There are events throughout the year that can't be planned early enough. Holiday parties are undoubtedly one of them. In 2025 too, it'll be necessary to start thinking about the location, theme, and food in good time.

Our event experts on the team know the best indoor and outdoor ideas and concepts for a company holiday party, and even virtual celebrations. Over the years, we've organized unforgettable holiday parties for many different teams and companies. Among the ideas below, you're sure to find something that fits.

Our favorites: 20 versatile holiday party ideas

Our event experts on the team bring a lot of experience planning company holiday parties. We've already developed customized concepts and delivered unforgettable celebrations for companies and teams of all sizes. Find the right idea here to make your holiday party the highlight of the year once again.

1. Mulled wine stand

Winter is famously not just a dark time of year, but often bitterly cold too. What could be nicer than having your own mulled wine stand at your holiday party? It's practically a must! Whether as a welcome at the entrance to the party, or, quite literally, as a warm-up after the meal, a mulled wine stand is an absolute hit for a company holiday party. Maybe even as your own holiday market in the company courtyard. Even for less lavish celebrations, a small mulled wine stand is achievable on a smaller budget too. Cheers!

Holiday party concept "Holiday market party"

Number of people: from 20 people

Cost per person: €30-80

Private holiday market stalls with mulled wine, bratwurst, and handicrafts. Ideal for a sociable, relaxed atmosphere.

2. Street food holiday market

Pulled pork, burritos, and burgers, mmm, what a street food classic! Think that only works in summer? No, no, no, says Baby Jesus! The street food market concept experiences a real spring during the holiday season. What could be nicer than combining the romance of a traditional holiday market with genuine street food cool? Right, nothing! This format is definitely a great recommendation for any company holiday party.

3. Hut party

The hut party is where party queens and kings meet, not just for après-ski! Cozy cabin flair, cheese fondue, fruit brandy, and hut classics, this would get even the quietest person yodeling. As a holiday party idea, the hut party has secured a spot among our favorites. Easy to pull off with cozy decor in your own office, or rented externally with a matching location, this concept gives your holiday party a very special touch. We at heycater! recommend it from personal experience.

Holiday party concept "Mountain hut evening"

Number of people: from 10 people

Cost per person: €100-300

A cozy gathering at a mountain hut with a fireplace, traditional food, and overnight accommodation available. Perfect for a winter retreat atmosphere.

4. Schnapps tasting

What tastes like fruit or nuts and burns like chili? Right, schnapps! A schnapps tasting is definitely an idea that'll get things going. Perfect for the cold season, this clear spirit really warms up your holiday party guests. Paired with a great multi-course menu, a schnapps tasting can round off the flavor experience nicely, bringing in wintery notes of gingerbread and marzipan too. This really finds the right vibe in industrial locations, or even at the distillery itself.

5. Themed party reloaded

We see the themed party, reimagined, as a top idea for a holiday party. Even though casino-style or gold-look costumes have become pretty common and aren't "in" anymore, a costume theme, reinvented as a party concept, always goes down well with a team. Current trends inspired by Burning Man, or unique styles like "vintage circus," are cool and absolutely on-trend in our portfolio.

6. Company orchestra

Do you have musically talented teammates at your company? Do you appreciate classic holiday songs and a concert atmosphere? Then a self-organized company orchestra might be a really lovely idea. Regardless of the size and scope of your holiday celebration, a small company orchestra could be a wonderful addition to your party, whether in your own office, outdoors, or at an external venue. This idea is definitely something for classical music lovers, but even the skeptics tend to get into the holiday spirit. A bit more interactive, and equally musical, is holiday karaoke.

7. Christmas BBQ

Grilled food remains a popular choice, especially when it comes to feeding a lot of guests. Burgers and pulled pork work well here too, along with chicken wings, grilled cheese sandwiches, and of course the classic currywurst. To give the holiday barbecue a festive touch, put a special focus on the drinks. A wine special featuring standout bottles, or classic cocktails expertly mixed, are the perfect counterpart to laid-back food.

8. Charity Christmas

The holiday season is famously a time of reflection and gratitude. Just as we organize gestures of appreciation for our loved ones, a charitable initiative is a great idea for a team building activity during the holidays. Ask around local providers where you can lend support, and show together just how important, and how simple, helping can be. This strengthens team spirit and supports important causes.

9. Baking workshop

Remember childhood baking sessions together with family in the kitchen? A wonderful holiday activity for kids and adults alike. As a team together with your company too, the "baking workshop" concept works great as a counterpart to a cooking workshop. Bake the dessert for your three-course menu together, or create cookies as a gesture of appreciation for a neighbor yourselves. We think it's a wonderful idea for a holiday party. A cooking class is a great idea too, of course, prepare a festive menu together, whether in person or even remotely with the help of a holiday cooking box!

Holiday party concept "Team cooking at a cooking studio"

Number of people: from 10 people

Cost per person: €60-150

Cook and enjoy a meal together under the guidance of a professional chef, for example a holiday menu or international specialties.

10. Team Secret Santa

What could be nicer than a traditional Secret Santa gift exchange with your favorite colleagues at the holiday party? Agreeing in advance on what makes a fun, thoughtful gift, and then searching for a small token of appreciation, is such a special thing! We think it's a great event idea that fits the holiday season, brings fun, and delivers surprises. A reliably great mood booster for your shared celebration.

11. Curling

A sport that puts you in the mood for the Alps and winter is definitely ice stock sport (a form of curling). As an outdoor activity to celebrate the year, curling is an excellent choice. Since at least two teams are needed, this sport suits teams of any size wonderfully. At larger companies, a curling tournament would also be a great idea that fits nicely into your holiday party day. With its sporty, team-oriented, wintery character, this idea definitely qualifies for our top 20.

12. Magical Christmas

The holiday season can be magical, and its traditions enchanting. Santa parks his sleigh on the roof and climbs down the chimney into the house, myth or magic? Booking a magician can also be an idea for your holiday party, turning the annual event into a unique experience and truly enchanting your team. This can be brought to life wonderfully as a stage show or a solo performance right in the middle of the party crowd. A top idea for a holiday party!

13. Private chef

A fine dining menu, prepared by a private chef, is an exclusive highlight that's sure to be remembered. Whether modern fusion cuisine or traditional dishes, the choice can be tailored individually to the preferences of your colleagues or organizers. If you think a private chef is necessarily expensive, think again. From a 3-course holiday menu to French gourmet fare, there's a solution for every budget.

Holiday party concept "Gala dinner in a festive setting"Number of people: from 20 peopleCost per person: €80-200. An elegant dinner with a 3- to 5-course menu at a tastefully decorated venue, possibly with live music and dancing.

14. Team building drum workshop

One idea we definitely want to share, seasonal or not, is a drum workshop with your team. Especially for companies that only organize one big holiday party for the team each year, it's important to come up with something new and innovative each time. The rhythm, the sound you create together, and the team bonding that results, puts this format firmly on the shortlist for your company holiday party.

15. Holiday party by the water

Some dream of the mountains, others love being near the water. A lake or a river can feel very festive too, with the right lighting and a holiday feast. A restaurant by the water makes for an extraordinary party venue, or you can rent an excursion boat that takes all your guests along the local river or canal while you enjoy a holiday meal.

16. Sun, sand, and... holiday cheer!

This is the counter-program to snow, mulled wine, and gingerbread: a holiday party on the beach. Outdoor temperatures obviously rule out beachwear outside, but why not move the party indoors and book an indoor beach club, or transform your own premises into a summery dream? Depending on the theme, add matching music, food, and decoration, Caribbean or Mediterranean, for example.

17. The hybrid holiday party

Is your team spread across different locations, across Germany, or maybe even worldwide? A remote holiday party brings all employees together, and a mix of online and in-person is a hybrid celebration, where the festivities are live-streamed from the venue. Important: also include remote guests in games and activities (for example, through virtual holiday games and a catering box for home).

18. The holiday cocktail party

Alongside wine and whisky tastings, cocktails are also popular as a holiday party idea. Wintery-inspired alcoholic and alcohol-free creations, or, as a deliberate contrast to the cold winter, summery, sunny cocktails. Add finger food creations and festive music. Alternatively: a cocktail workshop, where you'll be introduced to the secrets of mixing. This works remotely or as a hybrid option very well too, by the way.

19. Christmas around the world

Try your way through culinary delights from different countries, paired with matching traditional drinks. Did you know what's traditionally eaten for Christmas in France, or what's served for Chinese New Year? Discover new flavors and delights together with catering that offers dishes from different countries, or several food trucks each representing a different national cuisine.

20. The murder mystery dinner

Another timeless classic that's still popular: eating while being entertained. In the form of a variety show or a murder mystery dinner. Dine festively while solving a puzzle and cracking a criminal case together. Many major cities have venues that offer a festive holiday menu along with, perhaps, a holiday-themed case. Or how about a holiday movie night instead?

Holiday party concept "Holiday movie night at the cinema or open-air"Number of people: from 20 peopleCost per person: €15-40. A private cinema hall or open-air cinema with holiday classics, popcorn, mulled wine, and snacks. A relaxed, cozy option.

Holiday menu 2025 - delicious menu suggestions

Beyond ideas for the perfect holiday party, we'd also like to offer menu suggestions for your 2025 holiday menu. On the menu: a classic with roast goose, a plant-based holiday menu, and a creative menu idea for the season.

1. Crispy roast goose with spiced jus, red cabbage slaw & roasted pear sorbet

If you're looking for a fitting traditional holiday menu, you can't get around the classic. Many people don't want to skip the roast goose during the holidays. In our menu suggestion, we've given the classic version a fresh new look:

• Starter: Clear goose broth with wontons
• Main course: Crispy goose leg with red cabbage slaw & Bohemian bread dumplings
• Dessert: Roasted pear sorbet

Starting at €59.00 per person

2. Vegan holiday menu in several variations

The great thing about a vegan holiday menu is the sheer variety. We're giving you several suggestions here, so you have plenty of choice when putting together your menu:

• Starters: Beetroot soup with coconut milk and parsnip, beetroot and pear towers with mung bean salad, chard rolls with quinoa filling, or a chestnut soup
• Main courses: Nut roast with red cabbage and pumpkin dumplings, seitan schnitzel with vegan potato salad, risotto with herb pesto, or a stuffed pumpkin with couscous
• Dessert: Gingerbread mousse with mulled wine cherries, apple crumble with almond milk vanilla sauce, or cantuccini with lemon and pistachio

Starting at €52.50 per person

3. An unusual holiday menu as a taste experience

If you want to surprise your employees with something unusual for your holiday menu, this combination is sure to become a real taste experience for everyone involved:

• Starter: Puff pastry stars with smoked salmon
• Main course: Venison saddle with chili-chocolate sauce and parsley potato dumplings
• Dessert: Marzipan and poppy seed mousse with raspberry sauce

Starting at €59.00 per person

4. Modern festive cuisine

This modern menu really has something for everyone. Whether you're a meat lover, vegetarian, or prefer vegan.

• Starter: Beetroot carpaccio with goat cheese mousse and caramelized walnuts
• Vegan: With cashew-dill mousse and hemp seeds
• Main course: Confit duck leg with orange jus. Three types of potato: mash, rösti, and Hasselback. Roasted winter vegetables
• Vegetarian: Stuffed pumpkin with quinoa-mushroom filling

Vegan: Eggplant roulade with beluga lentils

• Dessert: Chocolate tart with speculoos base and cinnamon ice cream

Vegan: Avocado-chocolate mousse with date caramel

Starting at €52.50 per person

Our menu suggestions for your 2025 holiday party can serve as inspiration. Feel free to book your holiday party catering with heycater! and share your individual wishes with us. Together with our catering partners, we're sure to put together a holiday party you'll remember for a long time.

Holiday party ideas in German cities

If you're looking for individual ideas for a holiday party, or the perfect location, we've gathered plenty of suggestions across different German cities:

• Holiday party in Leipzig - 11 inspiring locations & ideas
• Holiday party in Hanover - 11 original locations & ideas
• Holiday party in Berlin - 17 ideas & locations
• Holiday party in Hamburg - 12 locations & ideas
• Holiday party in Dresden - 10 ideas
• Holiday party in Cologne - 11 locations & ideas