30 Office Party Ideas to Energise Your Team
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- Updated: 13th October 2023
Are your employees looking a little run down? As many as 70% of office workers in the UK have experienced burnout or extreme stress in the past year. Your best employees are working harder than ever to keep your company afloat against challenging odds.
If there was ever a time to throw an incredible office party in their honour, this is it!
A great office party is as unique as its guest list, with no single theme or venue serving as a one-size-fits-all solution. Thus, we've compiled this list of unique office party ideas to suit any work squad! We've included inspiration ranging from intimate in-office celebrations to outdoor blowouts for the whole family to ensure you find something to inspire your staff shindig.
If you're eager to pull those employees back from the brink of burnout, read on to discover thirty ideas for a fun-filled party at work!
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Musical Office Party Ideas
Did you know that there's a direct link between music and memory? If your goal is to throw a memorable party, hack your staff member's brains by throwing a musical bash! Whether you hire a band or let your employees serve as the stars, no one will be able to forget these rocking work events!
Staff Talent Show
You can learn tons about your staff when you turn your office party into a staff talent show! Rent a venue, hire someone to run the lights, and you'll be seeing your meekest employees in a new light - literally! Have a beloved work personality serve as the MC and allow your multi-talented family of workers to strut their stuff to thunderous applause!
Jazz Band Performance
Dancing is notable as an outlet for stress reduction, so turn an ordinary Friday into an occasion by bringing in a jazz band! Encourage your staff to shut down their stations, enjoy a cocktail, and dance out the stress of a long, productive week! You can even bring in a professional bartender for a surprise happy hour they'll never forget!
Bandeoke Bash
You know your team is full of superstars, so why not allow them to prove it by singing live with a professional band? Bandeoke is the latest party craze, combining the tipsy fun of video karaoke with live performers! Your employees will love loosening their ties and stepping up to perform with the support of an all-star band behind them!
Acoustic Musician
If you're seeking a lower-key way to turn an ordinary day at the office into something special, consider planning an event with an acoustic musician. It's one of our favourite options for in-office parties because the sound will transform your space into a dynamic music venue. An acoustic musician provides the perfect accompaniment to a staff lunch or breakfast, including coffee and pastries from a local patisserie.
Larger Office Party Ideas
The more employees you have, the harder you need to work to make sure they feel appreciated as individuals. One of the best ways to do it is by throwing a large blow-out bash, often outside the office, to accommodate the whole team. Find a great venue and try one of these festive party themes.
Movie Night Bash
When you're celebrating with a large group, you need big entertainment! An all-staff movie night allows you to gather a crowd and enjoy a relaxing evening with no responsibilities.
Rent a projector for an outdoor movie night under the stars and have families bring blankets or chairs from home. In colder weather, you can also rent out a local cinema. Whatever you do, be sure to provide freshly popped popcorn and plenty of cinema snacks to enjoy during the film!
Casino Night
A casino night or Monte Carlo night theme is a way to keep a large staff engaged during a party. Include everything from table games to high-stakes bingo to keep every staffer busy during the night's festivities! Of course, you can complete the ambience by bringing in a swinging jazz quartet to ensure even those who don't gamble can dance the night away!
Taco Night Fiesta
Who doesn't love Taco Tuesday? Serving a crowd is easy when you offer a do-it-yourself taco bar, complete with all the fixings! Serve some frozen margaritas to help your stressed-out staff take a load off and cut loose!
For cultural flair, hire a mariachi band to play throughout the event. This roaming ensemble will flit from table to table. No one will feel left out, even at a massive event!
Hawaiian Luau
In Hawai'i, ohana means family, and you can make your employees feel like part of one big ohana by throwing a staff luau! A traditional luau includes an outdoor pig roast, but any barbeque will do the trick! Hand out colourful floral leis and hire a roaming acoustic band to wander the grounds as your staff pigs out!
Dance Party
When all else fails, dance! Dancing releases endorphins, which help relieve stress after a busy day in the office! All you need is a dance floor to host a party that will get the whole crew on their feet, leaving the overwhelming work week behind!
The key to the best office dance party is a function band that knows how to keep a crowd moving! Consider a decade-themed event, such as a 90s party with a nostalgia-packed 90s tribute band. Give out some favours that evoke the era - you'll have the whole office rocking all night long!
Great Gatsby Party
Your hard-working, dedicated team of employees deserve the finer things in life. A gilded, jazz-age affair inspired by roaring 20s decadence might be just the thing for an office full of dreamers! Hire a postmodern jazz band to play today's biggest hits in a jazzy style to keep everyone moving, shaking, and singing along throughout the night!
Outdoor Office Party Ideas
If all of your employees work inside the office, they are probably eager for some fresh air! Studies show that just thirty minutes spent outdoors can boost employee productivity! Help the team destress with an active celebration that helps them recharge, refresh, and return ready to take on the world!
Office Olympics
Every employee in the office deserves a gold medal, but it can be a blast to make them work for one at an outdoor Olympics-themed field day party! Secure an outdoor space and plan events like a three-legged race, tug-of-war, obstacle course, and baton relay. Staff members can earn points for their team, with successful teams walking away with a prize (or bragging rights) at the end of the day!
Office Carnival
If your staff consists of folks with young families, it's wise to throw a party that allows them to bring the kids along. A carnival, complete with plenty of games, prizes, and sugary sweets, is a fun way to spend an evening in celebration. Be sure to rent a dunk tank so employees can release their stress by dunking their managers, bosses, or supervisors!
Office Garden Party
If you work in a more casual environment, or even remotely, it can be a nice change to allow your staff to dress to impress! A classy garden party with champagne, hors d'oeuvres, and live classical musicians offers a refreshing change of pace. Hold the event in a beautiful natural place and allow your employees the luxury of casually mingling, dancing, and relaxing.
Grill and Chill
When the weather is fine, bring the kitchen outside and grill up enough tasty food to feed the whole crew! A grill and chill party can be an after-hours affair or a casual way to say thanks in the middle of an ordinary work day. Set up some popular lawn games and allow your staff to spread out with a brew in hand.
Pool Party
There's nothing more stifling than spending a day in the office when the sun is shining! Invite your staff to trade their suits for some trunks and dive into a pool for the perfect outdoor get-together! Show appreciation by ordering a few pizzas and filling a cooler with beers.
Entertaining Office Party Ideas
After another day of doing the same old job, your employees are eager to encounter some new experiences! The most entertaining event ideas allow staff members from different departments to work together, get to know one another, and enjoy something unique.
An entertainment-focused event is a great way to embrace your group's blend of preferences and interests to create a custom-tailored celebration that embraces who they are.
Boss Roast
How do you really feel about the boss? A boss roast allows well-meaning staff members to show off their observational humour chops while throwing a designated supervisor under the bus! This event goes best if you hire a professional comedian to MC and keep everything above board.
Staff Awards Night
Sometimes the best way to say "thank you" is to notice. An awards banquet is a simple way to reward your employees for going above and beyond. Each award is an opportunity to express your appreciation for the unique gifts and talents they bring to your team.
Of course, there's time for fun, too! Consider giving out funny awards, such as staff superlatives, to keep the tone light and fun! When you've given the last award, invite a band on stage and end the night with a dance party!
Escape Room Party
For a small, close-knit staff team, there is no challenge more rewarding than completing an escape room! An escape room facility will host your event, setting up a timed room full of collaborative puzzles. All you have to do is show up, work together, and then celebrate your victory!
Most escape room experiences last about an hour, so you should plan to hit the pub or a restaurant afterwards!
Pub Quiz Night
Sometimes the key to relaxation is kicking back with a pint. You can keep your employees' brains in check by hosting an all-staff pub quiz night at your local bar (or even at the office)! Form a staff team and hit up the nearest established trivia night, or have employees compete head-to-head in a trivia showdown for the ages!
Show your staff you care by offering drink tickets or just covering the tab. The event will feel much more celebratory when they don't feel like they're pinching pennies to pay for their next pint!
Murder Mystery Dinner
A theatrical group of employees calls for a dramatic event! Bring a murder mystery troupe to entertain the staff during a dinner party. They're experts at getting everyone involved in an immersive experience, complete with costumes, clues, and plenty of humour!
You can host the dinner party at a local restaurant or bring in a feast and hold it at the office. You can even forego the party company and host the performance yourself. Be sure to have a few ringers on your staff to deliver award-winning performances!
Minute to Win It Challenge
Not every party needs to be a blowout bash. Sometimes the best office events take place right at your desk! A minute to win it party allows employees to compete in bite-sized challenges within a very tight timeframe, breaking up the day in a silly and satisfying manner.
A minute to win it event is a low-cost, low-time commitment way to help add some lightness to a stressful week. Award some worthwhile prizes to show your appreciation.
Office Comedy Night
There is a link between laughter and stress reduction, so treat your burned-out staff to a comedy night to help them get their joy back! Head to a local comedy club or hire a stand-up comedian to perform a set at the office. If you're daring, you can make space for your most outgoing employees to try out their tight fives for the crowd!
Jokes are funnier when you've had some liquid with your lunch, so be sure to feed and water your staff!
Pyjama Party
You've probably heard your exhausted employees say that they can't wait to get home to their pyjamas at the end of a long day. You can create a fun, relaxed vibe by throwing an office pyjama party! Encourage staff to wear their cosiest ensemble, complete with slippers and robes, and spend the day watching movies, eating junk food, and relaxing.
Paint and Sip
They say everyone's an artist, but when you're working a 9-5 job, you might not have time to prove it! A paint and sip party allows staff to enjoy wine or spirits and learn to paint a work of art. An instructor will offer step-by-step guidance until everyone in attendance has completed a themed painting they're proud to hang on the wall.
As paint and sip continues to catch on, you can find all sorts of crafts and projects in this format. Instead of painting, your team might assemble succulent centrepieces, arrange flowers, create candles, or knit a chunky blanket. Whatever you choose, accept the opportunity to get creative as a team and make something beautiful!
Delicious Office Party Ideas
Even if you have the most radically diverse team of staff members on earth, we're willing to bet they still have one thing in common: they won't turn down a free meal! Food has the power to connect human beings across cultures and unite teams, even in times of high stress. Placing food at the centre of your celebration will ensure a lively time full of fond memories and new taste experiences!
Wine and Cheese Night
Sometimes the best meal isn't a meal at all! Provide plenty of quality wine paired with delicious cheese and offer the time and space for your staff to enjoy the complex smells and flavours. It can be fun to bring in a sommelier to host the event and answer questions.
If guests remain hungry after nibbling on their gruyere, offer a charcuterie spread full of meats, fruits, and nuts. These aesthetically pleasing, protein-packed entertaining boards are all the rage at classy affairs. You can also assemble a dessert board to maintain the finger food theme throughout the event!
If you want to class things up further, hiring a solo harpist to add some elegant ambience can take a simple event to the next level.
A Potluck Dinner
For a family-style celebration, centre your incredible staff! When each staff member brings a home-cooked dish to the potluck, it provides opportunities to talk about home, culture, tradition, and family. Your team will enjoy feasting on a broad selection of dishes while they kick back, chat, and learn more about the people around them.
After-dinner dancing adds another touch of whimsy to a warm, community-centred event! Hire a professional singer to set the tone and get everyone dancing off their pudding!
Ice Cream Social
Who needs a four-course dinner when everyone is thinking about dessert anyway? An ice cream social is a simple, whimsical way to invite conversation, creativity, and joy into the workplace.
All it takes are a few tubs of ice cream and a suite of delectable toppings. Before long, everyone in the office will be beaming from ear to ear! You can add a touch of 1950s soda shoppe flair by hiring a 50s rock n' roll band to play during your party.
Afternoon Tea
An afternoon tea party is the perfect office treat when you need to include something for everyone. From savoury finger sandwiches to bite-sized sweets, everyone can find something to love during a tea service! If you have a lot of mums working in your office, it's a lovely way to say thank you around Mother's Day in particular.
For a unique tea with an alternative elegance, hire an electric string quartet to play during your event. These edgy ensembles offer an eclectic performance that won't blend into the background!
Staff Brunch Outing
There's nothing in the world like brunch. It takes the best of two cuisines and smashes them together, then serves them during a time of day that allows for a lazy morning. Plus, who doesn't love a cocktail first thing in the AM?
A brunch party allows you to treat your employees to some of the best local gastronomy in a relaxed atmosphere, with plenty of room to chat and mingle. They can get buzzed, enjoy sweet and savoury offerings, and even listen to a relaxing acoustic performance.
Instead of dreading Sunday due to the upcoming work week, they'll look forward to this staff gathering. It might even become a tradition!
Gourmet Food Truck Crawl
Some of the best food in the UK is being prepared and served out of gourmet food trucks on the side of the road. You can create a unique, casual party experience by gathering a fleet of restaurants-on-wheels and allowing your staff to sample their offerings. Food trucks sell everything from elevated junk food to delicate desserts, so you can offer a multi-course meal without doing any dishes!
Hire an indie party band to set the tone. Your crew can lounge outdoors, enjoy unique culinary offerings, and take a break from their day job while listening to live music al fresco. Set up a few lawn games - your laid-back party will run itself!
An Office Party for Every Crowd
Every office is unique, and you deserve to celebrate your hardworking staff with a spirited bash as unprecedented as they are! The best office party will reflect the interests and affinities of your employees, making them feel genuinely appreciated. All the ideas on this list can serve as the jumping-off point for a staff celebration your coworkers will never forget!
Every idea on the list only gets better when you add the dynamic stylings of a live band! From soloists to large ensembles, Bands for Hire has the act you need to make your wildest office party ideas a reality! Reach out today to book the band that will turn your office engagement into the reward your hard-working staff members deserve!
