The best corporate holiday party ideas give your team something to do together, fit your headcount and don’t turn one employee into the event planner. This list covers 12 ideas for Utah County companies, from activity outings and in-office parties to volunteer events, awards nights and family parties. The first three are racing events at Redline Racing in Orem.
What Makes a Corporate Holiday Party Fun?
A corporate holiday party is fun when it gives people a shared thing to do, food they didn’t have to plan and a time slot that fits their lives. Three questions settle the format before you look at venues:
- How many people are coming? Headcount decides whether you book a group package, reserve several rooms or rent a whole venue.
- During work hours or after? A party on the clock reaches people who can’t give up an evening. An after-hours party leaves room for a longer format.
- Activity or dinner? Teams that like to compete or move around get more from an outing. Teams that mostly want to talk and eat may prefer a catered party.
Which Activity Outings Make Good Corporate Holiday Parties?
Activity outings give coworkers a shared result to talk about, and the venue handles most of the logistics. For more local options beyond this list, see these fun things to do in Utah County.
1. Race a Go-Kart Grand Prix
A go-kart Grand Prix turns the party into a real competition, with a podium at the end. At Redline Racing in Orem, group racing packages for companies start at 8 racers on reserved track time. The Mini Grand Prix includes two races and a grid-start final. The Grand Prix runs practice, qualifying and a final. Both end with trophies for the top three, and catering can be added to either package. Redline’s track layouts and race formats are shaped by championship-level karting experience at Utah Motorsports Campus. Corporate formats run on the Pro track, for racers 54 inches and taller.
Best for: competitive teams of 8 or more.
2. Book a Team Building Event With Balloon Battle and Pit Stop Challenge
Redline’s Team Building Event splits your group into two to four teams for two hours of racing and challenges. In the Balloon Battle, racers defend their own balloon while hunting opponents around the track. In the Pit Stop Challenge, teams race to finish the fastest tire change under pressure. Both reward teams that communicate, which makes this the pick when the holiday party doubles as team building.
Best for: departments that want a team-building payoff.
3. Rent the Whole Venue With a Private Facility Buyout
A private facility buyout at Redline reserves the entire building for your company. A buyout and a group package are different products: a group package reserves race time, while a buyout reserves the whole facility. The buyout includes first, second and third place trophies, safety briefings, staff support, the freedom to structure the racing your way and space for a presentation or meeting. Outside catering is allowed for a fee. Pricing depends on the date and season, so call 385-483-7223 for a quote. Holiday-party season and Friday evenings fill first.
Best for: larger companies, or parties with a program between races.
4. Split Into Escape Room Teams
Escape rooms suit teams that like puzzles more than speed. Each room holds a small group, so a larger team books several rooms at the same start time and compares finish times afterward. Mix departments across rooms so people solve problems with coworkers they don’t usually work with.
Best for: smaller teams that enjoy problem-solving.
5. Take a Private Cooking or Craft Class
A hands-on class, such as cooking, cookie decorating or wreath making, ends with something everyone made and can take home. Many studios run private sessions for company groups. It’s a calmer choice for teams that want an activity without a competition.
Best for: teams that prefer creating over competing.
What Are Easy Holiday Party Ideas for Work?
The easiest holiday party ideas for work happen at the office, during work hours, with the food brought in.
6. Host a Catered Holiday Lunch
A catered lunch is the simplest format to plan and the easiest to attend, including for shift workers and people with evening commitments. Order from a local caterer, block two hours on the calendar and add one of the games below.
Best for: teams with mixed schedules.
7. Run a White Elephant Gift Exchange
Set a price cap, such as $20, and let players open a new gift or steal one that’s already been opened. It fits easily inside a lunch party and costs the company nothing but time.
Best for: any team size.
8. Hold an Ugly Sweater or Desk-Decorating Contest
Let the team vote and give small prizes to the winners. A contest gives quieter coworkers an easy way to join in without a speech or a performance.
Best for: offices that want low-effort fun.
How Can a Company Holiday Party Give Back?
A volunteer holiday party trades the venue for a service project, so the team’s shared result helps the community.
9. Volunteer as a Team
Food banks and donation centers across Utah County take group volunteer shifts during the holidays. Book the shift, then have lunch together afterward so it still feels like a celebration.
Best for: teams that want the party to help someone.
10. Run an Adopt-a-Family or Gift Drive
Departments sponsor a family’s wish list or collect items for a local charity, then wrap everything together at a party. It works for remote and hybrid teams, since contributions can arrive by mail.
Best for: hybrid teams.
Which Holiday Party Ideas Recognize the Team or Include Families?
Awards nights and family parties thank the team for the year and bring the people at home into the celebration.
11. Hold a Year-End Awards Night
Pair a dinner with awards for real wins from the year, plus a few lighthearted categories. If you race first, the trophies from a Mini Grand Prix or Grand Prix give the awards an easy centerpiece.
Best for: teams closing a big year.
12. Throw a Family Holiday Party
A family party invites spouses and kids, which suits teams where many people have young children at home. Pick a venue where kids have something to do besides wait. At Redline, kids 48 to 54 inches tall race on the Cadet track while racers 54 inches and taller take the Pro track, and the events team plans around your group’s mix.
Best for: companies with young families.
How Do You Choose the Right Holiday Party Format?
Choose the format by what your team wants from the day, then check it against your headcount and budget.
| Format | Best for | Planning effort | Ideas on this list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activity outing | Teams that like to compete or move | Low, the venue runs it | 1–5 |
| In-office party | Teams with shifts or tight schedules | Low | 6–8 |
| Volunteer event | Teams that want to give back | Medium | 9–10 |
| Awards night | Teams closing a big year | Medium | 11 |
| Family party | Teams with young kids at home | Medium | 12 |
To get the activity and the meal in one booking, add catering to a Redline group package or book a private facility buyout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good corporate holiday party idea for a small team?
Teams smaller than 8 can walk in and race at Redline during regular hours, book an escape room or take a private class. Once you reach 8 people, a Mini Grand Prix at Redline Racing in Orem gives everyone two races, a grid-start final and trophies for the top three.
What are some creative ideas for a corporate holiday party?
Creative corporate party ideas give people a shared challenge: Redline’s Balloon Battle and Pit Stop Challenge, an escape room, a cooking class or a team volunteer shift. Pick one activity, then build the food and any awards around it.
How much does a corporate holiday party cost at Redline?
At Redline Racing, the Mini Grand Prix is $65 per person and the Grand Prix is $75 per person, both with an 8-racer minimum. The two-hour Team Building Event is $2,200. A private facility buyout is quoted by phone at 385-483-7223.
Can we bring catering to a party at Redline?
Yes. Catering can be added to any group package, and pizza, pretzels and snacks are available on site. A private facility buyout also lets you bring in outside catering for a fee.
Is there a height requirement for corporate racing?
Corporate race formats run on the Pro track, which requires racers to be 54 inches and taller. Racers 48 to 54 inches race on the separate Cadet track, so let the events team know if your group includes shorter racers or kids.
Can we hold a presentation or awards during the party?
Yes, with a private facility buyout. It includes space for a presentation or meeting plus first, second and third place trophies, so the racing, the meal and the awards happen in one place.
Can our team keep racing after the holiday party?
Yes. Redline’s corporate memberships are a separate monthly product that gives staff discounted racing and 10% off private events. A membership is booked separately from a holiday party.
Ready to get your team on the track? Tell Redline’s events team your headcount and date, and they’ll match you with the right format.
Plan Your Team’s Holiday Event
Or call Redline Racing at 385-483-7223. Redline is at 1439 North 1380 West, Bldg. 2, Suite 100, Orem, UT 84057.
Written by the Tobe Team from Redline Racing’s published event packages.
