10 Ways to Make Your Microsoft Teams Christmas Party Sparkle

The holiday season is just around the corner, and with remote work becoming the norm or having teams overseas, a virtual Microsoft Teams Christmas party is a fantastic way to bring your team together.

Microsoft Teams offers plenty of features to make your celebration merry and bright.

Here are some tips to plan a memorable and festive Teams Christmas party (whilst sat at home in your Christmas Pyjamas)!

 

1. Set the Scene with Virtual Backgrounds

Encourage everyone to use festive virtual backgrounds to add a bit of sparkle to the call.

From snowy landscapes to twinkling Christmas trees, Teams has built-in options, or you can upload your own. Share a few pre-approved backgrounds to get everyone in the festive mood.

After all, who doesn’t love a background that screams “I’m on a sleigh ride” even if you’re actually in your kitchen?

 

2. Send Out Creative Invitations

Treat your Teams meeting like an actual event by sending out themed invitations.

Use holiday-themed e-cards or a quick design tool to craft a fun invitation with all the details.

Include a reminder to dress up in Christmas jumpers or festive outfits. Bonus points for anyone who shows up dressed as a reindeer (nose optional).

 

3. Start with Icebreakers and Games

Kick off the party with a festive icebreaker. Here are a few ideas:

• Christmas Trivia: Prepare a quiz with questions about classic holiday films, traditions, or songs. (Pro tip: Anyone who hasn’t seen Home Alone gets an automatic time-out!)
• Guess the Gift: Share a close-up photo of a wrapped gift and let attendees guess what it is. Spoiler: It’s always socks.
• Two Truths and a Lie: Holiday Edition: Encourage everyone to share two true and one false holiday experience. For example, “I once ate an entire Christmas pudding in one sitting” might actually be true for some…

 

4. Host a Virtual Secret Santa

Bring the tradition of Secret Santa online by using a name-draw tool to assign giftees.

Gifts can be digital, such as e-cards or gift vouchers, or mailed in advance. Open the gifts together during the party for added fun.

Remember, no re-gifting that novelty mug from last year!

 

5. Get Crafty with Holiday DIY Activities

Organise a simple DIY craft session, like creating paper snowflakes or decorating cookies. Send out a list of materials ahead of time or even pre-ship craft kits to attendees.

Just don’t let people like me use glitter – we’ll still be finding it in April.

 

6. Sing Along with a Christmas Karaoke Session

Microsoft Teams makes it easy to share sound, so why not host a karaoke session?

Create a playlist of Christmas classics, share your screen, and let the festivities begin. If someone’s rendition of Jingle Bells breaks the sound barrier, just call it “enthusiasm”.

 

7. Plan a Festive Food and Drink Break

Coordinate a time for everyone to enjoy festive snacks or drinks together.

You could even send out a recipe for a signature cocktail/mocktail for the team to try. Make it interactive by encouraging people to showcase their treats. Warning: mince pies may cause heated debates.

 

8. Recognise and Celebrate Achievements

Take a moment to reflect on the year by celebrating team milestones and individual contributions.

Share a fun slideshow of highlights or give out virtual awards, such as “Most Festive Team Member” or “Teams Virtuoso”.

Everyone loves a bit of recognition – even if it’s for having the best mug collection on camera.

 

9. Wrap Up with a Raffle or Prize Draw

End the party on a high note by hosting a raffle.

Use a randomiser tool to pick winners, and hand out virtual prizes like gift cards, e-books, or subscriptions to entertainment platforms.

And, no, you can’t win all the prizes just because you “pressed the button”.

 

10. Record the Festive Fun

Use Teams’ recording feature to capture the highlights of your party.

It’s a great way to remember the good times and share the joy with anyone who couldn’t make it.

Plus, it’ll give you something to laugh at next Christmas.

 

Tips to Keep It Festive

• Dress Code: Encourage festive attire, whether it’s a Santa hat or a full elf costume. (Extra kudos for anyone who’s brave enough to wear tinsel.)
• Playlist: Create a shared Spotify playlist of holiday favourites for everyone to enjoy. Just make sure “All I Want for Christmas Is You” doesn’t play 17 times in a row.
• Virtual Christmas Tree: Use Teams’ whiteboard feature to collaboratively decorate a virtual tree. It’s a lot less messy than dealing with pine needles.

With a little creativity and planning, your Teams Christmas party will be the talk of the virtual coffee machine.

Remember, it’s not about the perfect party, it’s about spreading cheer and having a laugh (especially at those dodgy karaoke attempts).

Let the festivities begin!