Virtual Christmas Party Ideas for 2023
Top 23 Virtual Christmas Ideas for Companies & Teams
There’s no doubt that the shape of company Christmas parties will be a little bit different this year. Christmas is the perfect opportunity to do something fun, entertaining and engaging for staff especially with a virtual party. Done right it can be the ideal time to thank staff, wrap up the year, put work to one side, say thank you, and just have some good old fashioned fun!
To help we’ve picked our top virtual Christmas party ideas to help get the festive spirit under way for 2023.
How do virtual Christmas parties work?
We’ve taken our most popular conventional Christmas events and adapted them to be run in a virtual environment. Perfect for employees from all over the world to come together, take part and enjoy themselves without the travel.
All events are hosted by a fun, upbeat compere, who will run the show, keep everyone entertained and engaged, and make the entire experience slick, upbeat and engaging.
What if my team are Zoomed Out?
We know the feeling…after nearly a year of video rather than face-to-face contact, the last thing people want is ‘another Zoom meeting’. To combat this all our virtual Christmas parties involve huge levels of participation. Each experience is very different to a normal Zoom session. You’ll notice the difference as soon as you login!
Top 23 Virtual Christmas Party Ideas
Christmas parties and events are a perfect way to bring your team back together in 2023. All of the below ideas are virtual, meaning you can bring everyone together without having to meet in one place. After all you can’t go without a Christmas party!
Virtual events mean that the event can be ran safely and suitable for the current pandemic.
1. Festive Chocolate Making
A virtual Christmas party that’s a real treat for the taste buds. Hosted by our master chocolatier, we’ll take you through the amazing journey of how chocolate goes from bean to bar. It’s then hands on with the ingredients as everyone designs creates & brands their very own unique box of Christmas themed chocolate delights. The event also includes the option of individuals receiving a custom pack with all ingredients, equipment and a surprise gift in the post in advance of your event.
2. Virtual Christmas Cocktail Making
Become the ultimate party host as you learn some very cool tricks & skills to mix a range of delicious great looking famous cocktails. Hosted from our virtual bar our mixologists give you an amazing demonstration of bar skills before we kick in to a range of fun rounds where everyone will learn how to mix famous cocktails such as Mojitos & Sex on the Beach. The final round hots up with a competition to see who can come up with their own award winning drink. This event also includes the option of a full cocktail kit including all required mixers, drinks, fresh fruits & glassware being posted to everyone in advance.
3. Christmas Virtual Murder Mystery
Who dunnit? That’s the ultimate question! We run two versions of our festive Murder Mystery events. One using a high tech Cluedo style app based game, the other with live virtual actors. Each experience tasks teams with the challenge of solving all kinds of clues, examining evidence & hunting for suspects to unravel the crime. Players work in mini teams to share ideas and information to try and work out who was the murderer, what was the murder weapon and what was the motive.
4. The Great Escape Room
A virtual Christmas event using the latest app based technology & amazing augmented reality. Teams go head to head in our virtual arena to battle it out to find hidden clues, complete puzzles, hunt for mystery information and unravel brain busting conundrums. The clocks ticking, the pressures on & the games masters watching. Who will be the first to successfully escape the room and take the win…?
5. Virtual Wine Tasting
Especially popular at Christmas time, our wine themed virtual Christmas party is a favourite for a lot of companies. Hosted by a professional wine expert, we’ll take you on a journey of taste and aroma with wines from around the world. In advance everyone receives a pack containing all the tasting materials and an amazing selection of different vintage wines. As well as being great fun & educational, this event is a great way to virtually socialise and enjoy a glass or two!
6. Festive Chef
There’s no better time to learn some amazing skills, and no better person to teach you than our Michelin Star Chef! We have a variety of cooking options from Christmas themed dishes, the great Bakeathon, 2-3 course meals, sushi making & even the stunning Molecular Gastronomy. We either send individuals a list of ingredients or why not let us send them a lovely pack of food, goodies and a mystery gift with everything they need for this amazing virtual cooking experience.
7. Virtual Horse Racing
Get ready for some serious fun and excitement as we bring all the thrills of horse racing direct to your screen. In a fun team head to head competition, players study the forms of each runner for each race before deciding how much fun money they want to bet and on which runner. Our live bookie will then take all bets before each amazing race is run. All races are taken from real events at real stadiums, so this is as close as you can get to the real thing!
8. Gameshow Bonanza
We’ve taken everything you know from the most famous game shows and mixed them into one fast paced, action packed, fully interactive, comedic hosted experience. In virtual teams, everyone goes head to head in a variety of hilarious rounds that promise to offer something for everyone. Laughter is guaranteed, and be warned, this is no ordinary quiz!
9. Task The Master
One of our favourite events for all year round, but even more fun with our festive twist. Inspired by the famous Task Master TV show, we bring this side splitting event to life, complete with a professional comedic host playing the role of the master. Everyone receives in advance a game pack with everything they need to play. Teams then go head to head in fun competition to try and crack a range of absolutely crazy challenges.
10. Deal or Not Real
Another TV inspired experience taken from the famous Deal or No Deal game show. Teams take part in a range of fun tasks and energizers in advance to win funds. They then enter the nail biting series of rounds against the banker to see which team has the nerves of steel to win the most money and take the win.
11. Festive Frenzy
Festive frenzy is one of our latest Christmas themed experiences. Loaded with all kinds of fun tasks, games and challenges, this virtual event is a great experience to create a real social scene.
Themed rounds include:
- Festive brain busters
- Individual and team photo and video challenges
- Collaborative challenges where you all come together at various points throughout the game to compete en masse
- Singing and laughter!
- Grand finale to crown your winning team
12. Musical Bingo
Like bingo? Like music? Then this could be for you. Musical Bingo is a pure fun fast paced version of normal bingo, but with music instead on numbers. It works well for Virtual Christmas parties where a pure social fun, relaxed experience is required.
Hosted by our professional comperes, we welcome everyone to the game, and explain the simple rules of play. Everyone receives a musical bingo card listing all the different songs and artists. We then pump up the wheels of steel as we flow through all kinds of music tracks from different genres and decades.
Recognise the song? Strike it off, and keep your ears peeled for the next tune! Just like normal bingo, there’s winners for two lines, three lines and of course the full house. This is a virtual Christmas party activity that will always bring fun laughter and energy to the table.
13. Virtual Charity Skateboard Build
If you’re looking for an virtual event that offers a heart-warming feel good factor, then our charity concept is ideal. The premise behind this experience is to benefit underprivileged children this Christmas. For some kids out there, Christmas isn’t the happy time we all know and love. This virtual experience enables you to give to an amazing cause and bring the magic of Christmas to lives of people who need it most.
In advance everyone receives a pack containing a kit to build a full size skateboard, art materials, tools, stencils and instructions. Guided by our live virtual hosts and artists everyone builds and decorates their very own unique skateboard. We then arrange for couriers to collect the finished items where they return to us for safety checks before they are wrapped and delivered to the designated charity.
14. Virtual House Party
Sit back, crack open a beer, pour a glass of wine and be prepared to have the most fun possible from a virtual Christmas party. In advance everyone receives a game pack in the post containing everything they need to play. Items are as random as a toilet roll, Sellotape, a small Tupperware box, dice and a lolly stick. They all have a roll to play!
As soon as you log in, our lively host welcomes you to the fun and explains the rules. Teams now go head to head on a range of hilarious challenges that will literally have you in stitches of laughter to watch and play. Imagine Celebrity Juice mixed with The Generation Game and you have House Party!
15. I’m Working From Home Get Me Outta Here!
Inspired by popular tv shows, this is our Christmas take on a jungle themed challenge where’s it’s your chance to pit yourselves against the celebrities and see if you’ve got what it takes to be crowned the kings and queens of the virtual office.
Another virtual Christmas event where teams receive packs in the post with everything they need to play. As soon as teams log in they’re thrust into a series of themed rounds in fun competition. One of our favourites for this event is ‘nominate’. If your team wins the jackpot, they get the chance to nominate a player from a competing team. Everyone receives edible critters in their posted packs. You can guess what comes next!
16. Virtual Wreath Making
Impress your guest at the table this year with your very own handmade Christmas wreath. This festive themed experience allows everyone to not only create an amazing masterpiece, but learn a new skill that you can use year-on-year.
You will receive your packs prior to the event. These packs contain everything that you need, including array of natural resources such as pine, foliage and dried fruit. Hosted by our wreath making expert, you’ll learn the full process before presenting to the rest of the group.
17. Virtual Murder In The Mountains
If you’re looking for an event with a twist this Christmas then Murder In The Mountains is the one for you. Whilst enjoying a winter ski trip on the mountains, disaster strikes. A huge avalanche happens leaving a dead body in the snow!
Whilst you’re taking refuge in an abandoned chalet, evidence starts to emerge which could be linked to a murder. This fully interactive themed virtual murder mystery experience will immerse you into an intriguing challenge that will have everyone on their edge of their seats.
18. Virtual Railroad Murders
You’re about to onboard a journey back to the roaring 1920s to solve a murder case that’s on the railway lines. It’s down to you to catch the killer and solve the crime before your train terminates at its final destination. Its suspected the killers are still aboard the and must be captured before they strike again.
Using the latest interactive map technology including augmented reality, your team will become mega detectives as to try and unravel the crime. The event is a race against time as the clock is ticking. Can your team solve this hideous crime before the train reaches its final destination?
19. Virtual Christmas Bake Off
Host by our Michelin Star chef, this event will allow you and your teams to create a variety of Christmas treats ready for the festive season.
Individuals will receive event packs in advance, which includes all the ingredients that they will need to make their culinary delights. Example bakes include Christmas Themed Cupcakes, Gingerbread Houses, Mince Pies, and our famous Christmas Pudding Chocolates! Will you be star baker?
20. Festive Around the World
Take your team on a virtual festive trip around the world, across 40,000 virtual miles whilst visiting 22 countries… that’s a lot of air miles! Starting in Argentina, each country contains a series of tasks & challenges to earn participants Travel Credits to make it to their next destination.
21. Virtual TV Quiz Mania
Get ready to be immersed into a world of virtual entertainment as we bring you the ultimate quiz / gameshow TV mash-up. Test your TV knowhow in our entertaining show that will see your teams going head-to-head through a selection of unique rounds including trivia, creative and photo / video challenges. Each upbeat interactive round will test your knowhow as you complete questions and tasks based on much loved TV favourites.
22. Virtual Quiz Through The Decades
Let us take you back in time with this trip down memory lane with some classic decades. Maybe you remember the Swinging Sixties or maybe the noughties. Your virtual journey through the decades starts with a step back in time to the 60s where players go head-to-head on three amazing rounds including trivia, creative tasks based on music, film, general trivia and gadgets from each decade as we move through the years.
23. Virtual Bear Grylls
Our Bear Grylls survival experience is an interactive team based activity that engages people working from home in a fully themed Bear Grylls adventure.
The event mirrors the focus of our live events but in a virtual arena hosted by Bear Grylls trained survival experts. But don’t worry, we won’t be lighting fires on the carpet.
PLANNING A 2023 CHRISTMAS PARTY? WHAT TO DO NEXT…
Visit our contact page and get in touch to discuss how GOTO Events can run your 2023 Virtual Christmas Party.
Our team will give you the right level of advice and options available to suit your group. We can also happily advise on alternative options for live Christmas events, and what the current government guidelines and regulations are.
For all of our corporate events and Christmas parties, we will ensure you get the right level of fun and entertainment in a safe, upbeat and controlled environment. All of our events have been tried and tested throughout the year, with participants enjoyment as the primary objective. We’ll help you see out 2023 with a bang!
GOTO Events experiences are all fully risk assessed and compliant with all government requirements. We are accredited with the industry standard Visit Britain ‘Good to Go’ policies.
Click here to contact us for help planning your 2023 Christmas Party.
6 Good Reasons to Host A Virtual Christmas Party
Cost Effective Packages
Understandably budgets may not be what they were in the past for Christmas parties. It’s been a tough and challenging time for a lot of companies, and Christmas is a tough time to be thinking about spending money. HOWEVER, our virtual Christmas party packages can be a lot more cost-effective than conventional events. Without the need to hire a static venue, and the cost of food & drinks, you can still hold an amazing fun experience for your teams for a fraction of the cost. There might even be something left in the pot for some beers & wine in the post!
Interactive & Engaging
Let’s face it, we can all get a bit “zoomed” out. At Christmas, people just want to let their hair down, forget work and have a good time with colleagues. It’s also a time to celebrate what everyone has achieved against the odds in 2023. All of our events purposely steer away from normal video conferencing formats. The activities, games and experiences are all very upbeat, interactive and engaging. Fun and laughter is the key ingredient, which the feedback from all the virtual team events we’ve run this year, has proved flows in abundance.
Stay Safe – Have Fun
With all the regulations in place it’s hard to know what will be possible this Christmas. By hosting a virtual Christmas party you will ensure the safety of your staff & teams, whilst still allowing them to switch off, relax and take part in a fun social group experience.
Involve Friends or Family
A lot of our virtual Christmas party package events are designed to include the option of people involving their friends or family. It can often add a great deal of comfort and satisfaction to see your company plan something that benefits your whole family.
Say Thanks & Boost Morale
What a year it’s been! We all thought it would be over by now, but we’re charging on as best we all can. Christmas is a time when companies say thank you to their staff with a good old fashioned knees up. A spirit lifting, rewarding and morale boosting experience is needed more than ever this year. Don’t cancel the fun. Contact our team to discuss all the different options available to see what would work best for you,
Enjoy A Drink or Two…
Good food and drink are often in abundance at Christmas parties. If we can’t bring you to the party, then let’s bring the party to you. We offer a whole host of food and drink packages which are delivered in advance to everyone’s homes. Enjoy some cold beers, mulled wine, or soft drinks options, alongside food ranging from table snacks to home buffets. Or why not conjure up your own delights with the addition of virtual cocktail making, or a virtual cookery / chocolate making experience hosted by a Michelin Star chef.
Make Your Virtual Christmas Party More Social
Include a hamper, party pack or gift delivered to everyone's homes in advance.
Make it feel like a Party
The addition of a party pack, hamper of gift, delivered to everyones homes prior to your event, can make all the difference to a virtual party. Not only does it make for a lovely present for everyone in advance, it adds a great social aspect to the experience.
We can start your session early so everyone can have some social time, crack open a beer, pour a nice glass of wine, and enjoy some sumptuous snacks.
Lots to Choose From
Our variety of hampers and party packs make sure there’s something for everyone. The nature of the gift really takes away the feel of work, and with the hand picked selection of food and drink you will always get lots of chat and interaction on all the different flavours.
Our selection ranges from simple pub snacks with beers, wines, prosecco and snacks, to more luxury hampers with more variety and themes such as Wine & Cheese, Gin Lovers or Prosecco Indulgence.
Something for Everyone
Our hampers and party packs offer something for everyone. We offer a full range of alcoholic and non alcoholic options as well as packs to cater for all dietary requirements such as vegan or vegetarian. We can also bespoke any range of hampers with a selection of hand picked items to suit your requirements.
How To Organise A Virtual Christmas Party
A guide on how virtual Christmas parties work
How to organise a virtual Christmas party
Virtual Christmas parties come in many different formats. Choosing the right style of event for your team is critical to get the most fun and engagement from the experience. For nearly all companies across the world 2023 will be the first year they have ever organised a virtual Christmas event or activity. It’s a leap of faith for everyone, so make sure to speak to our friendly team who will find out about your people and suggest the best style of experience for the group and culture.
Remember, not one size fits all. For example a finance team may well enjoy a very different style of experience to a competitive sales team.
4 steps to organising a virtual Christmas party
There’s 4 simple steps to organising your event:
1 – Speak to an experienced member of our team to talk about the nature of your company, the culture of your people & what style of previous Christmas parties have worked best in the past.
2 – We’ll then recommend and send you a selection of options for you to take away and share with colleagues
3 – Once you’ve decided what you think will work best, share your thoughts and we’ll give you our honest advise as to what we think will be the best event.
4 – Once you’ve chosen your preferred experience and date, our project management team will take care of the rest. We’ll send you everything you need in advance by email to forward to all participants and be on hand all the way in advance to support you and answer any questions.
Virtual hosts
All our virtual Christmas party events are presented by a virtual host / compere. The hosts are live, rather than pre recorded. Their role is to be the main face of your entire experience. As soon as everyone logs in, our host will welcome you all to the session and guide you through the event. There are different styles of hosts for different style of events. For example:
- Cookery Events – All our virtual cookery events are hosted by Michelin Star trained chefs. They will be the main lead, and also the main chef’s interacting with you throughout the experience of demos and hands on cooking.
- Cocktail Making – Again, live professional hosts, but this time our world class bar tender mixologists. As soon as you log into this session they kick off with an amazing demonstration of flaring skills that would put Tom Cruise to shame.
- Virtual App Based Games – These include the likes of our virtual escape rooms, virtual murder mystery and virtual around the world. Our hosts welcome everyone, explain the nature of the game & the rules, then split everyone off into mini virtual breakout rooms where they go head to head in fun competition. As they play our hosts dip in and out the different rooms to give commentary and updates on the scores.
- Virtual Quizzes & Game Shows – This is where we up the ante with the level of host. For these virtual Christmas events, the host runs the entire show, including all the different rounds. We have different levels of host, all with a very fun comedic approach.
Pre event information
Planning a virtual Christmas party can be a nerve-racking experience for the organiser. Our team will hold your hand through the entire experience, making it hassle-free and easy for you to enjoy the event as much as everyone else.
How many people can a virtual Christmas party run for?
There’s no real limit to the number of people that can take part in a virtual Christmas party activity, but some events lend themselves better than others to different numbers. For smaller more intimate numbers where you can easily see the other players on screen then our virtual gameshow style events work well such as Master of the Tasks.
For large group virtual events, the app-based experiences can run for any size group from 4 upwards. Some versions have the capacity to comfortably deal with numbers into the 1000’s.