Planning the office Christmas party? Start here. Below you’ll find 55+ proven ideas—live entertainment, interactive games, themes, food & drink, plus smart options for small teams, big teams and alcohol-light events.
Then we walk you through a simple timeline, a copy-paste run-sheet, and an entertainment brief you can email to suppliers. Whether you’re an office manager or on the staff social committee, this guide keeps things fun, on-brand and under control. Pick a budget tier, lock your date, and choose one hero entertainment idea with one interactive activity. That combo delivers energy early and keeps the dance floor buzzing later.
Less than $2k
$2k–$7k
$7k+
Thu/Fri/Sat
late Nov–Dec
consider daytime options
age mix
accessibility
dietaries
rooftop
ballroom
garden
office atrium
winery
boat
band
DJ
duo
roving acts
headline feature
Interactive/Games
standard
low-alcohol
alcohol-free with mocktails
Casual
Business
Formal
event theme
Click Get 3 Tailored Ideas—tell us date, city, headcount and vibe; we’ll email you options.
From quick wins to full-blown showpieces, this hand-picked list covers live entertainment, interactive games, themes, food & drink and clever options for every team size and budget. Skim the categories, star a couple of “instant crowd-pleasers,” then lock one hero entertainment + one interactive activity—that combo guarantees early engagement and a packed dance floor later. Use the budget badges to shortlist fast, and tap the “Add to plan” button on any idea to build your run-sheet in minutes.
Party band (3×45) with classic + current bangers
DJ + sax (high-energy dance floor)
Acoustic duo for arrival & dinner, DJ for the dance set
Roving magician / mentalist for ice-breaking
Caricaturist station (take-home keepsakes)
LED drummers or percussion pop-ups
Circus & aerial (silks/hoop) feature spots
Christmas choir or modern vocal trio
Duelling pianos sing-along
Themed characters (elves, Gatsby, Studio 54)
Game-show quiz with buzzer podiums
Casino tables (fun money + prize for top stack)
Murder mystery (scripted or light-touch)
Karaoke showdown / lip-sync battle
“Minute to Win It” challenge set
Photo booth with prop brief that matches theme
Escape-room-in-a-box team races
Giant lawn games + MC for day events
Winter Wonderland (white & silver, uplights, snow machine)
Studio 54 Disco (mirror balls, glitter corridor, funk/disco band)
Great Gatsby (jazz quartet + casino)
Neon & Glow (UV face-paint, LED furniture, DJ)
Après Ski (faux fire pits, mulled mocktails, chalet styling)
Aussie Summer BBQ (acoustic, lawn games, gelato cart)
Festive Fiesta (Latin band, taco bar, piñata photo moment)
White Party (dress code, white florals, sax + DJ)
Chef action stations (paella, dumplings, pasta wheel)
Grazing tables + dessert bar
Mocktail lab / mixology class (alcohol-optional)
Gin & tonic cart / local craft tasting flight
Food trucks (2–3 styles) + lawn setup
Christmas pudding flambé moment (MC cue)
Click Get 3 Tailored Ideas—tell us date, city, headcount and vibe; we’ll email you options.
Weeks 10–8: set goals & budget; shortlist venue/date; place entertainment holds
Weeks 7–6: confirm venue & entertainment; send save-the-date; caterer brief
Weeks 5–4: draft run-sheet & floor plan; AV check; RSA & risk plan
Weeks 3–2: final numbers; playlists & formalities; confirmations to all vendors
Week 1: briefing pack; signage/table plan; bump-in/out logistics; wet-weather alt
Event day: soundcheck; MC cues; vendor payments; content capture plan
Here is a rough guide on budget breakdown:
Plan inclusively from the outset: collect dietaries and allergy details with RSVPs and brief all vendors; confirm mobility access (ramps, lifts, accessible bathrooms) and clear paths to stage and seating; ensure RSA compliance with trained staff, water stations and visible food options; set a sensible noise plan with dB limits, speaker placement and a quiet space for guests who need a break; and give entertainers an inclusive music brief that avoids exclusionary lyrics and balances eras, genres and cultures.
Take this run sheet template and edit as desired. You can also use this online Event Run Sheet Builder which is free to use.
5:30 PM Doors open, welcome drink & acoustic/playlist
6:00 PM MC welcome + light icebreaker
6:15 PM Canapés / entrée service + roving act (magician/caricature)
7:00 PM Awards / CEO speech (10–15 mins)
7:20 PM Main course / background set
8:15 PM Feature entertainment (band set 1 / game-show round)
9:00 PM Dessert + photo moment
9:20 PM Dance-floor set (band set 2 / DJ + sax)
10:05 PM Short break / playlist
10:15 PM Finale set (band set 3 / DJ peak)
11:00 PM Wind-down playlist, goodnights
11:30 PM Bump-out
Event: date, venue, room, load-in access, parking
Guests: headcount, demographics, VIPs, accessibility notes
Theme & dress: tone, colours, do/don’t playlists
Staging & AV: stage size, PA/lighting provided, power, soundcheck time
Sets: lengths & number, breaks, special cues (awards, raffle)
Curfews: noise limits, venue rules, bump-in/out windows
Contacts & admin: onsite lead, invoice entity, payment timing
Typical ranges are $80–$250 per guest, driven by venue, catering and entertainment level.
DJ = flexible and budget-friendly. Band = live energy & nostalgia. Many combine band early + DJ late or DJ + sax.
Bands often perform 3×45-minute sets. DJs usually cover 4–5 hours with short breaks aligned to speeches and service.
Lean on interactive experiences (game show, mocktail lab, photo challenges) and a tight run-sheet that builds to a finale.
Aim 6–10 weeks out; peak Thu/Fri dates in late Nov–Dec book out earlier.
Get 3 Tailored Ideas – date, city, headcount, vibe → we’ll reply with options
Hold a Band/DJ for Your Date – no obligation, 48-hour hold while you confirm venue
Download the One-Page Checklist – keep planning tight and stress-free
Budget confirmed (target per person)
Date window + holds placed (venue/entertainment)
Venue shortlist + AV/parking/load-in checked
Theme & dress code set
Food & drink brief + dietaries captured
Entertainment sets & MC cues mapped
Awards/speeches timed & scripted
Photo moment & signage
Accessibility & RSA plan
Vendor confirmations (week-of)
Bump-in/out schedule circulated
Emergency contacts & wet-weather alt
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