Virtual Holiday Parties: 7 Tips to Host an Amazing Event (Plus Ideas)

Chelle Peterson
decorating the christmas tree

The holidays are right around the corner, bringing with them the most festive time of the year. Holiday parties are a great way to reconnect with people and spend time having fun together, whether it’s remote colleagues, customers and clients, or family and friends.

But things sometimes prevent you from seeing one another in person, like the pandemic, living in different cities, or simply having scheduling conflicts.

So, if you want to host a holiday party this year but can’t get everyone together in the same place at the same time, don’t let that dampen your spirits!

We’ve got some tips for how to throw an unforgettable virtual holiday party plus a few festive ideas you can incorporate.

1. Pick a Date and Time

calendar on ipad tablet

First and foremost, you need to decide on a date and time for your event. For work parties, try to keep it to business hours. For friends and family, use your best judgment.

It’s wise to consider timezones when picking a time, though, so make sure to keep that in mind. 

2. Pick a Platform

zoom meeting

Next, you need to pick the right platform to host your virtual part. 

Some of the most common options include:

  • Zoom
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Hangouts 
  • Whereby

Generally, we’d recommend opting for either of the first three because they’re the most commonly used platforms out there. That means there’s a good chance your guests already have them set up.

That said, Whereby is a web-based video conferencing tool, so if you’ve got people joining your party who are less tech-savvy, they won’t have to download or install anything–they’ll just need to click a link. 

3. Make a Guestlist

guest book

Next up, make a (guest)list and check it twice. Make sure you’ve got everyone covered who you want to have in attendance. 

4. Send Out an Invitation

invitation cards and lantern

Once you’ve decided on your date, time, and guestlist, it’s time to send out an invitation (also known as a save-the-date) to everyone you’re inviting. 

You can do this using your calendar tool in Gmail or Outlook. But, if you want something more fun and engaging, or if you’re inviting people who you know probably don’t use virtual calendars, you can also send digital invitations through services like Paperless Post or Minted that can also track your RSVPs.

5. Make Sure Everyone’s Set Up

webcam on top of computer monitor

This might go without saying, but make sure everyone you’ve invited is set up to use the video conferencing platform you’ve chosen. It’ll make things a lot smoother on event day. 

6. Have an Agenda 

post it notes on the wall

It’s always nice to have an event agenda put together. For one, it lets everyone know what will be happening and when. But it also gives some structure to virtual events which can sometimes lack the formal “kick-off” that in-person events have. An agenda will spare everyone waiting around wondering what’s supposed to happen. 

7. Think of Fun Ways to Liven It Up

holding a gift for secret santa

Last but most certainly not least, think of activities and themes that’ll help liven up your virtual holiday party.

Here are a few ideas we love. 

Host a Secret Santa

Think you can’t host Secret Santa digitally? Think again. With a service like Elfster, you can actually create Secret Santa lists online and then share the items with each person. Then, they can get a head start at mailing out their gifts.

Decorate Together

You can have a little fun by decorating your homes or offices together on a video conference. This is a great way to bond and have fun in the holiday spirit, all while getting social. 

Holiday Happy Hour

2 wine glasses with christmas ornaments

The holiday season is all about indulging and enjoying your favorite foods and drinks. So, keep it simple and host a virtual holiday happy hour. 

Need inspiration? Check out these 47 other holiday cocktail recipes from Delish

Holiday Buzzwords 

Ever heard of Buzzwords? It’s a fun game to play in the background of your virtual office holiday party.  

The premise is simple: create a list of holiday-themed words and circulate it to your team. Each team member will pick one word and, every time they hear it, they’ll need to do a specific thing—such as take a sip of their drink or wave their hands in the air. 

Holiday-themed Buzzwords could include: 

  • Carol 
  • Snowman 
  • Elf 
  • Snow 
  • Miracle  
  • Chimney 
  • Dreidel 
  • Eggnog 
  • Gingerbread 
  • Grinch 

The possibilities are pretty much endless. 

Holiday Trivia 

There’s no shortage of holiday-themed trivia, and that means you can spend a whole lot time having fun and sharing laughs with trivia questions. 

This includes…

Question: What did the other reindeer not let Rudolph do because of his shiny red nose?

Answer: Join in any reindeer games

Question: How many ghosts show up in A Christmas Carol?

Answer: Four

Question: Where was baby Jesus born?

Answer: In Bethlehem

Question: The movie Miracle on 34th Street is based on a real-life department store. What is it?

Answer: Macy’s

Want more? Check out this list of 50 holiday trivia questions from Parade

Watch a Holiday Movie Together 

watching a christmas movie on a laptop

Just because you’re not together in person doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a holiday movie together with Teleparty. If you’re not familiar with Teleparty, think of this platform as Zoom built for watching movies and shows with friends and colleagues remotely. Teleparty is a browser extension that lets you watch Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO in sync with others. 

Whether you’re hosting for colleagues, clients, or family and friends, hosting a virtual holiday party is easy and fun. It’s just about planning it properly and picking the right ways to liven it up.


And if you’re looking for a fun workspace to make every day a little more enjoyable, get in touch with us today. Our team is available to speak with you.