It’s officially holiday party season, and our team at Rocky Mountain Catering & Events is already as busy as elves getting everyone’s holiday parties built and wrapped up with a pretty little bow! This time of year is special, and it’s a great opportunity to bring teams together (remote or not), celebrate your achievements, and kick off a new year with positive and optimistic spirits.
But to do that, your party has to be epic! You want to choose a theme that is super fun, think about your end of year to pick the best timeframe (would it make more sense to host in the new year after books are closed or before the new winter season kicks off?), and get it on employees’ calendars as soon as possible!
If you’re getting stuck on company holiday party themes or venue choices, this post should help. The sooner you book your 2023 holiday party in Denver, the better chances you’ll secure a venue that perfectly suits your team and theme. If you need to help, check out our amazing holiday party catering services.
Now let’s get into the themes!
1. Fuchsia Fiesta
If your team isn’t the most traditional, why don’t you throw tradition to the wind with this year’s most popular party theme—holiday brights! Light up the celebration with a vibrant, colorful twist featuring gem-colored votives, fuchsia tinsel trees, twinkling fairy lights, and dazzling ornaments in bold hues adorning tables featuring centerpieces with eucalyptus or pine. Sequin-ornamented attire encouraged!
Color Palette: Jewel tones (think bright pink, blue, purple)
Signature Cocktail: Hibiscus margarita (can also be a mocktail!)
Perfect Venues: THE CABLE CENTER, MOSS DENVER, FLYING HORSE RANCH
2. DIY Ugly Sweater Party
There is no holiday theme party more quintessential than an ugly sweater party. But not everyone has ugly sweaters. That’s where this theme gets fun—everyone makes their own at the party! Your company can provide logoed sweaters that each team member can decorate from a smorgasbord of embellishments like sparkles, pom poms, tinsel and garland, bells, ornaments, bows, gingerbread men, or felt snowflakes. The only limit is your imagination.
At the end, you can have awards for most on-brand, most festive, craziest design, etc. Have fun, and let the creativity run wild!
Color Palette: Traditional (think red, white, green, gold)
Signature Cocktail: Gourmet hot chocolate bar with or without Bailey’s added
Perfect Venues: VEHICLE VAULT, WINGS OVER THE ROCKIES, SKYLIGHT
3. Cozy Alpine Ski Lodge
Invite your team to relax and unwind with the coziest theme around by creating an alpine ski lodge. Since all the venues recommended are naturally gorgeous with lodge characteristics, you’ll be able to emulate the theme seamlessly with minimal décor. Bonus points if you have your team come dressed in their finest alpine ski attire.
For dinner, offer individual fondue plates or a raclette station for dinner. The interactive nature of après-ski-themed menus is always loved by guests.
Color Palette: Earthy and woodsy (think green, navy, brown, and white with a pop of red)
Signature Cocktail: Hot toddies
Perfect Venues: BOETTCHER MANSION, EVERGREEN RED BARN, BARN AT EVERGREEN MEMORIAL PARK
4. Christmas Movie Night
There are so many incredible Christmas movies that make even more incredible party themes. Here are a few favorites:
- A Christmas Story
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- The Santa Clause
- Elf
- The Polar Express
- Home Alone
- White Christmas
Start with cocktail hour and drinks, and then at around 8:00 p.m., have a different space in your venue set up with fun seating options like couches and bean bags for extra comfort. Set up a projector and have a snack bar with all the flatbread pizzas, popcorn, and candy. Then, kick back and enjoy a screening of your team’s favorite holiday flick.
This is also one of our favorite office holiday party catering ideas because you can put it together easily in common areas if you want to host with a lunch buffet or use your office as the venue!
Pro tip: To make sure your attendance is high, send out a survey to determine the most popular holiday movie and choose that one to screen!
Color Palette: Choose one specific to the movie (think white and silver for The Polar Express and traditional red, white, and green for Elf)
Signature Cocktail: Candy cane martini (perfect for Elf)
Perfect Venues: THE PAVILLION AT THE STANLEY, UPPER LARIMER, NORTH STAR GATHERINGS
5. Grinchmas Party
A Grinch-themed holiday party promises to make even the grumpiest colleagues smile!
The best part about a Grinchmas party is the menu fun you can have. Think roast beast sliders or a roast beast carving station, Who-hash, and Who-pudding to follow the movie to a tee. Then, you can add additional creative plates to play into the color palette, like:
- Caprese spoons
- Spinach artichoke dip with bruschetta
- Beet apple salad
- Cider-brined roasted turkey with house-made cranberry sauce
It will be a true holly jolly feast that will make everyone’s heart grow!
P.S. If you need a little inspiration, take some from The Grinch’s official premiere party at Central Park Zoo in NYC!
Color Palette: Shades of green with a pop of red
Signature Cocktail: The Grinch That Stole Christmas featuring Midori, vodka, pineapple juice, sparkling wine, and a cherry on top!
Perfect Venues: DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS – YORK STREET, NORTH STAR GATHERINGS, SKYLIGHT
6. Winter Wonderland
An ideal theme for a black tie or more formal sit-down holiday party, Winter Wonderland will delight with elegance and sparkles! Welcome your team with a twinkling tunnel of lights, shimmering icicles, and faux snowdrifts made with perfect draping.
Color Palette: Blue, white, silver
Signature Cocktail: White Cosmopolitan
Perfect Venues: WOODLANDS, SPRUCE MOUNTAIN, FLYING HORSE RANCH
7. Merry Pinkmas
Barbie is trending this year like it’s the ‘90s again, and we are here for it! She’s made pink the new “it” color for the season, so plan accordingly with a Merry Pinkmas party. Think pink linens, pink ornaments, gold flatware, pink-tinted glassware, nutcrackers in pink regalia—can you picture it?
Color Palette: Bright pink, light pink, gold, silver
Signature Cocktail: Rose & Raspberry Fizz
Perfect Venues: LONE TREE ARTS CENTER, THE PAVILLION AT THE STANLEY, NORTH STAR GATHERINGS
8. Blast from the Past
Want a holiday party that’s more on the fun side with a whole lot of friendly competition? Do a Blast from the Past theme! Bring in old-school pinball machines and arcade games for hours of play. Stream favorite episodes of ‘90s holiday episodes from Fresh Prince, Friends, and Everybody Loves Raymond for ultimate entertainment value. And make sure there’s room for a dance floor!
Color Palette: Blue, green, yellow, pink (Power Rangers, anyone?)
Signature Cocktail: Appletini
Venue: VEHICLE VAULT, MOSS DENVER, SKYLIGHT
9. Christmas Casino Night
Casino Night is always a popular corporate party theme, and it’s even more fun during the holiday season! Tell everyone to don their best glitz and glam and focus the menu on heavy hors d’oeuvres so everyone can play the table games, slots, and blackjack all night long.
Our Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Package is ideal for this type of event, as it’s meant to be more fun and handheld.
Color Palette: Black, Red, Gold
Signature Cocktail: Champagne tower or wall at the entrance
Perfect Venues: THE PAVILLION AT THE STANLEY, HIGHLANDS RANCH MANSION, UPPER LARIMER
10. Nightmare Before Christmas
A bit eerie and a bit whimsical, Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas is an epic holiday party theme. Use the Denver holiday party venues we recommended below and transform them into a twisted yet enchanting world where Halloween and Christmas collide. Tell your team to expect the unexpected with spooky yet festive decor featuring Jack Skellington, Sally, and other iconic characters from the festive film!
Color Palette: Black, White, Purple
Signature Cocktail: Haunted White Russian
Perfect Venues: THE PAVILLION AT THE STANLEY, DUNAFON CASTLE, UPPER LARIMER
11. Gatsby Christmas
Tell your team to don their best Roaring ‘20s attire and keep the bubbly flowing at a Gatsby Christmas-themed party. Add art deco décor, glittering lighting, chandeliers, and a live jazz band for a little Charleston instruction before the night is over. This era is all about indulgence and glamor, so a plated meal would be a fabulous option before the dancing begins! Some dishes to consider:
- Appetizers: Mini Beef Wellingtons and Stuffed Button Mushrooms
- Salad: Autumn Caesar Salad
- Entrees: Whiskey Barrel Honey Glazed Ham or Hickory Smoked Prime Rib of Beef
- Sides: House Made Cranberry Cornbread and Roasted Cippolini Onion & Herb Potato Puree
- Dessert: Pumpkin Bread Pudding
Color Palette: Black, Gold, Green
Signature Cocktail: Classic Old Fashioned
Perfect Venues: VEHICLE VAULT, WILLOW RIDGE MANOR, HIGHLANDS RANCH MANSION
12. Winter Woods
There’s no better corporate holiday party theme for Denver than a Winter Woods theme! Most of your team will appreciate the ode to snow-dusted trails, scented pines, and darling pinecones that remind them of home at the holidays.
Think mason jar candles, plaid tablecloths, wood accents (or choose one of the incredible holiday party venues Denver is known for that already has wood accents), faux fur throws and couches for a lounge area, antlers, and evergreen garlands. It’s a cozy, elevated feel your team will love!
Color Palette: Forest green, wood, black, dusty eucalyptus green, ivory
Signature Cocktail: Mulled Wine
Perfect Venues: BOETTCHER MANSION, CHIEF HOSA LODGE, SPRUCE MOUNTAIN, WOODLANDS
Need Help Brainstorming Holiday Party Themes?
Our team is already getting into the holiday spirit with so many of our clients, and we’d love to help. Brainstorming themes and matching them with the perfect venue is our forte! Let’s talk about your vision and make it come to life to celebrate your team and end 2023 on a light note.