Contributed by Jennifer Andrews, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Parties are enjoyable at any time of year, but particularly around the holidays when good cheer and happy spirits are abundant.

If you work in an office or as part of a team, chances are that you will have an office part during the holidays to celebrate Christmas and/or New Years. Although some people may dread planning or attending work functions, a party can be a fun and festive event.

Consider these top ten work party ideas for the holidays for your own fun celebration this year.

10. Setting

The setting of your work party will vary depending on the size of your company and number of attendees. Some companies or places of employment may use a large conference room they have available to them. However, most employers will hold a party function at a rented hall, private restaurant or separate location that can be decorated and provides space for eating, drinking, mingling and dancing.

9. Light it up

Use Christmas lights and decorations to customize your work-office party for the holidays. Christmas lights can be hung up on windows and walls and strung around one or two artificial Christmas trees. Lights add brightness and can evoke fond memories of past holidays spent with family and friends.

8. Add decor

Decorations can set the theme for any type of party including a work party. In addition to white and coloured lights, add holiday decorations to a Christmas tree displayed in the corner or center of the room. Decorate tables with vases filled with bright ornaments such as red, gold and silver Christmas bulbs. Hanging wreaths on walls or a Happy Holidays sign can be a fun and festive way to celebrate with co-workers.

7. Buffet style

Instead of having a pre-planned meal, why not serve food in buffet-style? This would eliminate any difficulties and extra work ahead of time of determining who wants a vegetarian or meat meal or identifying any allergies. A buffet can allow guests to pick and choose what foods they want to eat and sit down to.

6. Music

Add music to your work holiday party by hiring a DJ to spin tunes all evening and night long. Alternatively, simply having a stereo system set up with one person designated to switch up CD’s and adjust the volume as needed is ideal. Include a variety of holiday music from classical tunes to more contemporary Christmas songs.

5. Entertainment

A work holiday party can be taken to the next level by adding some form of entertainment to the event. Consider hiring a comedian or singing act such as a chorus of Christmas Carollers for the evening.

4. Secret Santa

A Secret Santa exchange can be planned prior to the night of the office party. Simply have party guests pick out a secret name from a hat or bag a week or two before the party. They must then buy a small gift for that person to bring to the party where gifts will be exchanged. Get everyone laughing with a small funny gift for each person in the office as a party favor.

3. Party games

Add some fun party games to the office party event to make the evening more enjoyable and interactive. Set up a gift-wrapping station to see who can wrap a gift the neatest in the least amount of time. Winners will be awarded a free cocktail or gift certificate.

2. Holiday cocktails

You can add a holiday twist to traditional cocktails to enhance your office party festivities. Make a self-serve cocktail bar by preparing a big batch of cocktail mix the evening or hours before. Guests can serve themselves and add a candy cane and crushed peppermint sticks to their drinks.

1. Travel to an event

Why not break away from the traditional work holiday party and plan a trip somewhere? Trips can be small or large depending on your company and who is involved. An ideal event would be to buy tickets for a sporting event such as a hockey game with access to a booth where cocktails and appetizers are served. If you want to go bigger, consider a trip to a ski resort for a day pass or even the weekend!