Are you looking for ways to make your remote team’s Christmas party extra special this year? With remote work becoming increasingly popular, finding Christmas party ideas can be tricky. But it doesn’t have to be. We have created a list of 9 virtual Christmas party ideas to ring in the holiday season with your colleagues.
How do you celebrate Christmas with your team virtually? From a virtual Christmas rock concert to Secret Santa, there are many unique ways to make this year’s corporate festive party a success.
Let’s go with 15 fun ideas for your virtual Christmas party!
1. Virtual Secret Santa
Who doesn’t love this classic gift exchange?
Secret Santa is among the Christmas game ideas that everyone loves! And while it usually takes place in the office, you can also take this tradition online. For instance, try Elfster. The virtual gift exchange platform automatically links a gift-giver with a receiver, providing the recipients’ names and addresses to send the gifts ahead of time. Your coworkers can even create a wish list to help their Secret Santa understand what they would like.
Virtual Secret Santa is a great game to connect with your teammates and start your virtual event the best way possible. On your virtual Christmas party eve, you and your colleagues can display the secret Santa gifts over Zoom and try to guess who their Secret Santa is!
2. A Virtual Christmas Rock Concert
Sounds crazy, right? It’s possible. The traditional way of singing Christmas carols is not everyone’s style. So, if you and your coworkers are as good as Linkin Park (or not), you can give a rock twist to Christmas carols. Plan it, practice it and perform it on your virtual Christmas party eve.
If you don’t want to sing it and instead want to enjoy listening to it, invite a band to perform on Zoom for your organization. This is a cool virtual Christmas party idea for sure, but check your company’s budget before calling a rock band.
3. Virtual Photo Booth
What to do in a virtual Christmas party? Besides games, you can switch things up and make a virtual photoshoot. No matter how far your colleagues are from you, it’s possible to be right next to each other in a virtual photo booth!
This isn’t a boring “Class of 1950” kind of picture, so add some fun elements. How do you do it at an in-person party? Props like reindeer antlers, Santa hats, etc. Get them on, get your coworkers in one frame on that Christmas Eve Zoom call and take a screengrab as you all say Merry Christmas. Turn that perfect shot into a virtual Christmas card and send it to everyone.
4. Enjoy an Online White Elephant
While “White Elephant” doesn’t necessarily sound like something that can be done online, it can. Some websites like White Elephant Online let users choose items from Amazon or other websites to serve as gifts.
Each member of your team can open and steal gifts virtually. Once the game is over and the prize givers know which team member won what item, they can purchase and send it to the winner.
5. Christmas Snacks
If you work in a remote team, likely your colleagues are sprinkled across the globe. Is there no way you can enjoy yummy snacks and some drinks together? There is.
Virtual team Christmas party ideas can be enjoyed with delicious snacks as well. Order snacks and drinks online from a good eatery near everyone’s home at the same time.
Everyone receives their Christmas Eve delicacies together, and you can enjoy them together over a Zoom call. This gives you an opportunity to discuss Christmas traditions in different countries, the variety of snacks and drinks, and a lot more. A fun virtual Christmas party, indeed.
6. A Special Christmas Cocktail – Happy Hours
What’s a Christmas party without some alcohol? If you know how to behave on Zoom calls with your team, you shouldn’t miss having a drink with your colleagues.
Your good times should include some Christmas cocktail recipes to remember. Create a calendar event – Christmas Happy Hours. Sounds fun already, but how do you get your team members to make this more than just any other Zoom call? Give everyone the same Christmas cocktail recipe and ask them to add a twist of their own to it. Go a step further with the fun and ask them to name their drink after a famous Christmas Movie or song. Everyone meets at the Christmas Happy Hours party, discloses the secret ingredient in the cocktail, and reveals the name of their cocktail. Cheers!
Pro tip: For non-drinkers, let this be a Mocktail with a festive twist!
7. A Christmas Eve Talent Show
Beyond the set of abilities you see them utilize at work, your coworkers are gifted in a variety of ways. A virtual Christmas celebration might be a great way for them to show off these talents. It’s also a great approach to getting to know each other outside work and forming deeper bonds. As you sit and enjoy the entertainment, let your colleagues perform their songs, dances, stand-up comedy, etc., and wait for your turn. Let this be a competition with prizes for the winner.
Still out of ideas? Check out how we celebrate Pride Month from home on Think Remote!
8. Name That Tune
One of the best holiday game ideas is Name That Tune. In this game, players compete to identify a specific song. To play, have your teammates either hum the music or sing the song while muting the microphone. The remote team members need to be alert to catch the lip sync or the tune. The one who recognizes the tune first wins the round.
Pro tip: Try and add underrated Christmas songs like Sufjan Stevens’ “Christmas Unicorn” to make it more challenging for the players.
9. Most Likely To…
You’ve probably played this one with your friends and family. It’s time to get it to your party.
This is one of the best virtual Christmas ideas, as it is most likely to (pun intended) make everyone laugh! Most Likely To… is a seasonal superlatives game where your remote teammates consider which of their colleagues is most likely to do certain things during the holidays.
Let everyone answer these questions and see who they think is most likely to:
- Overspend on holiday decorations?
- Ignore calls from friends and family during the holiday season?
- Drink too much and stay hungover?
- Cry their eyes out while watching Christmas movies?
The round is won by the employee whose name appears the most times. Keep a record of all the round winners; the most cited employee is named the Christmas Queen or King.
Pro tip: There’s no fun without awkward questions! *wink*
10. DIY Ornament Making
For a DIY ornament-making activity during your virtual Christmas party, start by choosing simple ornament ideas such as salt dough creations or paper snowflakes.
To make things easier for your team, you can share clear instructions and a material list in advance. Play Christmas songs while each of you makes a beautiful ornament.
Afterward, everyone can showcase their creations, and you can even incorporate a voting or award session for more fun.
11. Christmas Pictionary
For Christmas game ideas, you need to incorporate a Christmas Pictionary! It’s easy and fun to make it, allowing your team to have a blast.
Start by compiling a list of Christmas-themed words and phrases. Use a virtual whiteboard or drawing tool during your video call, and have team members take turns drawing while their colleagues guess.
To enhance the holiday spirit, include words related to Christmas traditions, movies, and seasonal activities.
12. Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
Organizing a virtual gingerbread house decorating contest is a delightful way to bring your team together for some festive fun.
Start by providing participants with a list of materials needed, such as gingerbread kits, frosting, and an assortment of candies.
Set a designated time for the contest, and have team members showcase their decorated gingerbread houses during a virtual meeting. Encourage creativity and holiday spirit by incorporating themes or specific challenges, and let the team vote for their favorite creations.
13. Christmas Charades
If you’re looking for virtual Christmas party games, charades are the way to go! Start by compiling a list of Christmas-related words, phrases, or actions for participants to act out without speaking.
Use a video conferencing platform, and have team members take turns acting out their chosen word or phrase while their colleagues guess.
14. Christmas Movie Watch Party
Free virtual Christmas party ideas can be as simple as watching a movie! Choose a classic holiday movie that appeals to a broad audience and is available on a platform that supports synchronized streaming (like Netflix). Before the virtual party, share the movie choice with the team, and encourage everyone to come prepared with their favorite holiday snacks.
Create a virtual space for colleagues to share their thoughts, reactions, and favorite scenes as the movie unfolds.
15. Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest
Organizing an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest for a virtual gathering adds a touch of humor and festive flair to your online celebration. Encourage participants to don their most outrageously tacky and creative Christmas sweaters. Before the event, set clear guidelines for the contest and establish categories such as “Most Outlandish,” “Most Creative,” or “Best Use of Holiday Themes.”
During the virtual gathering, allocate time for each participant to showcase their sweater while briefly explaining the inspiration behind their design. To enhance the fun, consider incorporating a voting system where participants can cast their votes for their favorite ugly sweater.
Feliz Navidad!
While arranging for all of this, don’t forget to decorate your work desk too! From lights to confetti, even the smallest change to your workspace can make it go from dull to festive in minutes. The holiday season is here! It’s time to be merry, and while you’re at your virtual Christmas party, remember to raise a toast to the wonderful year of remote work that went by and many more to come.
All of us at ThinkRemote wish you a Merry Christmas!
