The Christmas party trends you need to know for 2024

It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas, with most festive party bookings being made before we’ve even brought out our winter wardrobes. There’s plenty to consider, with venues, catering and that all important entertainment - but how do you make it a cut above the rest? That’s where our guide comes in, so take a look through and get ready to take raucous office party fun to the next level.

The events of the past three and a half years (i.e., the virus that shall not be named) have had an unquestionable impact on the workforce; working from home has become the new norm, and whilst we can all appreciate saying farewell to hideously long commutes, being deprived of office chat and social events hasn’t exactly been conducive to improving team spirit. However, the Christmas party is an excellent way to bring the whole team together and make up for lost time. After 11 months of waiting for the party of the year, it’s time to give the people what they’ve been waiting for.

If you’ve been given the task of planning the Christmas do, don’t panic! Remember that the Christmas party is a chance to celebrate all that you and your colleagues have achieved throughout the year, as well as being a fun opportunity to get creative with decorations and entertainment ideas, and thinking about how you can do your bit for the planet.

If party planning is new to you, check out our handy party planning checklist for a rundown of what to think of when you're prepping for the big day. It can be difficult to keep on top of Christmas party trends, especially when the festive season sneaks up on you after a busy year of working hard, but we’re here to help. Here are a few things to bear in mind when planning your long-awaited 2023 Christmas bash.

Think pink

Summer 2023 was officially the year of Barbenheimer, and no matter what camp you were in, it was hard to not get swept up in the craze for the world’s new favourite colour. From pink outfits, and home furnishings, to food dyed a fluorescent shade of magenta, it’s been hard to escape that rose-coloured hue, and there’s no sign of it slowing down this festive season either.

This theme will follow through to Christmas parties, whether it’s for Christmas crackers, champagne saucers, or colour themed outfits, so get ready to continue embracing the trend.

If you want to make everything pink, then why not swap out the white wine for sparkling rosé and upgrade your smoked salmon blini canapé for a beetroot cured alternative, to create an event that even Barbie would be proud of.

Sober celebrations

Now we’re not saying to ditch the booze completely - there’s still plenty of people at office parties who are willing to drink you out of house and home this festive season - but there are certainly more looking to prioritise their health, too.

Thankfully, various drinks brands have caught on to this and it’s now much easier to find an alcohol free version of your favourite spirit. So rather than offering water and squash as the only alternative, delve into the world of 0% to find the next best G&T or vodka, lime and soda - without any nasty side effects.

Of course if you were looking to hold a completely t-total event then you can utilise the minimal daylight in winter, with brunch or lunchtime parties offering a great alternative. Swap the cocktails for mocktails and dancing for team building exercises, because hangovers are so 2022.

Going green

The climate crisis is an unavoidable point of conversation in today's world. With each passing day a new global warming story breaks, and the news is rarely good. Sustainable living is a group effort, so here are a few ways to play your part by making your Christmas party greener. Every little helps! 

When buying food, it’s important to keep in mind where these products come from. When If you’re shopping for your tasty Christmas meal or canapes, be sure to look for locally sourced ingredients - not only will you help cut down air-flown emissions, you’ll also be supporting some great local businesses.

One of the biggest culprits for waste after a party is disposable plates, cups and cutlery, so be sure to use either the real deal or some biodegradable bamboo alternative when chowing down on your turkey and pudding.

When prepping for your event and inviting your guests, paperless invitations are the way to go. They’re quicker to send, waste-free and energy efficient - there are quite literally no disadvantages. Read more about our favourite paperless invitations here.  

It’s also important to bear travel costs in mind. Unnecessary travel, especially when it involves a taxi, car or Uber, is a huge contributor to climate change. There’s a very simple way to prevent this: choose a venue that’s near your place of work. It’s as easy as that. If you need some help, head to our Christmas party venues and search by location to find the best spots close to you.  

Go OTT  

It’s time to consider going the extra mile for the 2023 bash. Remember that Christmas parties are a chance to celebrate all you’ve accomplished in your work throughout the calendar year, so show the workforce how much you appreciate their efforts by pulling out all the stops this year. Whether you're looking for live entertainment packages with dancers and DJs or luxurious dinners to keep everyone well fed, it’s really time to go hard.   

Awesome Events executive director Denis McCourt says: 'The whole idea of getting everyone together in one place for a celebration is a huge uplift to the general welfare of the employees, staff engagement and staff retention. It could be so easy for companies to dismiss the Christmas party as a cost cutting exercise, but the benefits hugely outweigh the financial cost.'

Whether it’s splashing out on hired musicians, or pulling out all the stops on elegant hors-d'oeuvres, don’t be afraid to treat yourself and your colleagues this December. You deserve it. 

Unusual entertainment  

With that in mind, it’s important to think of ways to make this party stand out from previous years. Photo booths are a guaranteed smash hit with guests, and from photo booths housed in camper vans to interactive selfie mirrors, there’s no shortage of modern twists on this classic. Props are a must: fake moustaches, leis and fezzes are our personal favourites.   

Or you could opt for some casino-themed entertainment. Classic table games like blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat are an excellent way to bring people together and get a bit of friendly competition started. There’s also the option of poker and tabletop slot machines or, if you want to keep things a bit more light-hearted, bingo or dominoes. Why not go the extra mile and plan a casino-themed event - a Vegas or Bond theme will have the office buzzing for months.   

If you fancy a bit of the action, sports simulators are the way to go. Indoor virtual sports are guaranteed to bring all the buzzing action of the big game into your office and involve every member of your team. Whether it’s football, cricket, golf or racing, you’ll easily find something to get everyone’s adrenaline pumping.  

The options in the capital are seemingly endless; baking parties, fairground games, Harry Potter themes. Check out all of these and more in our list of London’s best unusual Christmas party venues.  

Immersive/escapism  

Work Christmas parties are all about escaping the office, and what better way to do that than with an immersive experience? Not only are they a great way to bond and avoid falling into the trap of only talking about work with your colleagues, but they’re also great for improving team working skills and increasing team spirit.  

Speaking of escaping the office, escape rooms are only growing in popularity. If you want something to engage your team’s brain and solve problems together, this is the perfect activity - they’re also available in a range of different themes, from Sherlock to the Crystal Maze. Check out our list of the best 18 escape rooms in London here. 

If you don’t fancy leaving the party, you can bring the party to you by hosting an immersive murder mystery event. Whether you use an online template or pull out all the stops and hire a private events company, you can be sure of a good time. Get ready to bust out your acting chops and put on your detective’s cap - it’s often the ones you least expect.  

Team building   

Team spirit has certainly suffered since COVID. Remote working, while accessible and necessary, has left many feeling disconnected from their colleagues, some of whom they haven’t yet met in person. The Christmas party is one place where everyone is guaranteed to be, so it’s important to make the most of this opportunity.  

Festive team building activities are an excellent way to foster team spirit. Victoria Chappell from Queen Mary's University London suggests, 'a quiz night incorporating questions about team members, gingerbread wars to see who can be the most creative with a gingerbread festive house packet, and a seasonal scavenger hunt around London ending up in the Octagon for prizes, dinner and lots of disco moves!'

Rebecca Harris of Kings Place Events suggests another idea: 'We often see clients take advantage of the festive and celebratory atmosphere to combine their party with a staff awards ceremony or to recognise the year’s achievements. It’s a great way to bring everyone together and to end the year on a high note.'

Struggling to find a venue for your Christmas party? Check out our list of 25 iconic Christmas party venues near London.