It’s beginning to look a lot like… another awkward Holiday Work Party?? Holiday office parties have a certain reputation for being awkward events an employee goes to with obligation in their mind and dread in their heart. It has become the punchline to many jokes, and even the premise for 2016’s most popular Holiday movie, Office Christmas Party. But it doesn’t have to be a dreaded event with a bad band, cheap liquor, and colleagues embarrassing themselves. Here are 10 fun and spirited ways to celebrate the holidays that your employees will want to take part in!

• Holiday Cookie Exchange
  • People can bring in their favorite store-brought cookies from their top bakery or make that super-secret recipe that has been in the family for generations. Bring some milk or even a hot-chocolate station and let the snacking commence!
• Escape Room
  • Check out some Groupons to take your employees on a great team-building exercise!
• Ugly Sweater Day
  • Ugly Christmas Sweaters are quickly becoming a staple of the holiday season. Encourage your employees to flaunt their most unseemly holiday threads!
• Holiday Cooking Class
  • Still looking for something a little more extravagant? Take your employees to a holiday cooking class! They’ll have get delicious food, and maybe pick up a culinary trick or two along the way!
• Office/Cubicle/Work-Space Decorating Contest
  • Have volunteer judges evaluate all of the decorated work spaces. Send pictures out company-wide. And of course, what’s a contest without an enticing prize?
• Charitable Activity
  • Bring your employees together for a day of volunteering, a philanthropic 5k, or even to prepare care packages for the homeless. It will bring your team together, and make them feel good about working for a company with a cause!
• Reindeer Games
  • Alternative Name: Winter Olympics. Think sack races, “snowball” dodgeball games, or pie-eating contests. Reference this list for even more great ideas!
• Gingerbread House Competition
  • Invite employees to bring in gingerbread house kits (or provide the materials!) and give them a set time to build in. Invite volunteer judges to select the winning spicey abode.
• Trivia
  • Host a trivia party with holiday questions!
• Collaborative Tree Decorating
  • Bring in a tree. Encourage every employee to bring in an ornament they think represents them! The team can decorate a tree that has all the same flair and diversity your team has!

Extras to improve any holiday party: 

• Snapchat Filter
  • Create a snapchat filter for the day and location of the Holiday Party!
• Raffle
  • Door prizes make everything better!
• Holiday Photo Booth
  • Set up a Photo Booth with a fun back drop and props. Come up with a hashtag and encourage employees to use it so you can find and share the fun!

Looking for some extra help to get through this busy season? CarterWill Search can help. Request Talent.