10 Christmas activities that make the perfect party precursor

We’re always looking for ways to bring people together in the workplace, and Christmas is a perfect opportunity to give people a little bread and instigate a bit of fun in the office. We’ve already rounded up some of our favourite Christmas party games for the office, but if you’re looking for something a little more low-key to get everyone in the Christmas spirit, these fun activities could be just the thing.

Choosing a Christmas activity doesn't have to be stressful, so in a bid to avoid crushing crowds and rage-inducing queues, why not trade ice skating and Christmas markets for a 'crafternoon' instead. Britain’s creative sector is booming, especially since COVID, with people looking for new ways to reduce screen time and reconnect with hands-on activities. There’s never been a better time to embrace your crafting skills than Christmas, and you can get the whole team involved in all sorts of fun little activities.

‘For the ultimate escape from the daily grind, a craft workshop for your team couldn’t be better,’ says craft expert Esme Clemo. ‘It’s a chance to develop new and exciting skills while bonding through a shared experience.’

Happily, there’s a ‘best of both’ option for those of us who enjoy a tipple come Christmas. ‘Scared of breaking the norm with an evening of drinking? There are loads of workshops that combine both, like painting over Prosecco,’ says Esme.

And indeed there are. Below is our pick of the best Christmas activities to take your team (or your friends or family) to this year. Prosecco optional, of course.

Make your own crackers

What: Whip up your own Christmas crackers this year, instead of relying on the usual suspects to supply them, complete with flimsy plastic toys inside. When you build your own, the presents inside can be whatever you want them to be, and the jokes can be office specific! There are groups like The Crafty Hen that offer cracker making classes, but you can just as easily go DIY with this one.
More info: The Crafty Hen

Gingerbread house building

What: This is a good little team activity but be prepared - all that coloured icing can get messy! Divide into teams (or fly solo if you have enough gingerbread) and design your gingerbread house. Bonus points for good teamwork and stylish exterior design, plus structural integrity of course - you can’t win if your house doesn’t stay standing!

Candle making workshop

What: There aren’t many Christmas gifts that have a 100% approval rating, but a nice smelly candle must be about as close as you can get. There are lots of workshops all over the country you can sign up to (like this one from Yougi for example) and at Christmas, you could choose to make some particularly festive-smelling candles, or just make something nice for a pal.
More info: Yougi

Wreath making

What: Sometimes Christmas can be a bit much, so the office might welcome an activity where they can unwind from seasonal stress. Venues like Stem + Stem host regular wreath making and centrepiece making masterclasses, so you could always sign the team on to one of those. Or, grab some materials and muddle your way through something in the office and weave some love festive decor.
More info: Stem + Stem

Secret Santa

What: A classic, but worth mentioning nonetheless. Secret Santa is the first activity most of us turn to when it comes to festive fun - everyone gets a nice present, and you can institute a price limit to make it fair on everyone. There are loads of twists you can add as well - if you want to mix things up a bit, you could try jumbling all the presents up in a massive grab bag so everyone gets one at random.

Christmas baking

What: Nothing says Christmas like festive treats around the office. Instead of going out and buying everything, why not get everyone to make something themselves and bring it in? If you want to add a bit of competition you can even give prizes to the best and worst, or play your very own office version of Christmas Great British Bake Off.

Paint ‘n’ sip

What: Paint ‘n’ sip has been a smash hit all over the UK since catching fire in the US. Lots of venues host regular paint ‘n’ sip evenings, and there are tutors who will come to your office and help you improve your painting skills. Throw in a little festive glass of Champagne or two and you have a very wholesome Christmas activity on your hands. 

Tree decorating

What: Not dissimilar to the gingerbread house building activity, grab some mini Christmas trees and dig out the office decorations from storage for this tree decoration challenge. You can give each team a bit of a theme to work to, or just let go of the creative reins and let everyone go wild.

Build a terrarium

What: Get green fingered and make your very own little slice of paradise in a bottle! Terrariums are super satisfying to make, and once you've designed your little green world, it'll live forever on your desk as a self-contained ecosystem. There are groups like London Terrariums that host classes for groups, but you can also buy DIY terrarium kits if various sizes and prices if you so wish. 
More info: London Terrariums

Christmas card workshop

What: Like so many things at Christmas, it's much more fun to make your own than to just go and buy something. Load up on fancy coloured paper, stickers, pens and more, and get creative with your own Christmas cards for your friends and colleagues. This pairs up very nicely with Secret Santa, as you can get each person to make a card to go with their present, giving ample opportunity to guess who your Santa is (or to throw people off the scent).

Need some more Christmas party inspo? Take a look at our Christmas party ideas page.