When the holiday season comes around, we all want to be around our loved ones to celebrate these joyous days. Unfortunately, if you have friends and family living across the country, it’s not always possible for everyone to come down to visit.
But thankfully, the pandemic emphasized how useful video calls can be! Platforms like Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, and MS Teams have also become platforms for family celebrations and parties. In this article, we’ll go over some fun virtual holiday party ideas you can use for your next celebration!
What Is a Virtual Holiday Party?
A virtual holiday party is a celebration you can hold over a video conferencing platform, such as Zoom, WebEx, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. Virtual holiday parties are the most convenient and accessible way to hold gatherings and create memories with friends and families who can’t physically attend a celebration due to distance or any other reason.
They’re a great way to maintain a connection with family and friends as well as promote a sense of inclusion in the workplace. It is also a more cost-efficient way to party because you don’t have to splurge on the physical venue as you would for a physical party. With a virtual party, all you have to do is provide a meeting link to all participants of the virtual holiday party, and they can join in with their cameras and mic on for a live video and audio feed.
6 Virtual Holiday Party Ideas
Here are some virtual holiday party ideas you can take inspiration from for your upcoming personal or work-related celebrations.
#1. Virtual Holiday Bingo
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This is the perfect game for both family as well as workplace holiday celebrations as everyone can get to know each other better.
Holiday bingo is just like regular bingo, but instead of numbers, you use holiday-specific questions — “Who has gone on a ski trip for Christmas?” or “Who has pets in Christmas family photos?” Announce the pattern and the first to mark the five squares wins. Make sure the prizes are appealing, such as Amazon gift cards, an additional 15-minute break, or even paid time off.
#2. Theme Day Virtual Party
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Having a theme day never gets old. Get everyone to join the virtual holiday in their Christmas pajamas or ugliest holiday sweaters. You can also send everyone their holiday party box in advance, composed of an assortment of tea and hot chocolate mixes, popcorn kernels, and a gift card.
After the party, let everyone find their most comfortable spot at home, play a movie, and watch it together. It’s the perfect way to cap the night. Make sure to have your screen capture ready because you want to make sure you get that officemate who has dozed off with his mouth open.
#3. Virtual White Elephant
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No holiday will be complete without gifts, and even if the party is done virtually, you can still exchange gifts! But turn it into the classic white elephant or Yankee swap game to add a more exciting and fun element to the gift exchange.
Although sending gifts to people who’re far away can cost a little extra, it’ll be worth it. After the online exchange, everyone who’s participating in the virtual holiday party can open the gifts over a video call.
#4. Zoom Scavenger Hunt
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An online scavenger hunt can be a fantastic way to add a mad dash of adventure to your virtual holiday fun! Have everyone scrambling around the house, looking for items, and having a fun show and tell with everyone.
This virtual holiday party idea can be as quick as 15 minutes or can go on for an hour. It depends on the energy and engagement of all the participants. The host will ask for random things like your favorite ugly sweater, a postcard from another country, or a red winter coat. And the first person who brings and shows the item in the video earns a point. Make it a race to 10 points or more!
#5. Virtual Holiday Dinner
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Enjoying a meal together is a holiday tradition for many, and you can have a similar setup virtually.
You can get food delivered to your family, friend, or workmates’ homes and ensure that everyone gets their meal before a set time. Once all the activities are done, everyone can enjoy a lovely meal together virtually.
#6. Guess That Tune Online Edition
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Another great idea to keep your virtual party fun and get everyone to participate is to play the classic game of naming that tune or song. Assign someone to be the DJ of the night to play popular Christmas music or a selection from various music genres.
You can also do breakout rooms as a qualifying activity before you go into the finals. This activity will bring out the singers and performers in your team, and you’ll be surprised by how many of your friends or fellow colleagues can belt a tune like a pro!
