Resume That Recruiters Will Really Love – This step-by-step resume guide will teach you how to write a resume that stands out.
• How to Add Work Experience to Your Resume – Learn how to create a work experience section that will grab the attention of hiring managers.
• 8 Things You Need to Know About Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) – Here’s everything you need to know about ATS. What they are, how they work, and especially how you can “beat” them!
• How to Write a Strong Resume Skills Section – Here are the top resume skills employers are looking for. Learn how to list them on your resume.
• Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills – Learn the difference between hard and soft skills and why you need both on your resume.
• Free Professional Resume Templates – These ATS-friendly resume templates feature sleek, minimalist designs.

FAQs about resume formats

What does ats-friendly resume format mean.

An ATS-friendly resume format is one that can be read by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Employers use these systems to manage and filter large volumes of resumes.

When you use an ATS-friendly format , it increases the chances that a hiring manager will find your resume.

Is a resume format the same as a resume template?

No, they are two different things.

Resume format refers to the structure and organization of the content in a resume. A resume template refers to a pre-designed layout you can use to create a resume.

Is there a separate student resume format?

There isn’t a specific “student resume format” per se. Students generally use the same resume formats as other job seekers. But they may emphasize different sections or information.

A student’s resume highlights coursework, internships, part-time jobs, extracurricular activities, and academic achievements.

What is the best resume format for 2023?

The best resume format for you depends on your specific circumstances. This includes your work experience, career goals, and the industry you’re targeting.

Having said that, we like the hybrid resume format .

Employers are looking for job candidates who have the right skills. And the hybrid resume features skills right at the top of the resume. Employers also want to see a work experience section on a resume. The hybrid has that as well.

This powerful combination of skills and experiences makes the hybrid resume our top choice for 2023 and beyond.

Free Professional Resume Templates

Jobscan’s free Microsoft Word compatible resume templates feature sleek, minimalist designs and are formatted for the applicant tracking systems that virtually all major companies use.

Explore more resume resources

How to write a resume

Resume Templates

Resume Examples

Resume Builder

• Microsoft 365

Introducing Copilot for Microsoft 365—A whole new way to work

• Colette Stallbaumer, General Manager, Microsoft 365 and Future of Work
• Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365

Microsoft Teams

• Microsoft Viva

Today, we announced Copilot for Microsoft 365 —your copilot for work. Copilot combines the power of large language models (LLMs) with your data in the Microsoft Graph—your calendar, emails, chats, documents, meetings, and more—and the Microsoft 365 apps to turn your words into the most powerful productivity tool on the planet . And it does so within our existing commitments to data security and privacy in the enterprise.

Right now, we spend too much time on the drudgery of work and too little time and energy on the work that ignites our creativity and sparks joy.

Copilot for Microsoft 365

Copilot is integrated into Microsoft 365 in two ways. It works alongside you, embedded in the Microsoft 365 apps you use every day—Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and more—to unleash creativity, unlock productivity, and uplevel skills. Today, we’re also announcing an entirely new experience: Business Chat. Business Chat works across the LLM, the Microsoft 365 apps, and your data—your calendar, emails, chats, documents, meetings, and contacts—to do things you’ve never been able to do before. You can give it natural language prompts like “ tell my team how we updated the product strategy ” and it will generate a status update based on the morning’s meetings, emails, and chat threads.

Recent GitHub data shows that among developers who have used GitHub Copilot , 88 percent say they are more productive, 77 percent say the tool helps them spend less time searching for information, and 74 percent say they can focus their efforts on more satisfying work. 1

Reinventing productivity for everyone

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is integrated into the apps you already use every day, freeing you to focus on the most important work and less on the busy work. Working alongside you, Copilot for Microsoft 365 helps you to unleash creativity, unlock productivity , and uplevel skills.

Copilot in Word writes, edits, summarizes, and creates right alongside you. With only a brief prompt, Copilot in Word will create a first draft for you, bringing in information from across your organization as needed. Copilot can add content to existing documents, summarize text, and rewrite sections or the entire document to make it more concise. You can even get suggested tones—from professional to passionate and casual to thankful—to help you strike the right note. Copilot can also help you improve your writing with suggestions that strengthen your arguments or smooth inconsistencies. Here are some example commands and prompts you can try:

• Draft a two-page project proposal based on the data from [a document] and [a spreadsheet].
• Make the third paragraph more concise. Change the tone of the document to be more casual.
• Create a one-page draft based on this rough outline.

Copilot in Excel works alongside you to help analyze and explore your data. Ask Copilot questions about your data set in natural language, not just formulas. It will reveal correlations, propose what-if scenarios, and suggest new formulas based on your questions—generating models based on your questions that help you explore your data without modifying it. Identify trends, create powerful visualizations, or ask for recommendations to drive different outcomes. Here are some example commands and prompts you can try:

• Give a breakdown of the sales by type and channel. Insert a table.
• Project the impact of [a variable change] and generate a chart to help visualize.
• Model how a change to the growth rate for [variable] would impact my gross margin.

Copilot in PowerPoint helps you turn your ideas into stunning presentations. As your storytelling partner, Copilot can transform existing written documents into decks complete with speaker notes and sources or start a new presentation from a simple prompt or outline. Condense lengthy presentations at the click of a button and use natural language commands to adjust layouts, reformat text, and perfectly time animations. Here are some example commands and prompts you can try:

• Create a five-slide presentation based on a Word document and include relevant stock photos.
• Consolidate this presentation into a three-slide summary.
• Reformat these three bullets into three columns, each with a picture.

Copilot in Outlook works with you in your inbox and messages so that you can spend less time on email triage and more time on communicating—better, faster, and more easily. Summarize lengthy, convoluted email threads with multiple people to understand not only what has been said, but the different viewpoints of each person and the open questions that have yet to be answered. Respond to an existing email with a simple prompt or turn quick notes into crisp, professional messages—pulling from other emails or content that you already have access to from across Microsoft 365. Use toggles to adjust the tone or length of your note. Here are some example commands and prompts you can try:

• Summarize the emails I missed while I was out last week. Flag any important items.
• Draft a response thanking them, and asking for more details about their second and third points; shorten this draft and make the tone professional.
• Invite everyone to a “lunch and learn” about new product launches next Thursday at noon. Mention that lunch is provided.

Copilot in Teams takes the work out of working together. Copilot helps you run more effective meetings, get up to speed on the conversation, organize key discussion points, and summarize key actions so that the entire group knows what to do next. In your chat, Copilot gets you answers to specific questions or catches you up on anything you’ve missed, all without interrupting the flow of discussion. By adding Copilot to your meetings and conversations, you now also have a powerful tool to help with common tasks such as creating meeting agendas based on chat history, identifying the right people for follow-ups, and scheduling the next check-in. Here are example commands and prompts you can try:

• Summarize what I missed in the meeting. What points have been made so far? Where do we disagree on this topic?
• Create a table of pros and cons for [topic being discussed]. What else should we consider before making a decision?
• What decisions were made, and what are some suggested next steps?

Introducing Business Chat

Business Chat is an entirely new experience that works across all your data and apps, empowering you to do things you’ve never been able to do before. Business Chat works alongside you, using the power of the Microsoft Graph to bring together data from across your documents, presentations, email, calendar, notes, and contacts. Bring together information from multiple sources to keep everyone on the team on the same page and moving forward together. Spend less time focused on the tools and more time focused on the most important work. Today, our preview customers will be able to access Business Chat in Microsoft Teams.

Here are example commands and prompts you can try:

• Summarize the chats, emails, and documents about the [customer] escalation that happened last night.
• What is the next milestone on [project]. Were there any risks identified? Help me brainstorm a list of some potential mitigations.
• Write a new planning overview in the style of [filename A] that contains the planning timeline from [filename B] and incorporates the project list in the email from [person].

Extending to Microsoft Viva

Copilot in Viva Engage , one of many places where Copilot will integrate with Microsoft Viva , equips leaders with insightful conversation starters based on sentiments and trending topics across workplace communities and conversations. Copilot will offer leaders suggestions as they draft more personalized posts, with options to add images and help adjust the tone to enrich conversations.

Microsoft Viva Engage

With Copilot, we’re also making the Answers experience in Microsoft Viva Engage fast and efficient. Copilot will offer suggested prompts to enhance the quality of the question being asked. As team members engage, Copilot can suggest responses that keep the conversation going, including bringing in related knowledge and experts.

Building responsibly

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is designed for the needs of the enterprise. Our efforts are guided by our AI principles and Responsible AI Standard and build on decades of research on grounding and privacy-preserving machine learning. Microsoft’s work on AI is reviewed for potential harms and mitigations by a multidisciplinary team of researchers, engineers, and policy experts. We use the Azure Content Moderation Stack across our services to monitor and filter harmful content. Technologies like InterpretML and Fairlearn help to detect and correct data bias.

The Copilot System builds on our existing commitments to data security and privacy in the enterprise. Copilot automatically inherits your organization’s security, compliance, and privacy policies for Microsoft 365. Data is managed in line with our current commitments. Copilot large language models are not trained on your tenant data.

Finally, we have worked to design an experience that prioritizes human agency and puts the user in control. This includes noting limitations, providing links to sources, and prompting users to review, fact-check, and fine-tune content based on their own knowledge and judgment.

Get AI-ready with Microsoft 365

We are currently testing Copilot for Microsoft 365 with 20 customers, including 8 in Fortune 500 enterprises. We will be expanding these previews to customers more broadly in the coming months and will share more on new controls for IT admins so that they can plan with confidence to enable Copilot across their organizations.

Today, the best way to get ready for Copilot is to get on Microsoft 365 , the essential foundation for modern work. Microsoft 365 brings together in a single solution the foundational capabilities required, including identity, applications, management, and security, plus your enterprise data so that you can be AI-ready.

We will share more about pricing and details in the coming months.

More to come

Read about Copilot for Microsoft 365 on our Official Microsoft Blog , and for all the blogs, videos, and assets related to today’s announcement, please visit our microsite .

Learn more about Copilot in Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents . Visit our WorkLab to get expert insights on how AI will create a brighter future of work for everyone.

Join us at Enterprise Connect on March 27, 2023, where we’ll share more on how Microsoft is using AI to transform productivity. And also join us on April 20, 2023, for the first-ever Microsoft Viva Summit , a free digital customer event, to get a look at the future of AI and Microsoft Viva.

1 Research: quantifying GitHub Copilot’s impact on developer productivity and happiness , Eirini Kalliamvakou, GitHub. September 7, 2022.

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CRediT author statement

CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) was introduced with the intention of recognizing individual author contributions, reducing authorship disputes and facilitating collaboration. The idea came about following a 2012 collaborative workshop led by Harvard University and the Wellcome Trust, with input from researchers, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and publishers, including Elsevier, represented by Cell Press.

CRediT offers authors the opportunity to share an accurate and detailed description of their diverse contributions to the published work.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that the descriptions are accurate and agreed by all authors

The role(s) of all authors should be listed, using the relevant above categories

Authors may have contributed in multiple roles

CRediT in no way changes the journal’s criteria to qualify for authorship

CRediT statements should be provided during the submission process and will appear above the acknowledgment section of the published paper as shown further below.

*Reproduced from Brand et al. (2015), Learned Publishing 28(2), with permission of the authors.

Sample CRediT author statement

Zhang San:  Conceptualization, Methodology, Software  Priya Singh. : Data curation, Writing- Original draft preparation.  Wang Wu : Visualization, Investigation.  Jan Jansen :  Supervision. : Ajay Kumar : Software, Validation.:  Sun Qi:  Writing- Reviewing and Editing,

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Programs 2024 TechSprint: Generative AI in Housing Finance

Register to Livestream FHFA’s Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Housing Finance TechSprint

Register here  to livestream Opening Day and Demo Day of FHFA’s Generative AI in Housing Finance TechSprint.

• Opening Day, beginning at 10:30 am EST on Monday, July 22, will feature remarks from FHFA leadership and keynote speakers.
• Demo Day, beginning at 9:00 am EST on Thursday, July 25, will feature remarks from FHFA leadership and keynote speakers and presentation​s from the TechSprint teams.

About th​e FHFA Generative AI in Housing Finance TechSprint

The FHFA Generative AI in Housing Finance TechSprint will be an in-person, team-based problem-solving event hosted by the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) Office of Financial Technology (OFT). The TechSprint will bring together technology, regulatory, housing, and consumer finance experts to identify use cases and associated control measures to support the responsible use of generative AI in housing finance.​

Partici​pants are organized into TechSprint teams and work over a three-day period to solve for problem statements centered around the question:

“How might the responsible use of generative AI promote a transparent, fair, equitable, and inclusive housing finance system, while fostering sustainable homeownership and rental opportunities?”

The TechSprint culminates in a Demo Day where each team will present its ideas to an independent panel of judges drawn from subject matter experts in government, industry, nonprofits, and academia.

The Generative AI in Housing Finance TechSprint will be held at FHFA’s Constitution Center headquarters in Washington, DC, and will run from July 22 to July 25, 2024. The application period to participate in-person at the TechSprint was open from March 20 through May 24, 2024.

FHFA Generative AI in Housing Finance TechSprint: Problem Statements

Umbrella Stateme​​nt​

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has captured the imagination and interest of a diverse set of stakeholders, including industry, government, and consumers. For the housing finance system, the transformative potential of generative AI extends beyond technological advancement. Generative AI presents an opportunity to promote a housing finance system that is transparent, fair, equitable, and inclusive and fosters sustainable homeownership. Realizing this potential, however, is contingent on a commitment to responsible innovation and ensuring that the development and use of generative AI is supported by ethical considerations and safety and soundness.

FHFA’s Generative AI in Housing Finance TechSprint challenges participants to address the question,  “How might the responsible use of generative AI promote a transparent, fair, equitable, and inclusive housing finance system while fostering sustainable homeownership and rental opportunities?”​

TechSprint participants will demonstrate:

• A key  use case  for generative AI in one of the four areas of focus provided below; and
• Recommended  control measures , incorporating​ careful consideration of the associated risks.

Focused Statements ​

The four areas of focus are as follows:

• Consumer Experience:  How might generative AI be used to further educate and empower prospective homebuyers in evaluating, comparing, and obtaining a mortgage loan and in sustaining their homeownership over time?
• Assessing Creditworthiness:  How might generative AI be used to improve the evaluation of homebuyer credit, as well as the fairness of the credit decisions related to mortgage loans, particularly for homebuyers from underserved communities?
• Operations:  How might generative AI be used to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of operational processes within the housing finance system, from origination to servicing and secondary market activities?
• Risk Management and Compliance:  How might generative AI be used to enhance the effectiveness of risk management and compliance processes within the housing finance system?

Have additional questions about the 2024 TechSprint?  Please contact OFT at  [email protected] . To learn more about OFT, please visit  the OFT home page . And to learn more about FHFA’s inaugural TechSprint held in 2023, please visit the  Velocity TechSprint webpage .​​

Page Last Updated: May 28​​, 2024​​​​​