Yes, Now is Time to Think About Your Holiday Events!
By Joan Burns, CSEP

With school back in session and football taking over the television on Monday night, the holidays are going to be here before we know it.  You should certainly take advantage of this upcoming festive time of year to host holiday events that celebrate associates, clients, donors, family and friends. But the thought of planning and executing a party of any sort can be overwhelming, especially during seemingly hectic months. And to make matters worse, availability for the dates you may want to hold your event are going fast!

Here are some ideas to think about no matter who you are planning the holiday event for!

• First of all decide on what your budget will allow you to spend on your event and the number of people who might be attending. This will determine on how much you can spend on a venue, food entertainment, gifts, etc. 

• Decide on a few dates that will work for you group, association or family and start calling now!  If you put down a deposit, make sure you understand if it refundable or not just in case something changes.

• If you are responsible for coordinating the company holiday party, look to alternative venues from the usual hotel ballroom.  Look to local museums, parks or even empty warehouse space. Sometimes Community Centers or the Public Library has a space that they would consider letting you use for a small donation.

• You could give the responsibility of different decorations to different departments. Let one team handle the table décor and maybe another department take care of the entry way.  Use everyone’s ability and imagination!

• Families can plan progressive holiday dinners if loved ones live close enough to each other.  Or if you live in the right climate, have the holiday event become a backyard BBQ, a family picnic or a cook-out at the beach and have everyone bring their most festive dishes.

• If the holiday time is busy for your company or family, try having your event in the Fall or even in January.  Plan a hayride.  Or a Chuck Wagon Cook-out at a real Horse Ranch. In the January hold a “Blue Ice Ball”.  Have everything in blue and string the icicles and twinkle lights you got on sale after Christmas around the room. You can rent a costume (they aren’t in demand AFTER the holidays) and have Frosty the Snowman come to see the children and even the adults!  Styrofoam balls spray painted and sprinkled with glitter make great centerpieces.

• Speaking of centerpieces, try to use living plants and raffle them off or give them away at the end of the party.  You can get beautiful poinsettias or living Christmas trees at your local discount store for a few dollars each. And the recipients will have a living memory of your party.

• Make the celebration really special this year. As part of your event have a “Give Back to the Community” portion.  If you are having a beach cook-out, have everyone come early to clean up the beach.  If your family is doing a Progressive Dinner, maybe the family could meet at the local Homeless Shelter or Veteran’s shelter to help dish out holiday dinner.  Perhaps instead of decorating trees, a group from the office could help a forestry department plant trees or visit the children’s hospital with arts and crafts. At your party, you could then use an “Academy Awards” theme and give out awards as recognition. 

• Throw a costume a party.  Pick a theme or even an era and challenge the guests to come dressed to fit. Remember there is now much diversification in holiday traditions these days.  Sometimes the best way to avoid embarrassment is to just have a theme totally different than ‘Holiday”.

• Create a “Holiday” Scavenger Hunt. This is great especially if the children are involved, but CEOs can have fun too. Make sure end up at a place where the party continues with great food (maybe a potluck if the budget is tight).

These little ideas can work for in the office, in your home or even at a fundraising event. And the ideas are limitless.  Use your imagination or brainstorm with others. Your holiday events should be hassle free so that you can enjoy them just as your guests will.  There is enough stress during the holidays. Your parties and events don’t have to be.

Editors Nancy Reid and Lisa Smith of Big Blend Magazine, along with Special Co-Host Gerry Rose, interviewed Joan Burns on our online radio show, The Success Express, on October 10, 2008. To hear the entire, unedited show, please click here. To listen to Joan's interview, please double click on the Play Button below: