Rikki B.
Rikki is a professional painter and therapeutic art coach.
10 Office Holiday Party Ideas in Tacoma & the South Sound Your Team Will Actually Enjoy
Planning the office holiday party sounds easy until you’re the person responsible for finding something everyone will actually want to do.
You need something fun, reasonably easy to organize, comfortable for different personalities and, ideally, something that gets people away from their desks and screens for a while.
If you’re planning a holiday party in Tacoma, Olympia, Puyallup or elsewhere around the South Sound, here are 10 ideas that put the focus where it belongs: spending some real time together.
1. Bring a Paint Party to Your Team
Instead of getting everyone to another event, bring the event to you.
A private paint party gives your team something to do together without requiring anyone to already be artistic. Everyone starts with the same blank canvas, follows along with an artist and ends the party with something completely their own.
It’s hands-on, screen-free and gives people plenty of time to talk and laugh while they paint.
Artvana private paint parties can come to your workplace, rented venue or favorite gathering spot throughout the South Sound. We bring the artist and painting supplies, so your group can focus on actually enjoying the party.
2. Plan a Cozy Dinner Somewhere New
Sometimes simple wins.
Instead of the usual restaurant everyone visits after work, choose somewhere your team hasn’t tried before. A private room, long communal table or cozy local spot can make an ordinary dinner feel much more intentional.
Add one rule: work talk isn’t required.
The point is getting to know the people you work with when nobody is trying to finish something before 5 PM.
3. Have a Holiday Game Night
Board games, trivia or a ridiculous team competition can work especially well for groups that already enjoy joking around together.
Keep the games accessible rather than overly competitive, divide into teams and add a few small prizes.
Bonus points for an award nobody asked for.
4. Create Something Together
Painting isn’t the only way to get hands-on.
Try wreath making, pottery, cookie decorating, floral arranging or another local workshop. Creative activities give people a natural way to interact without forcing everyone into awkward structured networking.
Nobody needs to be “creative” to participate. That’s part of the fun.
5. Do a Holiday Lunch Instead of an Evening Party
Not every employee wants another December evening commitment.
A festive lunch can be easier for parents, commuters and anyone whose December calendar is already overflowing. Cater something great, extend the lunch break and give everyone permission to actually stop working.
Sometimes time is the perk.
6. Turn Your Party Into a Give-Back Day
Spend part of your celebration doing something good together.
Your team might assemble donation kits, participate in a local volunteer project, collect gifts or choose an organization to support together.
Follow it with lunch, drinks or another relaxed activity and you’ve created a holiday gathering with a little more meaning behind it.
7. Host a Holiday Open House
For teams that want something flexible, turn the office into a casual holiday open house.
Bring in good food, create a few comfortable gathering areas, put on music and let people come and go within a set window.
This can be especially nice for larger workplaces where getting everyone to participate in one structured activity isn’t realistic.
8. Plan a No-Phones-for-an-Hour Activity
We’re not suggesting confiscating everyone’s phones at the door. That might be a little aggressive.
But choosing an activity that naturally makes people forget about them for a while? That’s different.
Cooking, painting, games, crafting or another hands-on experience gives everyone a reason to be where they actually are.
And honestly, an hour without Slack notifications might be the real holiday gift.
9. Let Your Team Help Choose
Stuck between several ideas? Ask.
Give everyone three realistic choices and let the group vote. You’ll learn something about what your team actually wants—and you’re much less likely to plan an elaborate event that half the office secretly wishes they could skip.
Keep the choices limited, though.
This is a holiday party, not a six-week committee project.
10. Make It About the Memory, Not the Agenda
The best holiday parties don’t necessarily have the biggest budget or the fanciest venue.
They’re the ones people remember because something happened together.
Someone painted a hilariously questionable tree. Someone discovered they’re weirdly good at trivia. The quiet coworker made everyone laugh. People stayed longer than expected because they were actually having fun.
That’s the part worth planning for.
What Makes a Good Office Holiday Party?
A good office holiday party gives employees an opportunity to connect outside their normal work routine. Activities that are inclusive, easy for beginners and allow time for conversation can work particularly well because participation doesn’t depend on athletic ability, specialized skills or knowing everyone in the room.
The goal doesn’t have to be an elaborate event.
Sometimes it’s simply giving people permission to stop working, put down their screens and do something together in real life.
Planning a Holiday Party in Tacoma or the South Sound?
If a creative, hands-on party sounds right for your group, Artvana brings private paint parties to workplaces and gathering spaces throughout Tacoma, Olympia, Lacey, Puyallup and surrounding South Sound communities.
We’ll bring the artist and painting supplies. You gather your people.
Frequently Asked Questions About Office Holiday Parties
What are some fun office holiday party ideas?
Fun office holiday party ideas include creative workshops, paint parties, game nights, team dinners, volunteer activities and hands-on experiences that give coworkers time to relax and connect outside of work.
What is a good holiday party idea for a small office?
Small teams often do well with activities that encourage conversation, such as a private paint party, shared dinner, creative workshop or game night. These activities can feel special without requiring a large venue or complicated planning.
What are some office holiday party ideas that aren’t just dinner?
Try a paint party, wreath-making workshop, trivia night, volunteer project, cooking activity or other hands-on experience. Activities give coworkers something to do together while still leaving plenty of time to socialize.
Can Artvana bring a paint party to our workplace?
Yes. Artvana brings private paint parties to workplaces, homes and gathering spaces throughout Tacoma, Olympia, Lacey, Puyallup and surrounding South Sound communities. The artist and painting supplies come to you.
