6 Fun Employee Engagement Activities for the Holiday Season

The end of the year brings an exciting chance to celebrate your team and strengthen the connections that make your company thrive. Whether you’re fully remote, in the office, or somewhere in between, this season is the perfect opportunity to plan fun employee engagement activities that help people feel appreciated, re-energized, and united around a shared sense of purpose.

With a little creativity, you can plan experiences that people genuinely look forward to and that carry your company culture into the new year.

Here are six ideas to spark employee engagement inspiration for the holiday season:

1. Give Back Together

The holidays remind us that community and connection go hand in hand. Organizing a corporate volunteer day or partnering with a nonprofit gives your team the chance to bond over something meaningful.

At Wish for Wheels, we’ve seen first-hand how bringing a team together to make a hands-on impact creates a powerful sense of shared accomplishment. During our Team Build & Give experiences, for example, teams assemble bikes for 7 and 8-year olds at Title I schools, then get to see the direct impact of their effort by delivering the bikes to the children and teaching them how to ride. It’s the kind of feel-good experience that lingers long after the event is over. Employees not only collaborate, but they build a stronger sense of camaraderie and cultivate deeper connections (Atmosphere) without feeling forced, like many other team building activities.

There are many different volunteer options across every community. The key to a successful volunteer experience is choosing one that is hands-on and collaborative so everyone feels involved.

Pro tip: Choose an activity that aligns with your company’s values or mission. Giving back in a way that reflects your brand identity makes the experience even more meaningful for employees and the community you serve.

2. Organize a 12 Days of Connection Challenge

Instead of one big event, try a series of small, daily moments of connection leading up to the holidays. This can work in-person or virtually and creates an ongoing sense of fun and anticipation.

Some ideas to include:

• Share your favorite holiday song in a team playlist.

• Post a photo of your favorite cozy beverage on Slack or Teams.

• Send a gratitude message to a teammate.

• Wear festive accessories to your next meeting.

• Wrap up with a team celebration or virtual party.

These fun employee engagement activities keep morale high throughout a busy season and encourage interaction among people who might not connect day-to-day.

3. Plan a Creative Holiday Workshop

Instead of the standard holiday party, try a hands-on experience that encourages creativity and laughter. Bring in an instructor for wreath-making, gingerbread decorating, or even a holiday-themed cooking class.

For remote teams, you can ship DIY kits and follow along together online. It’s low pressure, fun, and gives everyone a chance to show off their personality.

These activities spark conversation, lower stress, and create a lighthearted break from end-of-year deadlines.

4. Host a Year in Review Celebration

Before everyone signs off for the year, gather your team to celebrate wins both big and small. Highlight projects completed, milestones hit, and moments that defined your company’s culture this year.

You can even add some lighthearted awards or superlatives:

• The Zoom MVP Award (for flawless virtual backgrounds)

• The Snack Superstar (for best office treats)

• The “Never Misses a Deadline” Award

• The “Best Notetaker” Award

When people feel recognized for their effort, especially during the hectic holiday season, they head into the new year with stronger motivation and pride in what they’ve accomplished.

5. Create a Gold Star Board or Wall

Create a space in a well-trafficked area (either in the office or online) where employees can give quick public thank yous and shoutouts to one another. Leave a stack of gold star cutouts and some markers nearby, making it easy for colleagues to give one another gold stars. Gold stars could be given when someone helps another team member make a deadline, as a thank you for a cup of coffee, or for having great ideas in a meeting. The sky is the limit on what gold stars can be awarded for.

Over time, that board becomes a powerful visual of appreciation, allowing your team to see the value one another brings and be recognized for the little things that they do every day.

6. Plan a New Year, New Energy Kickoff

Once the holidays wind down, extend the engagement into January with a team wellness or vision-setting event. You can host a guided goal-setting session, plan a team walk or hike, or organize a creative brainstorming day for the year ahead.

Keeping the momentum going helps bridge the gap between celebration and action, ensuring all that holiday spirit translates into renewed energy for the months ahead. One way to set the tone for the year is with a Team Build & Give experience or other volunteer opportunity.

The holiday season offers the perfect opportunity to reconnect as a team through genuine experiences that make people feel valued and connected. Fun employee engagement activities can range from giving back together, to creative workshops, recognition challenges, and so much more.

When employees feel engaged and inspired, it shows. Morale goes up, retention improves, and your company culture shines brighter than any holiday light display.

If you want to make your holiday event one that your team will remember and talk about for years to come, we’d love to talk with you about bringing a Team Build & Give event to your organization. Contact us today!