By far, the most widely celebrated holiday in the UK is Christmas, with 79% of Britons taking part.
That means there are Christmas events all over the country. But with so many events around the festive season, it’s hard to know how to make yours stand out. That’s why at Eventbrite, we took a look at some of our most successful event organisers to inspire you with fresh, exciting ideas for your next Christmas event.
Whether you’re planning a Christmas pop-up or a traditional festive party, these ideas will help you take your event up a notch. The best way to get your guests excited is to embrace the festive spirit and promise them an exciting and unique experience.
Each idea includes a rating system with emojis to indicate difficulty, cost, and family-friendliness. That way, you can clearly see which events will fit your audience and budget!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Professional Christmas event ideas
Christmas food and drink event ideas
Nonprofit Christmas event ideas
Interactive Christmas event ideas
Community-centred Christmas event ideas
How to make your Christmas events stand out
Professional Christmas-themed event ideas
Forget the boring old office Christmas party. With so many other festive events vying for attendees’ attention (and money), you need to think outside the box. Change things up with some of these fresh professional Christmas event ideas.
1. Christmas-themed industry mixer
Difficulty: 🎄🎄🎄
Cost: 💸💸
Family friendliness: 👧👧
A Christmas-themed industry mixer is a festive event where professionals within a specific industry network, share ideas, and discuss industry trends. To make these mixers successful, it’s crucial to provide a well-structured event with a variety of activities that will get attendees to “mix and mingle” and move around the event to meet as many people as possible.
STEP’s Festive Fling: Christmas Lunch and Networking brings together small business owners around the festive season to mingle over lunch.
2. Secret Santa networking event
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A Secret Santa networking event is a unique spin on the traditional corporate Christmas party. In essence, it’s a networking event where attendees draw names to become someone’s “Secret Santa,” gifting them an item within a predetermined budget.
This setup is a great way for people to discover new things about one another and forge lasting connections. Just make sure to give each attendee some information about the person they’re buying for!
3. Christmas-themed team quiz night
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A Christmas-themed team quiz night is a professional event where attendees form teams to answer festive quiz questions, fostering camaraderie and competition. To make the event successful, organisers should create a wide variety of questions catering to different knowledge levels and interests, aiming to both challenge and entertain participants.
You can host an event like this in a pub, bowling alley, or any event venue — just make sure you have a good sound system so everyone can hear the questions!
4. Coding and mince pie workshop
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This is a unique type of professional event that can be formatted to fit whatever type of workshop an event organiser feels like holding. In this workshop, participants learn coding basics while enjoying Christmas treats, blending intellectual stimulation with festive cheer.
To ensure success, organisers should offer varied coding challenges for different skill levels and provide mince pies, chocolates, and other festive treats to maintain an engaging atmosphere.
5. Ugly jumper networking
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An ugly jumper networking event is a festive twist on traditional networking where participants don their most outrageous Christmas jumpers and mingle. The laid-back, humorous atmosphere created by the ugly jumpers can make networking less intimidating and more enjoyable, leading to genuine connections among attendees.
To incorporate the spirit of giving in your event, consider working with a local clothing charity to provide the jumpers in exchange for donations of money or clothing from attendees.
6. Tropical Christmas professional mixer
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Conjure visions of a warmer winter with a tropical Christmas professional mixer. This festive party idea combines networking with the festive atmosphere of a tropical holiday, encouraging relaxed business discussions.
To make it successful, you can book local musicians and dancers, provide leis, and make tropical cocktails to upgrade the summer ambience. Decor can include fake palm trees and inflatable pool toys to add to the beachy vibe.
Christmas food and drink event ideas
Christmas cake, chocolate yule logs, mince pies… What’s the Christmas season without festive treats? And since many of us gather around the table with friends and family this time of year, the Christmas holidays are all but synonymous with food. Here are some deliciously unique ways to celebrate the season.
7. Winter charity dinner
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One in five people intend to volunteer over Christmas, and 42% of people say they are more likely to donate money over the Christmas holidays, so it’s the perfect time to hold a charity dinner.
Emphasise the impact of giving with a presentation about the great work the charity does, and make sure to serve some great, warming food too! For inspiration, check out how MIKES Trust Winter Wonderland Charity Ball goes all out with the winter wonderland theme for their charity dinner.
8. Drink tasting and pairing course
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By creating a tasting and pairing course, you’ll help your attendees appreciate seasonal treats even more. You could use beer, wine, or something seasonal like mulled wine or hot chocolate. Start with a brief introduction to what they’re tasting, followed by an interactive tasting that highlights different types of drinks in combination with food pairings.
9. Festive baking workshop
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Lots of people grew up baking traditional treats like mince pies and gingerbread around Christmas, so why not upgrade their skills?
A festive baking workshop is a great party idea for getting people engaged and embracing the spirit of the season. Or take it a step further and make a gingerbread house competition out of it! Provide different recipes and all the required ingredients, then let them loose in the kitchen for an hour or two.
For lessons in best practice, check out ramekin + rollingpin’s Festive Winter Market Treats Workshop
10. Christmas brunch
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A Christmas brunch is a great way to get people together with some seasonal food and activities. Whether it’s a breakfast buffet or a sit-down meal, you can make sure everyone enjoys the delicious food while being entertained with a live show like The Bentley Liverpool offers during their Naughty or Nice: Bottomless Brunch with Bad Santa.
11. Christmas meal-kit making
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Christmas meals aren’t just for your family! Give back to the community by hosting a charity meal kit-making event.
Gather volunteers and have them assemble meals that can be distributed to families in need during the season. You can even set up a biscuit decorating table for the kids to get involved and a drinks station for the adults. Not only will attendees get a feel-good boost, but they’ll also learn about food insecurity and what they can do to help.
12. Mince pie pop-up
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Nothing says Christmas like mince pies. That’s why a pie-specific pop-up event would get people into the festive spirit. You can host your pop-up in an existing restaurant space or use a food stall and take it across the town!
For a little extra fun, incorporate some unusual or local flavours. Partner with local businesses to incorporate their produce or jams, and think of interesting herbs or spice mixes you could mix in to make them stand out.
Nonprofit Christmas event ideas
Christmas is the season of giving, which makes it the perfect time to host a festive-themed nonprofit event. And there’s no shortage of ways to help out a neighbour in need or donate to charity — whether it’s food, clothing, time, or money. Here are a few ideas for what you can do to inspire your attendees with the spirit of giving.
13. Christmas clothing exchange
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Invite community members to donate clothes and pick up anything they might need. It’s a great way to clear out closets and keep people warm during the winter while also giving people a fun way to gather together. Plus, you can donate anything left over to a local charity.
14. Christmas food drive
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Make sure everyone can have a festive meal by hosting a Christmas food drive. Gather non-perishable items and invite people to donate them in exchange for door prizes or discounts at your event. If you create sponsorship packages for the event, you can open up even more ways to raise money.
15. Christmas bake sale
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People love to indulge in baked goods during the Christmas holidays, so why not provide them with something delicious while supporting your cause? Invite volunteers to make treats or ask local bakeries and restaurants for donations. Then set up a booth at a busy spot (like outside of a shopping centre) and start selling.
16. Winter charity ball
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Looking to host a larger-scale, more elegant event? A winter charity ball is the perfect way to raise money and get people dressed up for a festive night of fun.
When planning, you’ll need to decide on guests, entertainment, food choices, and other details like decorations. Most importantly, you’ll need a dance floor and a great DJ or a talented band to get people out of their seats.
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17. Gift wrapping service
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People need gifts wrapped during Christmas, and it’s a great way to raise money for your charity. Consider setting up a gift-wrapping station in a shopping centre or other public space where people can get their gifts wrapped by volunteers in exchange for a donation.
18. Christmas toy drive
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Christmas should be joyful for kids, meaning everyone deserves a toy. Host a charity toy drive and invite people to drop off toys for kids in need.
Make the toy drive part of a party to get everyone in a festive mood. Consider upgrading the toy drive with a DJ, a photo booth, giveaways, and plenty of entertainment.
Interactive festive event ideas
Get people on their feet and in the spirit with these hands-on festive party ideas. An interactive element to your event will make it more memorable and get your attendees excited to come to the next one you create.
19. Wreath-making workshop
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Let your attendees get their creative juices flowing with a wreath-making workshop. Provide all the materials needed (like twine, ribbon, pine cones, and more) and have experts on hand to answer any questions. Take inspiration from Gordon Castle Walled Garden’s Christmas Wreath Making workshop.
The workshop can be part of a bigger festive party or the main event. As an extra incentive, you can offer discounts or other giveaways as an appreciation gesture for attending.
20. Christmas carnival games
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Carnival games are a perfect way to get people moving and having a good time. From classic carnival games like the ring toss to festive-themed activities like a Santa bean bag toss, you can set up different party activities and fun game stations for your guests to enjoy.
21. North Pole train ride
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Let families enjoy a festive train ride like the Polar Express. Decorate a few trailers with festive features like string lights and pull them by a van or car to give attendees their sleigh-ride experience. Take them to see the area’s brightest light displays or just around town.
Cambridge Street Collective incorporates a sleigh ride as part of their bigger Christmas Disco with Santa event.
22. Festive candle-making
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Cost: 💸💸💸
Family friendliness: 👧👧
Let your guests light up the winter season with warm, scented candles! All you need to do is provide the necessary supplies like wax, wicks, and containers, then let people get creative with their own custom-made creations. You can even provide fragrance oils to make festive scents to add to the cosy winter theme.
23. Meet Santa
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One of the most classic Christmas party events is meeting Santa Claus. If you can, hire an experienced actor to play the role of Santa and have him roam around the event taking pictures with different groups of people.
You can also kick it up a notch by having kids write letters to Santa or setting up a small post office for attendees to send Christmas cards to their friends and family. Check out The Bentley’s Breakfast with the Real Santa event for some tips on how to execute a Santa meetup.
24. Festive photo booth
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A photo booth is a great Christmas party idea to ensure everyone has fun and comes away with a keepsake. To make it even more festive, have props like Santa hats, elf ears, reindeer antlers, and other Christmas-themed props for people to choose from.
You can also provide them with silly Christmas-themed signs or blank cards where they can write down special notes. Create a hashtag that will help you promote your events when guests post their pics to social media!
Musical Christmas event ideas
From Jingle Bells to Handel’s Messiah, the festive season is full of distinctive music that elicits feelings of peacefulness and nostalgia. Why not make it a centrepiece of your event? Here are some musical Christmas event ideas to get you inspired.
25. Christmas concert
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A Christmas concert is a festive way to bring people together so they can enjoy some peaceful music. Look into partnering with local musicians to provide a wide range of festive music or hire big-name acts if you have the budget like the Goldsmiths Choral Union’s Christmas Music Concert. You can even put a spin on Christmas classics like adding in a country theme to traditional Christmas songs.
25. Carolling singalong
Difficulty: 🎄
Cost: 💸
Family friendliness: 👧👧👧👧
Carolling is a timeless Christmas tradition that never fails to bring people together. Gather your guests and hold a carolling singalong with popular songs like Jingle Bells or Silent Night. If you have musical talent, consider having some of them take the lead in singing more challenging pieces.
26. Christmastime karaoke
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Some Carol-oke is a great way to get your attendees in the Christmas spirit. Make sure to have a selection of Christmas-themed songs for everyone to choose from. Twilight Productions took theirs to the next level by hosting a Merry Grinchmas – An Evening Of Comedy & Christmas Songs.
27. Fireside open mic
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Set up a microphone by a roaring fire (or a video of one) and let your guests show off their talents. Invite some of your more musically inclined attendees to perform Christmas tunes or cover classic festive songs. Make sure to offer gift cards or discounts to the performers to make it extra special.
29. Elves’ a capella show
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A cappella can bring a new twist on classic songs, so why not have a show with some elves? With the performers dressed up in the festive theme, everyone can get in the spirit. You could even use the opportunity to give classic songs a more modern spin to give your event an edge.
30. International winter song & dance class
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Show your community how other cultures celebrate the winter with an international winter song and dance class. Gather volunteers to teach different songs and dances from around the world, then invite everyone to join in.
Community-centred festive event ideas
The festive season is a great time to reach out and get to know the people in your neighbourhood, and a community Christmas event is a perfect way to bring everyone together. Celebrate the season with these community Christmas event ideas.
31. Polar bear swim
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Family friendliness: 👧👧
Bring community members into a bracing but fun event with a polar bear swim. Invite people of all ages to take a quick dip into the icy waters for a chance at winning a prize. For added fun, have everyone dress in festive costumes or do meditation like WanderWomen Scotland Ltd does in their Winter Solstice Celebration! Just make sure to bring hot drinks, blankets, and professionals who can assist anyone who gets too cold.
32. Mistletoe speed dating
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Winter’s the perfect time to cuddle, so help others find someone they can cuddle with! Invite singles to participate in a mistletoe speed-dating event. Not only is it a great way to start conversations, but it also gives people a chance to find someone special during the festive season.
33. Sledging day
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Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean your attendees should be stuck indoors. Gather some sledges and invite your guests to enjoy a day of sledging. It’s an easy way to get everyone outdoors, and it’s sure to be an exciting time for all involved!
You can set up a kids’ hill to make it fun for the entire family, or make it adults-only and give everyone a beer or a warming mulled wine.
34. Christmas costume party
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Invite people to parade around in their festive garments and let them show off their own unique, creative styles at your Christmas party. You can even have a costume competition (e.g., best dressed, most outrageous outfit, ugliest Christmas jumper) or have attendees dress in regional festive attire and celebrate the diverse cultures they represent.
35. Christmas play
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A Christmas play is a quintessential event that can involve the whole community. Choose a classic like A Christmas Carol or a modern rendition like The Grinch.
Bonus points if you can bring a unique spin to the performance, the way Gerald Charles Dickens, the writer’s great-great-grandson, performs A Christmas Carol with Cambria Pines Lodge every year.
36. Snowball fight & fort building
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Get everyone together to build some snow forts and have a snowball fight! Not only is it sure to be a fun time, but it also encourages kids to get creative with their fort designs. For the snowball fight, make sure that everyone plays clean and that the kids have fun without getting too competitive.
How to make your festive events stand out
These events are not just about fundraising or having fun, but bringing people together, fostering relationships, and creating lasting memories. With Eventbrite, you can take these events to the next level.
By streamlining the planning process, making ticket selling and distribution simple, and enabling efficient communication between organisers and attendees, Eventbrite makes creating great events easy.
