Top Trends for Christmas Parties in 2024

As we are midway through 2024, it's time to start planning for the festive season. December is the most important holiday season for your venue, with lots of different events to fill your calendar. Each year brings new trends that can make your event stand out. This year, we're seeing a surge in innovative audiovisual (AV) solutions and venue trends that promise to elevate your venue’s end-of-year celebrations to new heights. In this blog, we will explore the top trends for festive parties in 2024, helping you to create memorable experiences for your guests.

One of the most exciting trends this year is the rise of immersive experiences to create unique atmospheres. Guests are increasingly expecting an almost cinematic, out-of-the-world experience at events. To meet this demand, consider incorporating some cool AV elements into your venue such as laser shows, fog machines or even sound effects:

“Sound effects can really transport your guests to North Pole or Narnia… little touches like that make it really fun for guest experiences”. - Doug, Commercial Director at Wise Productions. 

You can also think of creative ways to make your space interactive, for example, a drinks wall reception, where guests can grab a drink from real-life hands through a hole in the ‘wall’. Adding live entertainment and themed decorations can create an engaging and immersive environment.

“Karaoke booths… are great for encouraging guest participation and adding an element of fun.” - Doug, Commercial Director at Wise Productions. 

Sustainability continues to be a significant trend, with many venues and event planners focusing on incorporating more eco-friendly practices. This year, look to integrate energy-efficient technologies if you can, such as switching to LED lighting, to reduce your event's carbon footprint. Opt for reusable or biodegradable materials in your production setups to minimise waste. If you’re able to, use renewable energy sources to power your event or look at more creative ways to repurpose your resources and reduce food waste.

Custom themes are also going to be a big hit this year. Create unique and memorable experiences with customisable decor and entertainment to match your chosen theme. Offer personalised party packages that can be tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of your clients, ensuring each event feels special and unique.

Inclusivity is becoming increasingly important in event planning. With a shift towards healthier lifestyles and inclusivity for individuals with religious restrictions, offering a variety of non-alcoholic beverages is crucial to make non-drinking individuals who choose not to drink alcohol feel included. Avoid limiting options to basic soft drinks and provide more exciting and sophisticated mocktails and non-alcoholic alternatives including health-conscious beverages like kombucha, and sparkling water with natural flavours. In addition to this, we are seeing more name changes away from their usual festive ‘Christmas Party’ to a more welcoming name such as ‘End of year celebration’ to encourage a more inclusive event for non-drinking individuals. 

‘Not everyone wants the word ‘Christmas’ bounced around… choose something more generic, has no religious connotations… same in regards with ‘Christmas packages’, have fun with it, don’t take it too seriously, but don’t make it about Father Christmas or the 3 Wise Men’ - Dean, Head of Sales & Events at Frameless.

Another trend we are going to see is daytime events. This is an awesome way to accommodate guests who have evening commitments or long commutes, making your event accessible to a wider audience. You can even consider encouraging events on Mondays & Tuesdays as alternatives to the highly requested Thursdays as a more budget-friendly option. 

‘Clients are not afraid of lunches, afternoon teas… it is more budget conscious and steers away from evening events that are alcohol driven.. Don’t be afraid of exploring other events other than traditional evening events’ - Dean, Sales & Events Manager at Frameless.

Christmas parties in 2024 are set to be more innovative and exciting than ever before. Start planning now to ensure your event is at the forefront of these exciting trends and provides a truly memorable experience for all your guests.

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