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How to plan a holiday party your coworkers will actually enjoy


Let's be honest: the average work holiday party is more obligation than celebration. A room, some food, and a lot of polite small talk rarely add up to a night anyone remembers fondly. The good news is that it is easy to do better. With a smarter plan, you can throw a company party your coworkers genuinely enjoy. Here is how to plan a corporate holiday party that works, with AMF as the backdrop.


Give people something to do


The quickest way to fix a flat office party is to build it around an activity instead of a room. When there is nothing to do but mingle, the night rests entirely on conversation, and that is a lot to ask of a group of coworkers. An activity carries the energy for you. That is the heart of how to plan a company holiday party people actually like: choose a setting where the fun is built in.

Bowling fits the bill because everyone can play, no experience required. The whole office, from the interns to the managers, ends up on equal footing, which makes it easy for a mixed group to relax and enjoy themselves.


Coworker holiday party ideas that work


The best coworker holiday party ideas keep people interacting naturally. Break the office into teams so colleagues who do not normally work together end up on the same lane. The casual, all-ages feel of the setting keeps things comfortable, and there is always something happening between turns to keep conversation flowing. When you are figuring out how to plan a holiday party for work, those easy interactions are the whole point, and an activity-based night creates them on its own.


Add a few games for coworkers


A bit of structure makes it even better. Simple holiday party games for coworkers that pair well with bowling include a friendly team tournament with a prize for the winners, a fun award for the most creative celebration dance, or a shared team goal to hit a certain number of strikes together. They are easy to run and give the whole group something to rally around, no complicated setup required.


Book a private event and sort the food


For any sizable group, reserve a space of your own. A corporate event sets your team up with dedicated lanes and hands the logistics to staff, and a group event works nicely for a more laid-back gathering. Keep everyone fed with the food menu so nobody drifts off looking for dinner, and the party stays easy from start to finish.


Lock in your date


With the plan set, get it on the calendar. Reserve your lanes to secure your date, and use the Location Finder to find the AMF nearest your office. That is all it takes for how to plan a work holiday party your coworkers will actually look forward to.