The hot cocoa’s steaming, the weather is cold, and suddenly you realize—wait—you’re not curled up at home. You’re at work! So how do you bring that cozy, Christmas-at-home feeling into the office and share it with your team?
With the holiday season approaching, it’s the perfect time to show your colleagues some extra cheer. Below are 35 creative Christmas team building activities that are fun, meaningful, and effective for strengthening workplace connections. We’ve grouped them into categories to make planning easier—whether your team is in-person, hybrid, or fully remote.
In-Person Christmas Team Building Activities
Here are several activities that are perfect for teams who are able to gather physically, as they encourage face-to-face interaction and teamwork. Trust me–I’ve tried out many of these activities and not only did my team have a blast, but we wanted to keep it going past work-time!
Now let’s get started with 35 Creative Christmas Team Building Activities that you must try:
1. Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Let your team be competitive with each other with a scavenger hunt. Include different Christmas-themed items and riddles hidden around the office, such as:
- Pinecones
- Christmas cookie baggies
- Santa envelopes with giftcards
- Ornaments
- Hidden elves on the shelves
2. Christmas Charity Drive Challenge
Hold a Christmas Charity drive to help people in need. You can make it competitive and fun by splitting into teams and competing to see who collects more donations for a charity. Some items to consider for donation can include:
- fuzzy socks
- warm clothes: scarves, jackets, leggings, beanies
- vitamin c packets
- hot cocoa packets
- portable chargers
- toys for kids:
One of the most rewarding activities out of all of the 35 Creative Christmas Team Building Activities: this is best way I’ve found to reach people for Christmas is through exploring your local store and finding an ‘angel tree’. This way, I know exactly what to get and for which child.
“This is a simple way to become someone’s secret Santa this season.
3. Festive Bake-Off
You can bake new festive recipes and give them a personal touch. Teams should bake and decorate holiday treats, and compete for titles, like:
- “Best Taste”
- “Most Creative Design”
- “Santa’s cupcake”
- “Classic character designs”
- “Most original dish”
4. Office Decoration Contest
Do a friendly office decorating contest with your team. Everyone decorates the office space and takes pictures. The decoration that gets the most votes, wins. Some themes to consider:
- Santa’s helpers’ factory
- Winter wonderland
- Reindeer house
- Gingerbread theme
- Grinch theme
5. Ugly Christmas Sweater Competition
By far one of the funniest and wearable of all 35 creative Christmas team building activities: ugly sweater competition! Award prizes for the most outrageous designs. Trust me–you will be stunned by everyone’s creativity.
For our contest, someone wore a light-up sweater with a battery pack and another wore a shirt with Santa on it with no pants! Here are some ideas for you to consider:
- Most bright sweater
- Most colorful sweater
- Most red green and white sweater
- Sweetest looking sweater
- ugliest everything sweater
6. Christmas Potluck with a Twist
Ask each participant or group to select a country and prepare a dish inspired by its Christmas traditions. This activity has stayed with us for a while now. Tasting recipes from different cultures and traditions is a new experience but an interesting one.
Here are some from each culture to try–if you haven’t yet:
- Vietnam: Fresh seafood
- England: Christmas pudding
- Italy: Panettone
- France / Belgium / Luxembourg: Yule log
7. Holiday-Themed Escape Room
Do a Christmas-themed escape room challenge by solving holiday puzzles. Teams could collaborate and go to get Santa’s stolen sleigh or to save Christmas before the time limit is up. We enjoyed doing the Holiday-themed Escape room last year. Our team narrowly escaped the “Grinch’s lair” in under an hour.
If you’re in a pickle and are still looking for ways to stack your Ultimate Christmas Bucket list this year, look no further: Ultimate Christmas Bucket List: 50 Festive Activities.
If your team works remotely, don’t worry—there are plenty of creative virtual Christmas team building activities up next
Virtual Christmas Team Building Activities
For the teams that operate remotely, these activities can build connections despite working in different locations.
8. Virtual Secret Santa
Organize a gift exchange with online wish lists. Do the unboxing over a video call to see everyone’s reactions. We did the Virtual Secret Santa once and the surprise element made our virtual party extra fun.
9. Online Christmas Trivia Game
Test your team’s holiday knowledge with trivia on traditions, holiday movies, and Christmas songs. Include obscure questions to keep it challenging and fun. Give rewards to the winners. Some categories to consider:
- classic movies / songs
- modern versions of tales
- funniest movie
- most unexpected ending
- Christmas love song / movie
If you’re in it mainly for the songs, I have a dedicated list of Christmas songs and trivia for you right here: Christmas Music Trivia Questions and Answers: Test Your Holiday Song Knowledge with 65 Festive Challenges!
10. Virtual Gingerbread House Building
Host a contest to see who creates the most festive gingerbread house. Send the kits for House Building to the team members before the contest. Give an award or prize to the winner. Our “leaning tower of gingerbread” won for effort, not stability.
11. Festive Bingo
Play Christmas-themed Bingo with your team. Create bingo cards based on the holiday and special tasks related to it. Ending the competition to see who wins and give the winner holiday gifts is a great way to start your list of 35 Creative Christmas Team Building Activities. Themes to consider:
- Most practical Christmas gift
- Most over-gifted items
- Most personalized gifts
- Most funny gifts
12. Virtual Christmas Karaoke Party
Organize the karaoke using Smule or Karafun as they provide easy sharing and participation. Wear holiday themed outfits, create a virtual holiday background and sing your heart out. Best performance should get an award. Some gift ideas to consider:
- small plaque for highest pitch singer
- plaque for lowest pitch singer
- plaque for best effort
13. Holiday Movie Watch Party
Watch a timeless Christmas movie using Teleparty, discuss it, crack jokes and share your thoughts. Get some food, bring blankets and have a virtual holiday movie marathon that feels like you are in the same room. After you are through with the movie you can schedule a virtual meeting to share the fun you all had.
Some movies to consider:
- The Polar Express
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Home Alone
This – by far – is one of the easiest way to keep the holidays afloat compared to the other options for 35 creative Christmas Team Building Activities.
14. Christmas Around the World Presentation
You can know more about each other’s holidays and traditions that are celebrated in different countries. Team members can decide to take turns to share or introduce their culture-specific or country-specific holidays, food and traditions to their team members. This will help in bringing the team closer and you can exchange gifts to one another based on everyone’s culture.
15. Digital Holiday Card Exchange
Make themed e-cards with help of Canva or PowerPoint, and send them through a shared google drive folder or a virtual pin-up board. It will be useful in making connections as the folder will be a festive digital keepsake. Some themes to try:
- Best of traditional red green and white colors
- Best hand-drawn
- Best classic characters
- Best 3D/2D drawings
- Best calligraphy
Now if you’re someone who likes to get a little competitive during events, you are in luck! I have a list waiting for you to try your luck at-coming up: 5 out of 35 Creative Christmas Team Building Activities for team-based fun!
Fun & Festive Team Competitions
Friendly challenges that ignite team spirit and offer a chance to win prizes.
16. Snowman Building Contest (Real or Virtual)
Build snowmen outdoors with your team if you all can get together and have a good laugh. If you are all far apart then create virtual versions of the snowman using drawing apps and show each other in a virtual meeting. Some items to use:
- scarves
- fun boots
- beanies
- multi-colored carrots
- colorful buttons
- cardigans
17. Christmas Ornament Decorating Contest
Design unique ornaments for Christmas. Vote for the best or most creative ornaments. Hang them in a shared space like the company’s office till next year. We still hang the winning ornaments in our office every year. Some themes to consider:
- most original ornament idea
- how edible does it look?
- most colorful ornament
- most sparkly ornament
- most detailed ornament
18. Holiday-Themed Photo Challenge
Snap festive photos with each other wearing holiday themed props or using Christmas Backgrounds. Hold a contest for categories like “Most Creative” or “Best Group Spirit.” Hang the winning photo in the office. Our “human Christmas tree” photo won hands down and we cherish it till now.
19. Christmas Wrapping Race
Compete to wrap gifts quickly and neatly. The person who wraps them quickly and neatly should get an award or the best gift among the wrapped ones. This gets competitive and fun in a way that you will enjoy it to the fullest. Some ideas to consider judging wrapping:
- speed
- creativity with ending wrapping shape
- the theme of wrapping paper / originality
20. Candy Cane Relay Race
Compete with your team in a holiday-themed relay race where the teams are likely to find themselves balancing with a candy cane on a spoon, transferring candy canes with only elbows or run through a festive obstacle course. This will be fun. Winners should get a small prize.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re in it for the long run now. Up next within our list of 35 Creative Christmas Team Building Activities, consider taking on team bonding activities that serve a stronger purpose.
Team Bonding Activities with a Purpose
Holiday activities that combine fun with purpose will take your Holiday Celebrations to the next level. If you want really get into the heart of giving, you’re in the right spot.
21. Adopt-a-Family Gift Drive
Contribute individually to buy gifts and necessities for a family in need. Write down what they require and everyone can chip in their share. Pack all the things and wrap some gifts as well. Deliver it to the family personally to make their day.
Last year, our team “adopted” a single-parent family with two kids. We divided tasks—some shopped for toys, others wrapped gifts, and one team member coordinated delivery. When we received a thank-you card from the family, it reminded us of the impact we could make together.
22. Holiday Food Bank Volunteering
Volunteer as a team at a nearby food bank or soup kitchen to sort through donations, prepare meals or to serve food to the needy. We did it last year and it was a very humbling experience that brought the team closer.
23. Group Donation to a Chosen Charity
Everyone names one Charity and all the team members vote and select one. Contribute to the selected Charity as a group. Last year my team and I chose to support a local children’s hospital. Each person brought in whatever they could, and we were able to come up with enough money to buy holiday food and gifts for the children. Some charities themes to consider:
- food pantries
- Female support groups
- adoptive agencies
24. Christmas Card Writing for Seniors
Create heartfelt cards for seniors in care facilities to make their day. Keep the cards personalized with heartfelt messages, jokes or drawings. This will make them feel like they are not alone in this holiday and you might receive thank you messages from them.
25. Toy Drive Challenge
Collect toys to be donated to children who need them. Make it a little more interesting by making the person with the most toys the winner. Take the toys and give them to the children to brighten up their day.
During the seasons, sometimes anxiety can get the best of us. That’s why I have a guide to help you feel at ease with your mental health: 12 Mental Health Tips to Navigate Psychological Crises with Strength
Now, if you’re someone who enjoys getting crafty like how my kids do, we have five more activities that will surely get your kids and your own brain going. Coming up! 5 out of 35 Creative Christmas Team Building Activities that are neat and crafty!
Creative Holiday Workshops and DIY Activities
Interactive sessions where teams create festive keepsakes. My kids and coworkers love mini activities that are both manageable to set up, clean up, and reuse. Out of all the 35 Creative Christmas Team Building Activities, I have many collected items thanks to making gifts each year during Christmas that brings back great memories.
26. Wreath-Making Workshop
You can design personalized wreaths by getting tips from a personalized instructor. Or you rely can use online tutorials. Create personalized wreaths and vote for the best one. Take pictures or your wreaths. You can exchange or gift your wreaths to each other as well. Some wreath ideas:
- do color themes:
- most gold or silver decorations
- the most cartoons attached
- the most minimalist / maximalist
- most floral designs
27. DIY Ornament Workshop
Provide kits with essentials to make ornaments before the workshop. Make ornaments using the kits. Take pictures with your ornaments and hang them on your tree. We did it last year and The “team mascot” ornament still hangs on our tree.
28. Holiday Candle-Making
Craft scented candles using different scents. Compliment each other on the candles. Keep them in your house or wrap them and gift each other the candles. We did holiday candle making and the candle liked by everyone was put in the office and it smelled amazing for weeks afterward!) Some oils to consider in your next candle scent:
- eucalyptus
- mint
- peppermint
- black pepper
- vanilla
- cimmaon
- nutmeg
- white musk
- birch / tea tree / bark
- apple / citrus / honey
29. Christmas Cookie Decorating Workshop
Provide kits to your team before the workshop. Decorate cookies with icing and sprinkles. The best design or most creative cookie wins. Give a prize to the winner and the prize can be cookies as well. Our “abstract” cookie art was surprisingly popular at our Christmas Cookie Decorating workshop.
- cleanest piped cookie design
- most original design
- best classical design
- best lettering design
- most abstract design
30. Festive Paint & Sip Session
Do a holiday paint and sip party where team members create their artworks using paints while drinking festive drinks. Some of our team members painted snowy winter landscapes during the online paint and sip event. While some of us copied the instructor, others introduced their own creativity.
Some drinks to consider:
- eggnog
- tiramisu-style coffee
- cinnamon infused coffee
- mulled wine
- hot cocoa
I’m glad to see that you have made it far into my list of 35 Creative Christmas Team Building Activities. Don’t just yet because we have 5 left for you – including activities that makes you leave your house!
Outdoor Christmas Team Building Activities
Take the festivities outside and embrace the winter wonderland.
31. Christmas Caroling Challenge
Everyone performs Christmas carols and the best one wins. The winner gets rewarded. You can make it productive by performing carols as a charitable activity, like singing for local communities or care facilities to make their day.
Some songs to consider:
- Silent Night
- O Christmas Tree
- Joy to the World
- 12 Days of Christmas
- Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer
32. Holiday Ice Skating Trip
This is another all-time classic activity within my list of 35 Creative Christmas Team Building Activities. Go with the team to an Ice skating trip on a local ice rink. Plan ahead, gather all the things you will need there and go for the adventure. Run around, skate, catch each other while falling and get the best out of the holiday skating trip.
33. Winter Wonderland Nature Hike
Go for a group walk through an any winter-friendly landscape. This is an opportunity to go outside, appreciate beautiful views, get some fresh air, and have a good time.
Our team went to a nearby forest which had been turned into a snow covered area. We walked around a park, stared at the trees covered with snow, took a lot of pictures, and even had a random snowball fight.
I think this is one of the easiest ways to get a breathe of fresh air while going outside to see what this season blesses us with. It’s definitely a personal favorite of mines out of all 35 Creative Christmas Team Building Activities.
34. Outdoor Hot Cocoa Social
Set up a hot cocoa bar with festive toppings marshmallows, whipped cream, and peppermint sticks. Talk about life and have simple conversations unrelated to work and enjoy the winter air. We set up a hot cocoa bar in our office parking lot with festive music and blankets. It was simple but the conversations were too memorable.
35. Sledding or Snow Tubing Day
Plan a day of sledding or snow tubing at a local hill or resort nearby where everyone can reach. Race down the hills and compete with each other. Build snow forts and snowmen, and cherish every moment.
Now that you’ve made it to the end of my list of 35 Creative Christmas Team Building Activities, let’s recap on everything that’ve we learned together.
Final Thoughts
Christmas Team building activities in the holidays are not all about fun but they are very important in building up relations, reducing stress levels, and bringing the team closer to each other even if they are far apart.
Try these 35 Creative Christmas Team Building Activities to see which one spices up your event!
Which activity are you most excited to try? Let us know in the comments!
If you’ve enjoyed this article, you’ll also love this one: Boost Your Work Efficiency With These 9 Effective Time Management Tips
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