Best Holiday Team Building Activities NYC: Find Courses & Onsite Training

Learn More About NYC Holiday Team Building Activities Courses

Holiday team-building challenges are among the most fun interactive activities you can host for your company. The holidays can be stressful, and team-building activities allow people to do something different that combines a celebration with using their innate skills—from holiday movie trivia games to seasonal baking challenges.

Such activities originated with private companies, as they tried to make the holiday season more enjoyable for employees. However, different people celebrate different holidays, and not all employers succeed in making holiday events fun for everyone. An exciting seasonal baking challenge hosted by an expert chef is far from a few dusty decorations and a stale fruitcake. Read on for more about holiday team-building activities you can attend live online or at your location.

Why Host Holiday Team Building Activities?

The reasons for hosting a holiday team-building event can be as varied as the players who participate. First, a holiday-themed activity can help a manager get their team to work better together when they return to regular work activities. Holiday challenges can make participants better collaborators, revealing new talents or strengthening existing ones. Additional reasons for holiday team-building activities include boosting morale, building trust, and giving less extroverted team members the chance to shine in a different setting than the norm.

Another group of people attend holiday team-building activities for personal reasons. They might view the experience as a fun class more than a work-related event and want to book a holiday event to mark the occasion. These activities can be more about leisure and fun than challenging themselves for these attendees. Check out the many holiday-themed options on CourseHorse, from Halloween to Christmas and beyond.

What You’ll Do in a Holiday Team Building Activity

Although you might not learn tech skills like data visualization or Python programming in a holiday team-building challenge, these fun-filled activities can improve soft skills like communication, creativity, or adaptability. Consider the following skill sets that often come into play in a holiday-themed team-building event.

Analytical Skills

While they don’t apply to every holiday event, analytical skills can benefit players in many holiday team-building challenges. For example, a Christmas trivia activity may require players to use their analytical skills to evaluate challenges in ways that benefit the group. Even a gift exchange may demand analytical reasoning, determining who might like what type of gift or planning to choose between gifts the hosting provider chooses or choosing gifts among the team members. Players with strong analytical skills nearly always benefit their teams.

Collaboration

Too many cooks might spoil the broth, but collaboration is essential in even the most holiday-centered team-building challenges. A team planning to bake seasonal cookies or pies might have to rely on a leader to give everyone something to do. Fortunately, different players bring diverse skills to the kitchen table, from choosing the right ingredients in the right amounts to putting the finishing touches on a plating presentation. These challenges can be fun bonding experiences as players show off their hidden talents, and collaboration is crucial.

Communication

Strong communication skills are as essential to any team-building activity as leadership or analytical reasoning. Holiday team-building challenges may allow a team member not accustomed to speaking to a group to gain confidence as they collaborate to solve the challenge quickly. If the event requires creativity and following directions—like in a baking or cooking event—teams may need leaders who communicate well and members who excel at cooperation.

Creativity

Using creative skills may not be at the top of the list for some team-building activities, but many holiday events rely greatly on creative skills. Decorating, making or selecting gifts, or adding a unique personal flair to a recipe are all activities that can require a high level of creativity. From making ugly sweaters to celebrating an in-office party, count on your creative team members to take on the challenge of making the event more memorable than past parties.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking differs from analytical reasoning in significant ways. Whereas analytical reasoning requires processing and breaking down information into manageable pieces, critical thinking uses logic to determine whether a solution is correct or incorrect. Team-building participants who can combine the two often help their group solve a challenge quickly, and team leaders may have to rely on the members with the best critical thinking skills to take the helm.

Leadership

Leadership skills follow managers into team-building activities, but some challenges require someone other than the manager to lead. Especially in holiday-themed challenges, which may center around making a gingerbread house or decorating cookies, the best person to lead might be the team member with the best culinary skills. Whoever leads the team must communicate effectively, allow for collaboration, and even delegate tasks based on their knowledge of their fellow players’ strengths.

Teamwork

Teamwork can build a sense of pride and lead to greater motivation, which remains essential to any group. For holiday-themed challenges, establishing a strong sense of teamwork may require a defined leadership role, but not necessarily. Not every person, for example, celebrates religious holidays. In cases where a holiday event includes diverse team members, it’s often crucial to choose an activity with a more general holiday theme rather than one tied to a religious holiday.

Time Management

Time management is among the most essential elements of any holiday team-building activity. Many such events are an hour long, though some run as long as 90 minutes. Players must use the clock to their advantage, and a team with above-average time management skills should seek strategies that allow them to be competitive. A proper focus on time management can help a team work better together even after the challenge.

These are not the only skills teams can use for holiday team-building activities but are typically the most essential. Other potential soft skills helpful to holiday challenges include attention to detail, problem-solving, and a sense of fostering innovation.

How Long Do Holiday Team Building Activities Last?

Although there are different lengths for team-building activities, consider an hour to be a minimum. Also, remember that these events may be available in varying formats:

In-person at your location
In-person at a hosting provider's location
Live online via teleconferencing

CourseHorse Experiences, for example, hosts various holiday team-building activities in multiple formats, typically from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Transportation time is an additional factor if you and your team travel to an in-person event such as a cooking or baking challenge.

What Are the Advantages of Hosting a Holiday Team Building Activity?

The holiday season is always hectic, and adding a team-building activity to the schedule might seem counterintuitive. On the contrary, these events can provide a welcome break from the daily routine. Though many employees appreciate the structure of corporate life, others need a change of scenery and new challenges apart from work. Holiday team-building activities let everyone work together in a pressure-free context, which can benefit their ability to collaborate and solve challenges.

Team-building challenges emphasizing a holiday offer people a chance to share knowledge and skills their teammates might not know they have. One employee might be an excellent chef, while another might have a wealth of information about a topic like Christmas movies ready to use at a moment's notice. These activities bring them together with colleagues in ways they may not get the chance to experience otherwise.

Finally, a holiday-themed team-building challenge might be available at the company location, a host site, or live online via teleconferencing. These options can help management break from the traditional office party, which some employees may like but others dread. Reviews of team-building events are typically high, as participants find them surprisingly engaging while providing the break they need from the holiday rush.

Best Holiday Team Building Activities in NYC

Holiday team-building activities are popular in many major metropolitan areas, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City. They include everything from arts and crafts to baking, mixology, and trivia challenges. If you’d like an in-person event with a live professional host, consider some of the following CourseHorse team-building events.

NYC: Halloween Party: Trivia & Scavenger Hunt

Halloween is always a favorite, and kids of all ages celebrate with parties, costume contests, and sweet treats. Another exciting option is a trivia team-building activity like the Halloween Party: Trivia & Scavenger Hunt. An engaging holiday event that combines the fun of spooky trivia with scavenger hunts and wildcard challenges, this activity will interest even the pickiest Halloween celebrant. Count on skills like teamwork and problem-solving, and plan to stay for an hour. Bring your knowledge of candy, ghosts, and scary movies to this immersive event for groups of up to 100.

NYC: Halloween Cupcakes

Making Halloween cupcakes might not sound like a difficult challenge. Nonetheless, this enjoyable team-building event takes the pressure off while learning how to combine baking with cake decoration skills. The class features an experienced instructor who guides the team through creating delicious cupcakes that merge art with the spooky theme of Halloween fun. This event is available for up to 30 participants and runs for up to 90 minutes. Dress casually, as kitchen classes require hygiene regulations comparable to restaurant standards.

NYC: Halloween Cocoa Bombs

Like the Halloween Cupcakes class, this team-building activity combines artistry with the spooky theme of Halloween. Also hosted by a vetted local provider, Halloween Cocoa Bombs requires hygiene regulations comparable to restaurants (long hair tied back, closed-toe footwear). The fun begins with melting chocolate with specialized silicone molds, then adding cocoa and marshmallows for top-shelf hot chocolate treats players can take home with them. The Halloween Cocoa Bombs class is available for up to 30 participants and runs for up to 90 minutes.

NYC: Thanksgiving Trivia

Trivia challenges are unique in that they give everyone a chance to shine. Participants in a trivia team-building activity count on collaboration, teamwork, problem-solving, and other soft skills as they compete in a non-threatening environment. The Thanksgiving Trivia challenge offers a classic crowd-pleaser with four rounds of trivia styles, from music and images to a surprise topic. Up to 100 players split into smaller mini-teams vie for the Turkey Day title in this fun-filled event.

NYC: The Random Acts of Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

Thanksgiving is a day to appreciate the good, and what better way to celebrate than with random acts of gratitude? This engaging adventure combines the team-building strengths of a scavenger hunt with the opportunity to anonymously or in-person show strangers or colleagues what a good deed looks like. The Random Acts of Gratitude challenge can include anything from helping a senior to making a company donation to a worthwhile cause. Check event listings for details, as the holiday scavenger hunt can run up to two hours for up to 200 participants.

NYC: Buche De Noel (Christmas Yule Log)

The Buche de Noel, or Christmas Yule Log, is among the best-known traditional desserts in Europe. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the delicious pastry can bring together the most diverse team. Participants learn how to prepare and decorate the luscious dessert, combining angel food cake, chocolate, and buttercream. Each attendee will go home with a Buche de Noel, so tell your colleagues and family to bring an appetite to the table after this event. The Buche de Noel runs for two and a half hours and welcomes groups of up to 16 people.

NYC: Ugly Sweater-Making Party

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, another engaging event for the holiday season is the Ugly Sweater-Making Party from CourseHorse Experiences. Of course, remember that beauty is subjective, so you may have to work hard to collaborate with your teammates to design the ugliest sweater. Consider this event a chance to combine creativity, team-building, and innovation. The Ugly Sweater-Making Party is available for up to 50 people in an hour-long challenge. Your host will also play holiday musical favorites and lead the group through fun-filled holiday trivia.

NYC: Holiday Terrarium Workshop

Up to 50 people can join in this 1-hour holiday workshop that's perfect for days when the winter winds make it too cold to stay outdoors. With an engaging and entertaining instructor at the helm, your team will learn how to create an attractive holiday-themed terrarium that will brighten any office space. Participants in this team-building activity arrange soil, air plants, and decorative materials to build the perfect holiday terrarium. Please note that the CourseHorse fulfillment team will ship all elements to your company location before the scheduled event.

NYC: New Year’s Mixology Celebration

The New Year’s Mixology Celebration is one of the most popular holiday favorites. Expert mixologists will guide your group in how to mix sophisticated cocktails in this festive, hands-on event. While not a competition like some holiday offerings, the New Year’s Mixology Celebration promises an engaging, casual session guaranteed to be memorable for all. This event runs for about an hour and a half and welcomes groups of up to 90 people.

Live Online Holiday Team Building Activities

Virtual holiday team-building activities can be just as engaging as in-person events and hold several advantages. One of the biggest is that more people can attend. Some live online activities allow as many as 150 or more, whereas in-person games may be limited to eight or 10. Consider some of the following live online holiday events you can attend from New York or anywhere.

Virtual Halloween Pumpkin Carving

Everyone loves a good Jack-o'-Lantern contest, and the Virtual Halloween Pumpkin Carving is a perfect way to celebrate the spookiest holiday. After booking, the CourseHorse event fulfillment team sends out a carving kit and gift cards for participants to purchase their pumpkins in advance. Count on communication, creativity, and teamwork as your group carves its pumpkins, along with some Halloween-themed trivia and challenges to keep the party moving. The family-friendly team-building activity is open to businesspeople and private parties of up to 100 and runs for an hour and 15 minutes.

Virtual Mixology: Halloween Mocktails

Another fun holiday workshop from CourseHorse Experiences is Virtual Mixology: Halloween Mocktails. This interactive event requires participants to use their teamwork and collaboration skills as a professional mixologist teaches them how to create hauntingly clever libations they can drink before driving. With names like The Night Crawler and Ghoul's Night Out, these delicious alcohol-free drinks will surely please the choosiest celebrant. The CourseHorse event fulfillment team sends participants their mixology kits and all ingredients before the event, so expect them to be ready to mix. Please note that a cocktails edition is also available.

Virtual Trivia: Thanksgiving

While Halloween might be your favorite annual event, most people agree that the holiday season officially runs from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. Kick off the celebration with a live online challenge by booking the Virtual Trivia: Thanksgiving game. This 1-hour event welcomes up to 200 participants split into smaller mini-teams. Expect to use soft skills like collaboration, problem-solving, and teamwork as your facilitator takes you through four rounds of trivia styles, from music and images to a traditional Thanksgiving topic.

Virtual Apple Pie Workshop

What could be more American than apple pie? Whether for Thanksgiving or Christmas, the Virtual Apple Pie Workshop (with optional appletini-making) offers a fun-filled way to get your team to celebrate. Bring your own materials to the event, which hosts up to 255 for up to two and a half hours of team-building, bonding, and holiday spirit. As a bonus, they can mix and sip appletinis while they learn to bake this all-American treat. The Virtual Apple Pie Workshop is also available as a customized catered event upon request. Check listings for more detailed information.

Virtual Holiday Card Workshop

Creativity, team-building, and innovation are essential when your group attends the Virtual Holiday Card Workshop from CourseHorse Experiences. Take a nostalgia trip to those long-ago school days when you created handmade holiday cards in class. This time, a professional artist will help guide your team as they design and paint beautiful watercolor cards for Christmas, New Year's, or the holiday of your choice. The Virtual Holiday Card Workshop is available for up to 100 participants and runs for 90 minutes or less.

Virtual White Elephant Team Gift Experience (BYO Materials)

White elephant gift exchanges are a fun, amusing way to celebrate the holidays without the pressure of searching for a present the recipient will enjoy. In a white elephant event, people exchange unusual or quirky gifts as each participant tries to get one they want. The Virtual White Elephant Team Gift Experience ups the ante by adding a holiday trivia contest as guests unwrap virtual gifts or “steal” them from other contestants. This challenge features a custom White Elephant game app and is available for up to 200 players in a 75-minute event. Check course listings for more information, including the option to host a premium gift package.

Gingerbread House Holiday Party

Another exceptional idea for a seasonal team-building activity is the Gingerbread House Holiday Party. Available for groups as large as 500 for up to 90 minutes, this engaging event combines the holiday spirit with a no-pressure challenge. Each participant receives a gingerbread house-building kit, including cookies, icing, and assorted holiday toppings before the event date. Let each of your team members celebrate their creativity and individuality as they craft a delicious edible creation. CourseHorse online activities are hosted live via Zoom but can also work on Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, or WebEx upon request.

Virtual Valentine’s Cookie Decorating

If Thanksgiving and Christmas have passed and you did not make time to book a team-building activity, don't despair. Great taste and romance are in store with the Virtual Valentine’s Cookie Decorating event. Participants in this delectable challenge receive their cookie decorating kit before the day of class, including cookies, frosting, and colorful sprinkles. Make this Valentine's a memorable one as your team creates edible artwork. The Virtual Valentine's Cookie Decorating activity is available for up to 250 participants for up to 75 minutes of delicious fun.

These virtual holiday events are among the most popular CourseHorse team-building activities but are far from the only ones. You can browse all virtual team-building activities at the CourseHorse website.

Additional seasonal team-building activities include:

Virtual Halloween Wool Felt Workshop
Virtual Gingerbread Haunted House Cookie Decorating
Virtual Trivia: Holiday Music Karaoke
Virtual Holiday Feud Frenzy
Virtual Private Trivia: Holiday Edition

Kelsey Kissner

Kelsey Kissner is a writer for Noble Desktop. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Ohio State University, a master’s degree in creative writing from London Metropolitan University, and a certification in UX Writing and Content Strategy from the UX Content Collective. Collectively, she has 15 years of experience in publishing and marketing spanning across a variety of industries, including education, fashion and retail, and the nonprofit sector. While working in the publishing industry, she managed the books and materials for construction, architecture, hospitality management, and various trades like HVAC, electrical, and plumbing. Kelsey's writing at Noble Desktop also covers a variety of professional training programs and career fields.

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Holiday Group Activities

Key Insights

Learn More About NYC Holiday Team Building Activities Courses

Why Host Holiday Team Building Activities?

What You’ll Do in a Holiday Team Building Activity

Analytical Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Creativity

Critical Thinking

Leadership

Teamwork

Time Management

How Long Do Holiday Team Building Activities Last?

What Are the Advantages of Hosting a Holiday Team Building Activity?

Best Holiday Team Building Activities in NYC

NYC: Halloween Party: Trivia & Scavenger Hunt

NYC: Halloween Cupcakes

NYC: Halloween Cocoa Bombs

NYC: Thanksgiving Trivia

NYC: The Random Acts of Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

NYC: Buche De Noel (Christmas Yule Log)

NYC: Ugly Sweater-Making Party

NYC: Holiday Terrarium Workshop

NYC: New Year’s Mixology Celebration

Live Online Holiday Team Building Activities

Virtual Halloween Pumpkin Carving

Virtual Mixology: Halloween Mocktails

Virtual Trivia: Thanksgiving

Virtual Apple Pie Workshop

Virtual Holiday Card Workshop

Virtual White Elephant Team Gift Experience (BYO Materials)

Gingerbread House Holiday Party

Virtual Valentine’s Cookie Decorating

NYC Holiday Team Building Activities Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Holiday Team Building Activities Training Locations in or Near NYC

NYC Holiday Team Building Activities
Corporate & Onsite Training