Preparing for the Holiday Season: Creative Ideas for Festive Holiday Parties
The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and togetherness. If you're looking to elevate your holiday party from the ordinary to the extraordinary, adding interactive, creative elements is the key to success. In a vibrant city like Chicago, where there's always something new to experience, holiday parties can take on a life of their own when they include engaging activities like mixology or DIY crafts.
Holiday Craft Workshops
Holiday craft workshops provide an engaging, hands-on experience that allows guests to create beautiful, personalized holiday keepsakes. These workshops can focus on a variety of crafts, from creating your own wreaths or ornaments to making scented candles or hand-painted holiday décor. These events are a blend of relaxation and creativity, ideal for guests who want to unwind and socialize in a non-competitive environment.
At a holiday craft workshop, guests get to take home something they’ve made, which adds a personal touch to their holiday decorations or gift-giving. It’s a wonderful way to create lasting memories while embracing the holiday spirit, with the added bonus of a tangible item they can cherish for years.
Romee Willow Florals: Attendees will create their own festive holiday wreaths using fresh winter greens, ribbons, berries, and pinecones, with all materials provided. Guests can bring their favorite beverages (BYOB) and enjoy a delicious hot cocoa bar.
Bottle & Bottega: A wine-and-paint favorite, Bottle & Bottega hosts seasonal painting events where guests can paint their own holiday-themed canvases, ornaments, or even holiday wine glasses. Sip on wine as you let your creativity flow in this relaxed, festive environment.
Art Room Events: Art Room Events offers festive holiday craft workshops, including a Sip & Paint class for creating seasonal masterpieces, Holiday Wreath Making and a Holiday Candle Making Workshop where participants craft personalized, holiday-scented candles, perfect for team-building or gatherings.
Best for: Family-friendly events, corporate team-building, or friends looking for a relaxed, creative holiday experience.
Pro tip: Create a holiday "craft bar" where guests can pick and choose their materials for a personalized touch.
Interactive Cocktail-Making Parties
One of the most popular trends for holiday parties in 2024 is interactive cocktail-making events. These are ideal for groups looking to mix things up—literally—at their holiday parties. This hands-on experience allows guests to channel their inner mixologist as they craft signature holiday drinks under the guidance of a professional bartender. Whether you’re shaking up a peppermint martini, stirring a spiced apple cider mule, or muddling ingredients for a winter sangria, cocktail-making parties add a festive twist to your celebration.
Guests will learn the art of balance in flavor and presentation, all while enjoying the chance to taste their creations. This type of experience encourages social interaction, light competition, and plenty of laughter, making it ideal for corporate team-building events, friend gatherings, or even a fun family reunion.
Whim Chicago: Guests are welcomed to an enchanting holiday experience where immersive art, unique cocktails, and captivating performances come together to create unforgettable moments. During the festive season, WHIM takes audiences on a journey through dreamlike theatricals, immersing them in an eclectic range of perspectives that inspire discovery and holiday cheer.
Hollow Leg: Participants can enjoy interactive cocktail-making classes for public, private, and corporate holiday events, available both in-person and virtually. Guests will engage in hands-on experiences, mixing unique ingredients and customizing cocktails to their tastes. Expert instructors will guide them through the art and science of mixology, creating a festive and memorable experience for the holiday season.
Art Room Events: Art Room Events offers festive holiday cocktail workshops where guests can learn to craft seasonal drinks using unique ingredients, guided by expert instructors in a fun and engaging atmosphere. As an added bonus, guests can pair their cocktails with delicious snacks or appetizers, making it the perfect way to celebrate the season with style and flair.
Best for: Corporate holiday parties, friends' gatherings, or team-building events.
Pro tip: Pair the mixology experience with a cozy venue, holiday music, and festive appetizers for a full holiday vibe.
Themed Murder Mystery Parties
Themed murder mystery parties are perfect for groups that want to combine festive fun with a thrilling, immersive experience. Guests take on different characters as they work together to solve a whodunit mystery, with the holiday season providing the perfect backdrop for a playful and suspenseful night. Whether you're dressing up for a retro-themed party or engaging in a modern-day mystery, these events create an unforgettable experience that encourages team-building, creativity, and social interaction.
You can customize your murder mystery party to fit any holiday theme, from a mysterious holiday heist to a “Christmas at the North Pole” scenario. Art Room Events offers unique options like the Disco Murder Mystery Party, where you’ll boogie your way through a 1970s-inspired murder case, or the 1920s Speakeasy Murder Mystery, blending holiday cheer with the glamor of Chicago’s prohibition era.
Art Room Events: Art Room Events offers three distinctive holiday murder mystery experiences. Six Rooms: Holiday Edition takes guests through a psychological journey to solve a holiday murder while enjoying themed cocktails. Speakeasy With a Murderous Twist transports participants to a 1920s-inspired murder mystery set in a historic Chicago speakeasy. For a retro vibe, Murder at the Disco combines a groovy 1970s-themed mystery with a lively disco party. Each experience is customizable, making them perfect for unique, interactive holiday celebrations.
The Murder Mystery Company: With a variety of themes, including customizable holiday stories, The Murder Mystery Company is a leader in the field of immersive murder mystery events. Their professional actors guide the game, ensuring your group has a blast trying to crack the case.
Christmas Murder Mystery: offers in-person murder mysteries with unique holiday twists. Their highly immersive games encourage collaboration and friendly competition, making them great for corporate or large family holiday gatherings.
Best for: Corporate dinners, upscale gatherings, or foodie groups looking to elevate their holiday party.
Pro tip: Add a festive dessert station or a hot chocolate bar to close out the night on a sweet note.
Outdoor Winter Wonderland Events
For those who want to embrace Chicago’s winter magic, outdoor winter wonderland-themed parties are the perfect way to celebrate the season. Whether you’re hosting on a rooftop, patio, or even at an ice rink, outdoor parties can be transformed with cozy blankets, fire pits, twinkling lights, and plenty of warm seasonal drinks like spiced wine or hot chocolate. Guests will love the chance to enjoy the fresh winter air while staying warm and festive in a beautifully decorated outdoor space.
Kennedy Rooftop: Kennedy Rooftop transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season, with outdoor fire pits, cozy igloo seating areas, and seasonal cocktails. It’s the perfect spot for a holiday gathering under the stars.
Christkindlmarket: Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of the Christkindlmarket, an authentic German Christmas market in downtown Chicago with free admission. Stroll through charming wooden huts filled with handcrafted gifts like glass ornaments, cuckoo clocks, and knitwear. Don't miss the chance to savor traditional German treats and sip mulled wine or hot chocolate from a souvenir mug.
Maggie Daley Park Skating Ribbon: Head to the Maggie Daley Park Ribbon for a unique skating experience. This quarter-mile ice ribbon winds through alpine trees and a climbing wall, offering a serene escape from the city. Yet, with a glance west, you'll see Chicago's stunning skyline. Skating the ribbon combines nature and city views, making it a must-do winter adventure.
Best for: Large groups, casual friend gatherings, or family holiday parties.
Pro tip: Keep the guests warm with blankets, heat lamps, and plenty of holiday-themed drinks and snacks.
Why Choose Art Room Events for Your 2024 Holiday Party?
Art Room Events brings a wide range of unique, customizable experiences that will elevate any holiday celebration. With their expertise in creating engaging, hands-on activities, you can offer your guests a party that’s not just fun but also creative, memorable, and truly reflective of the festive season. From thrilling murder mysteries to mixology workshops, Art Room Events ensures your holiday gathering stands out.
Book your holiday event today and give your guests a celebration they won’t forget!
