- Hold it during or just after work hours, so people with other commitments can come.
- Offer low-pressure activities; nobody should have to perform.
- Make it inclusive: good non-alcoholic drinks and food for different diets.
- A shared photo gallery gives people something easy to do together, and something to look back on.
Get the basics right
- Timing. A long lunch or late afternoon often gets more people than a late night.
- Food first. Real food, not just snacks, and options for different diets.
- Drinks for everyone. Good non-alcoholic options, not just water and pop.
- Volume. Music low enough to talk over.
- Inclusive name. Many teams call it an end-of-year or winter party.
Activity ideas people enjoy
- Photo challenges. A list of shots to find (“your team’s best group photo”, “the ugliest sweater”), shared to one gallery, with small prizes.
- A live photo wall. Photos appear on a screen as people share them, which gets everyone looking up and laughing.
- A cooking class or tasting. Something to do with your hands takes the pressure off conversation.
- Trivia about the year. Teams mix departments, and the questions write themselves.
- A make-and-take station. Ornaments, cards or cookie decorating, easy to drop in and out of.
- A charity element. Pack care boxes or collect donations together.
- A voice message wall. Thank-yous and shout-outs recorded for a colleague who’s retiring or a team that had a big year.
What to skip
- Mandatory speeches or performances.
- Activities that need a lot of drinking or physical contact.
- Secret gifts with no price limit.
- Anything people have to stay late to finish.
Hybrid and remote teams
If part of the team is remote, send everyone the same photo link. Remote colleagues can share photos of their own celebrations or pets in festive sweaters, and they appear on the same wall as the people in the office.
Sharing the photos afterwards
Send the gallery link in a thank-you message the next morning. If photos might be used on social media or in recruiting, say so before people upload. Sharefetti’s Business plan can show a photo-use notice that guests agree to before sharing.
Photo challenges and a live wall
Sharefetti gives your party photo challenges, a live slideshow for the big screen, and one gallery for everyone’s photos. Celebration is $79 CAD / $59 USD; Business adds your branding.
Frequently asked questions
What are fun office holiday party activities?
Photo challenges, a live photo wall, trivia about the year, a cooking class or tasting, and make-and-take crafts are popular because they’re easy to join and leave.
How do you make an office party inclusive?
Hold it at a reasonable time, offer good non-alcoholic drinks and food for different diets, avoid mandatory performances, and consider calling it an end-of-year party.
How do you get employees to share photos from the party?
Put a QR code on tables and the bar that opens a shared gallery, and show the photos on a screen. Seeing their photos appear encourages more people to share.
Can remote employees join in?
Yes. Send remote colleagues the same link so their photos appear in the gallery and on the wall.
Written by the Sharefetti team. We build QR code photo sharing for weddings, birthdays and company events, and we test every tip at real events.