The holiday season is a fantastic time to bring some festive fun into the office! Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or just looking to boost team morale, incorporating games can make your workplace celebration more enjoyable and engaging. From icebreakers to team-building activities, here are some fun office games to play over the holidays that are sure to spread cheer and create lasting memories.
1. Holiday Trivia
Why: Holiday trivia is a great way to test your team’s knowledge about festive traditions, history, and pop culture. It’s fun, educational, and encourages friendly competition.
How to Play: Create a list of holiday-themed trivia questions covering topics like classic holiday movies, famous holiday traditions, and historical facts. Divide participants into teams and see who can answer the most questions correctly. Award small prizes to the winning team for added excitement!
2. Secret Santa Gift Exchange
Why: Secret Santa is a classic holiday game that adds an element of surprise and fun to your office festivities. It’s a great way to foster camaraderie and give thoughtful gifts.
How to Play: Set a budget for the gifts and have each participant draw a name from a hat to determine who they will be buying for. Encourage creativity with gift ideas and consider adding a theme to make it more interesting. Reveal the Secret Santa identities at the end of the gift exchange for added fun.
3. Holiday Pictionary
Why: Holiday Pictionary is a lively and entertaining game that gets everyone involved. It’s a great icebreaker and can lead to lots of laughs and memorable moments.
How to Play: Prepare a list of holiday-themed words or phrases (e.g., “snowman,” “Christmas tree,” “New Year’s Eve”). Divide participants into teams and take turns drawing the items on a whiteboard or large pad while their teammates guess what they’re drawing. Set a timer for added excitement!
4. Christmas Charades
Why: Christmas Charades is a classic game that’s perfect for holiday gatherings. It encourages creativity and spontaneity while keeping the atmosphere light and festive.
How to Play: Write down holiday-related activities, characters, or items on slips of paper (e.g., “decorating a tree,” “Santa coming down the chimney”). Have participants take turns drawing a slip and acting out the word or phrase without speaking. The other players guess what it is, and the team with the most correct guesses wins.
5. Ugly Sweater Contest
Why: An ugly sweater contest adds a fun and fashionable twist to your holiday celebration. It’s a great way to get everyone into the holiday spirit and showcase their creativity.
How to Play: Encourage everyone to wear their most festive (and perhaps tacky) holiday sweaters. Have a fashion show where participants can strut their stuff, and then vote on categories like “Most Creative,” “Funniest,” and “Best Overall.” Award small prizes or certificates to the winners.
6. Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Why: A holiday scavenger hunt adds an element of adventure to your office party. It encourages teamwork and exploration while incorporating festive themes.
How to Play: Create a list of holiday-themed items or clues that participants need to find around the office. Divide everyone into teams and set a time limit for finding the items or solving the clues. The team that finds the most items or solves the most clues wins a prize.
7. Festive Bingo
Why: Festive Bingo is an easy and enjoyable game that can be adapted to fit various holiday themes. It’s perfect for larger groups and provides a fun way to engage everyone.
How to Play: Create Bingo cards with holiday-themed words or phrases (e.g., “hot cocoa,” “mistletoe,” “Elf on the Shelf”). Distribute the cards and call out the items randomly. The first person to complete a line (or the entire card) wins a prize. Consider offering small holiday-themed prizes for winners.
8. Holiday Karaoke
Why: Holiday Karaoke brings music and fun into your office celebration. It’s a great way to let loose, showcase your singing talents, and enjoy holiday classics.
How to Play: Set up a karaoke machine or use a karaoke app with a selection of holiday songs. Encourage participants to sing their favorite holiday tunes and cheer each other on. You can even have a mini talent show with awards for the best performances.
9. Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest
Why: A cookie decorating contest combines creativity with delicious treats, making it a fun and tasty holiday activity.
How to Play: Provide plain cookies, frosting, sprinkles, and other decorating supplies. Set up a decorating station where participants can create their own cookie designs. Have judges or a vote to determine the most festive and creative cookies. Enjoy the decorated cookies together as part of the celebration.
10. Holiday Memory Sharing
Why: Sharing holiday memories allows everyone to connect on a personal level and adds a warm, nostalgic touch to your office party.
How to Play: Invite participants to share their favorite holiday memories, traditions, or stories. You can do this in a round-robin style or use prompts to guide the sharing. It’s a great way to learn more about your colleagues and celebrate the holiday season together.
Conclusion
Incorporating fun office games into your holiday celebrations is a fantastic way to boost team morale, foster camaraderie, and create lasting memories. From holiday trivia and charades to cookie decorating and karaoke, these games add a festive touch to your office party and ensure that everyone has a great time. Embrace the holiday spirit and let the games begin!
