Have you ever thought of throwing a work New Year’s Eve party at the office? There seem to be two camps for how most of us celebrate New Year’s Eve. The first? Those who fall asleep on the couch before the ball drops. And the other? Folks who want to bring in the new year with a bang.
But what about the folks who want a taste of both? As in, New Year Activities for employees that are sure to suit everyone?
No matter if your company is traditional, hybrid, or remote, you don’t want to miss an opportunity to celebrate this past year’s accomplishments and all the new initiatives and plans yet to come with your team.
So, we’ve compiled a list of 10 must-know work new year gathering ideas sure to excite everyone on your team. Ready to plan your NYE bash? Let the countdown begin in 3…2…1…!
Why Does Throwing a New Year Celebration in Office Matter?
Closing out the year can feel draining. Maybe you have a to-do list a mile long. Budgets are due. And maybe you and your team are exhausted, too.
But a new year on the horizon means new beginnings. It’s a time of reflection, but also anticipation for what’s to come. No matter how the year is going, there’s always something to celebrate.
It’s critical to close the year on a positive note – and in a fun way! Here are some of the top reasons you’ll want to throw a 2025 work New Year’s Eve party for your team:
- Boosts morale
- Reinforces your company’s acknowledgment and appreciation for their hard work
- Drives motivation
- Strengthens your company culture
- Leaves a positive stamp on the past year’s performance
- Fortifies team building
- Builds hope and excitement for the company’s future
10 New Year Gathering Ideas for Work
No matter where your team lives, you can use most of these NYE party ideas at a face-to-face bash or an online celebration!
1. Host Make-it-to-Midnight Talent Competition
Your employees are talented and, no doubt, perform well at their jobs. But what you may not know is the hidden talents lurking in the ranks.
Host a Make-it-to-Midnight talent competition to spotlight their talents. You may have a superstar singer or an accomplished pianist on your hands. By hosting a talent competition, you’ll encourage them to step into the spotlight and be their full selves. That can go a long way in your company’s mission to make a more inclusive workplace!
2. Schedule a Costume Countdown Contest
Dressing up isn’t just for kids. Throw a costume countdown contest for your team. Not only will this build morale, but it will also foster a valuable soft skill–their creativity!
You can take several approaches to plan a costume contest. Here are our favorites:
- Set a theme for the contest (e.g., 1920’s, Mardi Gras, etc.), or keep it a free-for-all and let them choose!
- Create custom categories– Most Creative Costume or The Most Timeless, etc.
- Sweeten the deal with coveted prizes like cash awards, restaurant gift certificates, weekend getaways, company swag, and more.
- Avoid sitting on the sidelines–you’ll want to join them in the fun!
3. Distribute Swag at the Stroke of Midnight
If you want to keep the festivities low-key, without contests, and so on, consider giving out swag to all of the attendees. Who doesn’t like a new travel coffee mug or a sweatshirt? Receiving new swag can promote your company values while showing that you appreciate their efforts over the last year.
Besides, your employees are your greatest ambassadors in the community, too. So, when they wear a fleece pullover with your corporate logo, it’s also free promotion and advertising.
4. Look at the Big Picture
Starting the New Year off strong is important for every company. And this is by far one of our favorite New Years office activities In the Big Picture, your group produces a giant mural made up of many separate canvasses. First, small teams collaborate to complete their own sections. Once finished, all sections are assembled to reveal the full masterpiece. You can hang this mural up somewhere in your office space to serve as a reminder of the goals you want to achieve and that it takes every member of the team to make those goals possible.
5. Throw an End-of-Year Praise and Awards Party
The end of the year means closing a chapter on what your team’s accomplished. That shouldn’t be a quiet event! Instead, celebrate your team’s noisemakers with an end-of-year awards ceremony!
Here are a few ways to show your appreciation and reward a job well done:
- Create an Employee Spotlight page on your website acknowledging their hard work.
- Offer end-of-year bonuses to every team member.
- Single out your highest producers, your most motivated or inspiring, or your most effective leaders with a plaque, monetary award, or company swag.
6. Resolve to Host a Virtual Escape Room
Similar to adding vegetables to a kid’s smoothie, your team’s New Year’s Eve party can involve learning and team development experiences, too. If your team’s remote, consider ringing in the new year by hosting a virtual escape room like Escape The Blizzard.
Not only is a virtual escape room fun, but it also fosters healthy competition, encourages logical thinking and effective communication, and improves team bonding. Those are all hard and soft skills they’ll take with them into the new year!
7. Clink to a Virtual Happy Hour
As the song goes, “We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet, for the sake of auld lang syne…”
For the employees who prefer to curl up on the sofa in their pj’s, hosting a virtual happy hour is a fun way to include them in the festivities in a low-key way. A Virtual Holiday Happy Hour Kit can deliver the fun right to their doorstep.
Each team member will receive a cocktail or mocktail kit, complete with fresh ingredients, spirits, and mixers to stir up drinks that will get them in the spirit! Hosted by a trained mixologist, a virtual happy hour can serve as an icebreaker for your New Year’s party, and get everyone energized for new beginnings.
8. Party it up Online with a Unique Experience
Throw a 2025 New Year’s Eve kickoff party like no other and give your team an out-of-the-box celebration they’ll remember.
Consider ringing in the new year with a unique experience. Ice Sculpting is an experience that your team has likely never experienced. Ice sculptors can turn a 300-pound block of ice into your team’s mascot or corporate logo–or anything else your team might fancy. And your team gets to try it themselves!
9. Foster a Festive Foodie Competition
When we think of a New Year’s Eve party, it’s difficult not to think of lush spreads of food. The escargots, the cheese boards, charcuterie platters, the fondue fountains, and rows of decadent desserts.
When COVID arrived on our doorsteps, many of us spent time honing our culinary skills. You likely have culinary creatives on your team –or, at the very least, foodies who love friendly competition and good food!
Consider throwing a festive foodie competition or a unique culinary event for your team. This is a fun new year gathering idea to hone their creative skills and engagement. And as for the results? Everyone can enjoy a taste of victory!
10. Toast to New Team Goals!
An hour before the clock strikes midnight is an opportunity for you to lay out the team goals and initiatives you all plan to tackle in 2025. Do you plan to get the team more involved in charitable causes in the local community? Or is building a more diverse and inclusive work environment and top priority?
Before the ball drops, pass around a flute of bubbly and invite your team to raise their glasses to the company’s 2025 goals and initiatives. This is a way to give them a preview of what’s to come and get them hyped up about it, too!
And make sure to add music to your celebration! Here are some songs to get your Work New Year’s Eve party work playlist off and running:
- Funky New Year, Eagles
- 1999, Prince
- Dancing Queen, ABBA
- Raise Your Glass, P!nk
- Celebration, Kool and the Gang
- Dancing on the Ceiling, Lionel Richie
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Whitney Houston
- 24K Magic, Bruno Mars
- This Will Be Our Year, The Zombies
- I Gotta Feelin’, Black Eyed Peas
Ready to Plan Your Team’s NYE Party Before the Ball Drops?
It’s never too early to think about your team’s New Year’s resolutions. As the year comes to a close try not to get bogged down in all of the to-dos on your list. No doubt, you all have a lot to celebrate. A work New Year’s Eve party can show your team you appreciate their hard work, and that you’re excited to see what 2025 will bring!
So, don’t drop the ball on NYE party planning before the ball drops. Plan a party they’ll never forget. As you all countdown to midnight, you’ll be sure to witness a lot of fun, high energy, and ultimately a team building experience worth toasting to. Check out all of our winter team building activities to cheers to 2025!
