Good Christmas party entertainment turns a meal and a few drinks into the night everyone talks about in January. Organising the office do and hosting the family face the same problem, really: a mixed crowd, a lot of festive expectation, and a calendar that fills up faster than any other month.
We've split these ideas into two halves, one for workplace parties and one for gatherings at home or in a hired room, because what works for 80 colleagues in a hotel isn't what works for twelve relatives in a living room. At the end you'll find practical tips on timing and booking.
Office Christmas party ideas
The office party has to work for the person who loves Christmas and the one who'd rather be anywhere else. The best entertainment gives people a reason to talk, then gets out of the way.
A festive quiz. Mix Christmas trivia with rounds about the company, such as baby photos of the management team or guessing the year a product launched. Teams of mixed departments keep it sociable.
Roaming magic during drinks. A Christmas party magician works the room while people arrive, which is when awkwardness is at its worst. It's a cracking way to get a group of strangers laughing together within minutes.
A secret Santa with a rule. Set a low spending limit and a theme, such as 'something from a charity shop' or 'something beginning with the person's initial'. The unwrapping becomes the entertainment.
A short after-dinner show. A comedy magician or mind-reading act of around half an hour gives the whole room a shared moment before the dancing. It also fills the slightly flat stretch after the plates are cleared.
Casino tables. Fun-money roulette and blackjack suit people who don't dance. Prizes for the biggest winner keep the competitive ones happy.
A Christmas jumper or fancy-dress prize. Costs nothing, and it gives the camera-shy something to talk about.
Ideas for daytime and smaller work teams
Not every team wants a late night. A Christmas lunch with a short activity often gets better attendance, especially from people with family commitments or long journeys home.
Try a wreath-making or cookie-decorating workshop, a festive escape room, or a long lunch with table magic between courses. A smaller team can also book a private room at a restaurant and bring in a single entertainer for an hour, which feels special without the cost of a full venue.
Family and friends Christmas party ideas
At home, the entertainment needs to cross generations. The aim is something grandparents, teenagers and small children can all join in with.
Classic party games. Charades, the hat game, Pictionary and 'who am I' sticky notes still work because they need no kit and anyone can play. Appoint one person as host so it doesn't descend into chaos.
A magician for the whole family. A performer who can pitch magic at both children and adults makes a family party feel like an event. Be clear about ages when you enquire, as a show for young children is quite different from close-up magic for adults.
A carol singalong. Print lyric sheets or put them on the TV, and let someone with confidence lead. If anyone plays an instrument, give them the job.
A festive film corner. Set up a quiet room with blankets and a Christmas film for younger children or anyone who needs a break from the noise.
A white elephant gift swap. Everyone brings a wrapped gift, and players can either open a new one or steal one already opened. It gets competitive very quickly.
New Year and Boxing Day parties
The period between Christmas and New Year is surprisingly good for parties because people are off work and looking for something to do. Boxing Day gatherings suit relaxed entertainment such as a games afternoon or a buffet with a magician.
New Year's Eve is different: it's one of the busiest nights of the year for performers and venues, and many charge more. If you want live entertainment that night, start asking early in the autumn.
When to book Christmas entertainment
December weekends, and especially the Fridays and Saturdays in the first three weeks, are the busiest dates of the year for entertainers. Many performers will be booked for those nights well before the autumn. Midweek dates and early December or January parties are easier to secure and sometimes cheaper.
If you're flexible on date, say so in your enquiry. You'll often get more choice by moving a party from a Friday to a Thursday than by widening your budget. Once you've got a venue and a rough date, request a quote and we'll tell you who's free.
Small touches that make a big difference
Think about the end of the night as much as the start. Arrange taxis in advance, have water and food available later on, and make sure the music doesn't just stop abruptly when the bar closes.
For office parties, a short thank you from a senior person, kept to a couple of minutes, often matters more to staff than any act you book. Keep it short and mention what the team actually achieved this year.
