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The company holiday party gets booked in October and judged in December, and the difference between the two is usually one decision: whether there was something to do besides eat. A gingerbread house station in the break room, glow casino tables with dealers in the function room, a synthetic ice rink in the ballroom for the company that rents a hotel, each gives the party a center, and each is a rental that arrives, runs and leaves. The timeline at the end of this guide is the ten weeks it takes to get there without a scramble.
Here are 20 company holiday party ideas organized by team size: for a team of 20 to 50 in the office, for a company of 50 to 150 at a venue, for 150 and up in a ballroom or a hall, and the add-ons for a family day. Every one of them is rentable from the winter rentals collection at Perfect Parties USA, and each comes with a planning tip on headcount, space or timing, whether your office is in Boston, Hartford or Providence.
Ideas for a Team of 20 to 50 in the Office
Stations that fit a cafeteria or a conference room and run without a venue.
1. A Gingerbread House Making Station
Gingerbread House Making Station: A staffed station where every employee builds and decorates a gingerbread house to take home, judged by sticker vote at the end. Planning Tip: Run it as a department contest and put the winners in the lobby until New Year’s. Rent the Gingerbread House Making Station.
2. Reindeer Racing
Roll-A-Ball Reindeer Racing: Roll balls into the holes to advance your reindeer down the track, the holiday version of the carnival classic. Planning Tip: Run heats by department and hand the winner the last vacation day of the year. Rent the Roll-A-Ball Reindeer Racing.
3. A Santa Sleigh Selfie Spot
Santa Sleigh Selfie: A sleigh photo prop that turns a corner of the office into the picture spot for the week. Planning Tip: Set it up the Monday of party week so the photos build all week. Rent the Santa Sleigh Selfie.
4. A Hot Chocolate Station
Hot Chocolate: A staffed hot chocolate station beside the gingerbread table. Planning Tip: Add it to the afternoon before the party and the party starts early. Rent the Hot Chocolate.
5. A Holiday Prize Wheel
Prize Wheel: A spin-to-win wheel where every slice pays out something, from candy to a day off. Planning Tip: One spin per ugly sweater; it is the reason people dress up. Rent the Prize Wheel.
Ideas for a Company of 50 to 150 at a Venue
The pieces that fill a function room and give a caterer’s party a second act.
6. Glow Casino Tables
Glow Casino (category): Glow-in-the-dark blackjack, roulette, craps and Texas Hold Em tables with dealers, funny money at the door and a prize auction at the end. Planning Tip: Give everyone the same chip count and let the winners bid on prizes at 9. Rent the Glow Casino (category).
7. Glow Black Jack
Glow Black Jack: The glow blackjack table that fills first at any holiday party. Planning Tip: Two tables for every 50 guests keeps the seats turning. Rent the Glow Black Jack.
8. Glow Roulette
Glow Roulette: A glow roulette wheel with a dealer, the loudest table in the room when the ball drops. Planning Tip: Put it in the middle of the room. Rent the Glow Roulette.
9. Christmas Carolers
Christmas Carolers: A caroling group that performs at the door and strolls the room. Planning Tip: Book two sets, one for arrival and one before the toast. Rent the Christmas Carolers.
10. SnowGlobe Live
SnowGlobe Live: A walk-in snow globe with a performer inside, the photo moment of the night. Planning Tip: Put it at the entrance so every guest walks past it twice. Rent the SnowGlobe Live.
11. A 360 Photo Booth
360 Photo Booth: A 360 photo booth that films a slow-motion spin of every group, branded with the company name. Planning Tip: Set it beside the bar. Rent the 360 Photo Booth.
12. A Family Feud Style Game Show
Deluxe Game Show – Survey Says: A hosted Family Feud style show with buzzers and survey questions about the company year. Planning Tip: Collect the survey answers from staff two weeks out and the show writes itself. Rent the Deluxe Game Show – Survey Says.
13. LED Letters
LED Letters: Marquee LED letters spelling the company name or the year behind the stage or the bar. Planning Tip: Every photo of the toast carries the message. Rent the LED Letters.
Ideas for 150 and Up in a Ballroom or a Hall
The headliners for the company that rents a hotel or a hall.
14. A Synthetic Ice Rink in the Ballroom
Synthetic Ice Skating Rink: A synthetic ice rink built from interlocking panels, with fencing and skates in assorted sizes, that runs indoors with no refrigeration; the smallest open skating setup is 20 by 40 feet for up to 25 skaters at a time. Planning Tip: Book the ballroom with the rink footprint in mind and put the bar on the fence line. Rent the Synthetic Ice Skating Rink.
15. A Snow Machine at the Door
Snow Machine: A snow machine timed to the arrival hour or the toast. Planning Tip: Run it at the entrance for the first 30 minutes and again for the group photo. Rent the Snow Machine.
16. Mobile Bowling Lanes
The Lucky Pin Mobile Bowling Lanes: Portable bowling lanes that set up in a hall for a department tournament with a scoreboard. Planning Tip: Score by team average so the beginners matter as much as the ringers. Rent The Lucky Pin Mobile Bowling Lanes.
17. Holiday Entertainers
Holiday Entertainers: Strolling holiday performers who work the room between courses. Planning Tip: Schedule them for the seated hour, when a stage act would stall the dinner. Rent the Holiday Entertainers.
18. A Living Statue
Living Statue Performer: A living statue at the entrance that guests are still talking about at the toast. Planning Tip: Place it where the coat check line forms. Rent the Living Statue Performer.
19. A Gondola Photo Booth
Gondola Photo Booth: A ski gondola photo set for the apres ski theme. Planning Tip: Pair it with the snow machine for the photo the internal newsletter runs in January. Rent the Gondola Photo Booth.
Add-Ons for a Family Day
20. A Gingerbread Games Inflatable
Gingerbread Games Inflatable: Several holiday carnival games built into one inflatable, run by one attendant, for the party that invites the kids. Planning Tip: Set it in its own corner with the hot chocolate line beside it. Rent the Gingerbread Games Inflatable.
How to Plan a Company Holiday Party: The 10-Week Timeline
Ten weeks out, in early October, set the date, the headcount and the budget, and book the venue if you need one; December venues across Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island are the first thing to sell out. Eight weeks out, book the entertainment, because the glow casino tables, the synthetic ice rink and the carolers are reserved first for the second and third weekends of December; a Party Pro can size the lineup to your headcount and your room. Six weeks out, send the invitation with the theme and the dress code, confirm the caterer and request the certificate of insurance for the venue. Four weeks out, collect the survey answers for the game show and the names for the awards. Two weeks out, confirm load-in windows and power with the venue, order the prizes for the auction and the wheel, and send the reminder. The week of, walk the room with the rental crew’s floor plan, and the night of, open the stations 15 minutes before the doors so the first guests walk into a party already running.
Start with your team size to pick the section above, then follow the timeline. As a rule of thumb, plan for one attraction per 25 to 50 guests and one headliner per 150 to 200, and read the casino night rentals in Boston and New England guide for the casino setup and the prize auction. For the games only version of the party, the winter festival entertainment ideas post covers the winter carnival games, and for the North Shore the corporate event entertainment in Peabody, MA page lists what is nearby.
Rent Company Holiday Party Attractions From Perfect Parties USA
Perfect Parties USA is based in Peabody, Massachusetts and owns hundreds of attractions, including every rentable item on this list, so the games you book are the games that arrive, maintained and ready to play. Every rental includes delivery, professional setup, trained attendants and prizes for staffed games, and complete teardown. We are fully insured, with a certificate of insurance available for venues and schools, and we have produced events of every size across New England and the Northeast for decades, from Massachusetts, Boston, Connecticut and Rhode Island to New Hampshire and New York.
Ready to get this party started? Contact Perfect Parties USA to talk to one of our Party Pros. Request a Quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best company holiday party ideas?
The best company holiday party ideas give the party a center: glow casino tables with dealers and a prize auction, a gingerbread house station judged by department, a Family Feud style game show with survey questions about the year, a 360 photo booth and, for a ballroom, a synthetic ice rink. Perfect Parties USA runs all of them for companies across New England.
What company holiday party ideas work for a small team?
A team of 20 to 50 runs well on the office stations: a gingerbread house making station, Roll-A-Ball Reindeer Racing, a Santa Sleigh Selfie spot, a hot chocolate station and a Prize Wheel with a spin per ugly sweater, all of which fit a cafeteria or a conference room and run without a venue.
How do you plan a company holiday party?
Start ten weeks out with the date, headcount, budget and venue, book the entertainment at eight weeks because the casino tables and the rink sell out first, send the invitation at six, collect game show survey answers at four, confirm load-in and prizes at two and walk the room the week of. Perfect Parties USA sizes the lineup to the headcount at the eight-week step.
How far in advance should you book holiday party entertainment?
Book holiday party entertainment eight weeks ahead, in early to mid October, because the glow casino tables, the synthetic ice rink, the carolers and the photo booths are reserved first for the second and third weekends of December across New England. Perfect Parties USA holds dates for company parties from Boston to Hartford.
Can you rent holiday party attractions for a corporate event in Massachusetts?
Yes, every attraction in this guide is available to rent, from the gingerbread station and the reindeer racing booth to the glow casino tables with dealers, the carolers, SnowGlobe Live and the synthetic ice rink. Rentals from Perfect Parties USA include delivery, professional setup, trained staff and complete teardown, with a certificate of insurance for the venue.
Does Perfect Parties USA deliver holiday party rentals in Boston and New England?
Yes, Perfect Parties USA delivers holiday party rentals across Massachusetts, including Boston and the North Shore, and throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and New York. The company is based in Peabody, Massachusetts, owns its inventory and coordinates load-in with hotels and function halls.
How many attractions do you need for a company holiday party?
Plan for one attraction per 25 to 50 guests and one headliner per 150 to 200. A venue party of 100 runs well on the glow casino, the carolers and a photo booth, while a ballroom party of 300 adds the synthetic ice rink, the snow machine and the mobile bowling lanes. Perfect Parties USA sizes the lineup to your headcount and your room.
Ready to get this party started?
Contact Perfect Parties USA to talk to one of our Party Pros!