Picking the Holiday Party Date
When selecting the date of your company party for the holidays, it’s important to keep in mind that the holidays in Nashville are a busy time for many people. Of course the optimal time to host a company holiday party is late November or early December, but there are some companies that plan one earlier in the fall or even later in January to avoid the intricate dance of scheduling the optimal date for employees and venues. Weekdays are best for most people, and most prefer it to be held during work hours, or at least starting during work hours so they can get on with their personal lives.
Stick In One Place or Hit The Road For A Holiday Party?
There are pros and cons to hosting your office holiday party at one location, or having more of an “experience event,” requiring the team to travel out of the office and explore the nearby Nashville attractions.
By selecting one event location, people can come and go as their schedules allow. They’re not committed to an entire block of time, which works better for some employees.
However, by choosing something different than the typical in-office holiday party, perhaps a Nashville city tour or trip to a Tennessee Whiskey Trail distillery or local brewery gives people more time to bond and get away from the office setting. It also shows the company is committed to treating its employees to a fun experience they may not have partaken in otherwise.
As experience coordinators, Mint Julep Experiences knows that not all companies have the time around the holidays to plan all the details of a holiday party. That’s why we offer our local Nashville and event expertise to coordinate the ultimate holiday party for your staff. From transportation to event space to unique experiences, we’ve got your team covered.
Fancy Holiday Party vs Casual Holiday Party Theme
Whether you go for classy or casual all depends on what your company culture is and what the majority of employees will prefer. The perks for making the Nashville company holiday party a fancy affair include the opportunity to dress in clothes you would not normally wear to the office and give the holiday event a feeling of respect.
However, some people might not want to break out their black-tie attire, instead preferring to keep it casual. Some offices don’t allow jeans, so by going with a more casual holiday party theme, it might make employees more comfortable and eager to open up to each other and build that team vibe. Make the holiday office party an ugly sweater party and deck the halls with fun Christmas decor!
Holiday Party Bites & Beverages Menu
Let’s face it, most people show up to the company holiday party for the food and drinks. It’s important to know the specific number of people who are going to attend so you know how much to order or how much to tell the caterer/restaurant to prepare for. It’s best to keep the options simple — like appetizers only or a buffet-style meal filled with southern bbq and good beer. But if you are going upscale on the holiday party this year, it’s not unheard of to offer four-course meals with wine pairng presentation. Let your holiday party menu be informed by the company culture and the overall theme you’re going for this year.
As for beverages for the holiday party, keep it somewhat simple — a couple of different beer choices, red and white wine, and perhaps a few spirits and mixers if you’re going for the fancier style of a company holiday party. If you’re a go-getter and fancy yourself a cocktail mixologist, be sure to check out our guide on how to choose the best whiskey for the holidays.
If the focus of your holiday party is gathering around a table with the team for good food and tasteful drinks to celebrate the year’s accomplishments, then let our experience experts help coordinate a unique Nashville culinary experince for your holiday party and leave the planning logistics to us.
Nashville BBQ, Beer and Bourbon Experience
Go behind-the-scenes with your team to get a taste of the best bbq, beer, and bourbon found in Nashville. This Nashvill exprience includes a pint at Bearded Iris Brewing while checking out their taproom. You’ll then get a taste of Nashville bbq where you’ll sample house smoked meats and learn some of the history of pitmasters. And to round out the tastings, the team will head to Nelson’s Green Brier Distilley, home of Belle Meade Bourbon, for an in-depth tour and tasting.
Gourmet Donuts & Mimosa Flight Experience + Nashville Mural Tour
For teams that have a sweet tooth, the Mint Julep Sweet Start Nashville Mural Tour is a must for a company party! Dive into a flight of gourmet donuts and a number of different flavored mimosas. Then hit the streets to see Nashville’s popular murals.
Nasvhille Food & Drink Destinations for Custom Tours
Mint Julep Experiences offers customs experiences to various Nashville food and drink destinations that provide the perfect setting to any holiday party. Visit one of Tennessee’s most famous spots for smoked meats at Edley’s Bar-B-Que or head to the hills of Tennessee for Nashville’s version of wine country to Arrington Vineyards or pull a stool up to Southern Grist Brewery. Our custom corporate outings allow you to combine various destination stops and create the ultimate holiday party route!
Festive Holiday Party Activities
Mingling and munching on apps is all fine and dandy, but don’t forget to mix in a little fun to the holiday party! These are just a few holiday party activities that you can try out for your company party. Some of the activities are focused on “giving,” while others are focused on “teamwork” and “team-building.”
Holiday Party Activities & Game Ideas
- Secret Santa
- White Elephant
- Christmas Charades
- Name That Christmas Song
- Christmas Karaoke
- Christmas Photo Booth
Holiday Party Extras That Will “WOW” The Team
So you want to do something outside the box for your team and this year’s holiday party? The following are some suggestions on what you can do to truly “wow” the office. How about a premium whiskey distillery tour and tasting with appetizers? Or front-row seats to an interactive culinary experience. You can also go the route of fancy decorations at your party, including ice sculptures with caviar on them, a chocolate fountain and even a fancy charcuterie board. But let’s be honest, it’s the experience that people will remember long after the party ends.
Ideas For Your Company Holiday Party in Nashville
Mint Julep Experiences plans one-day and multi-day excursions on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, backstage Nashville-based experiences and so much more. Several whiskey distilleries, craft breweries and food artisans offer exclusive tastings and private tours only available to Mint Julep customers.
Behind-the-scenes access, food and spirit pairings, cocktail mixology classes, mural adventures, creative beer or whiskey flights and music-inspired experiences are some of the holiday party ideas we can offer your employees for a fun time away from the office for the holidays. Tell us what you’re interested in, and our Nashville experience experts will help you customize the ultimate experience for your company holiday party.
View Pre Planned Nashville Tour Packages or Customize Your Corporate Holiday Outing