A company Christmas party works when every guest has something to do from the moment they arrive. Here are 12 company Christmas party ideas for Ogden-area teams: six built around bowling, laser tag, gel blasters and the arcade at Skinny Dogz, and six you can run from the office or downtown. Each idea names the team it fits best.
What Makes a Good Company Christmas Party?
A good company Christmas party fits three facts about your team: how many people are coming, whether families are invited, and whether the party happens during work hours or after them. Settle those three first, then use this table to match the work Christmas party ideas below to your team.
| Your team | Ideas that fit best |
|---|---|
| 10 to 20 people who like to compete | Gel blaster battle, arcade challenge |
| 20 to 100+ people across departments | Bowling tournament, laser tag rivalry |
| Leadership wants year-end awards and a sit-down meal | Buffet and awards night |
| Families and kids are invited | Family holiday party, Christmas Village walk |
| Attendance at past parties was low | Party during work hours, two shorter parties for shifts |
| The budget is small | Decorating contest, volunteer afternoon, Christmas Village walk |
| December is already full | January party |
Once you’ve picked an idea, our guide on how to plan a holiday party at a family fun center walks through the planning steps.
Company Christmas Party Ideas at a Family Entertainment Center
At a family entertainment center, corporate holiday party ideas come with the activities built in, so nobody on your team has to plan games or clean up. Skinny Dogz reserves group sections or a private event room for company parties. Staff handle setup, coordination and cleanup, and a dedicated host runs the day. Packages are built from six attractions: bowling, laser tag, gel blasters, the arcade, billiards and cornhole. Compare every package on the Skinny Dogz group events page.
1. A Bowling Tournament With a Year-End Trophy
Make the whole party one bowling tournament: teams by department, standings on the digital scoreboards, and a trophy that stays on the winning team’s desks until next December. Bowling works at every fitness level and keeps people talking between frames. Shoe rental is included. For bracket formats that keep 30 or more people bowling at once, see our holiday party games for large groups.
Best for: any team size, including people who usually sit out party games.
2. Laser Tag Teams, Department Against Department
Put sales against operations, or the front office against the warehouse, in the multi-level laser tag arena. Games run 10 minutes and are scored live, so you can post a leaderboard and play a final before the food comes out. Strategy counts for more than speed, which gives the newest hire the same shot as the CFO.
Best for: groups of 20 or more from two or more departments.
3. A Gel Blaster Battle for Smaller Teams
A gel blaster battle is a team mission with water-based gel beads, automatic scoring and no paint to clean up. Winning takes communication and a plan, which makes it a natural fit for leadership groups and sales teams. Gel blasters can be added to a bowling or laser tag package. For formats that work the rest of the year, see our list of team building activities in Ogden.
Best for: teams of 10 to 20, leadership offsites and sales teams.
4. An Arcade Challenge Scored in Redemption Tickets
Load a play card for every guest, split into teams, and count each team’s redemption tickets at the end of the night. Most tickets wins, and everyone still trades their own tickets at the prize counter. Racing simulators, shooters and ticket games run side by side, so nobody waits long for a turn.
Best for: relaxed groups, or a second activity during a bowling or buffet party.
5. A Buffet and Awards Night in a Private Event Room
The All Out Buffet package puts your party in a private event room for three hours, with two hours of bowling, laser tag or an arcade card, a 45-minute buffet, unlimited soft drinks and a party host. Run a 10-minute awards segment while people eat: a few light awards and one real thank-you from leadership. Add the photo op wall for a set of Polaroid-style group photos.
Best for: teams that want one sit-down moment for year-end recognition.
6. A Family Holiday Party the Kids Can Join
Invite spouses and kids and make it a weekend afternoon. Young kids bowl with bumpers, laser tag is open to all ages, and the arcade fills the gaps between rounds. Reserved group sections give families a home base while the kids move between attractions.
Best for: small companies, family-owned businesses and teams that want to combine the work party and the family outing.
Office Holiday Party Ideas You Can Run Without a Venue
These office holiday party ideas work in a break room, a conference room or downtown, and most cost little beyond time. Any of them pairs well with a venue outing later in the season.
7. A Party During Work Hours
Hold the party on the clock. Nobody needs a sitter, nobody drives home across Weber County after dark, and the people who usually skip evening events can come. A catered lunch in the office works, and so does a weekday outing. At Skinny Dogz, Monday to Thursday from 11 AM to 5 PM is the non-peak window, when group packages cost less.
Best for: teams with young parents, long commutes or low turnout at past parties.
8. A Department Decorating Contest
Give each department the same small budget and one week to decorate its area, then let the whole company vote. Announce the winner at the party. Because the contest runs all week, the holiday mood starts before the party does.
Best for: offices where teams sit together every day.
9. A Volunteer Afternoon as a Team
Spend part of the day giving back: a food bank shift, a coat or toy drive, or wrapping gifts for a local charity. Call the charity by early November to get a December date, then finish the afternoon with lunch or an outing together.
Best for: mission-driven teams and companies with a giving program.
10. An Evening Walk Through Christmas Village
Ogden’s Christmas Village fills the Municipal Gardens at 343 25th Street with decorated cottages and lights from the Saturday after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, and admission is free. It sits a few blocks from Skinny Dogz at The Junction, so a group can walk the village after dark and then head indoors for bowling or the arcade.
Best for: evening parties, families, and teams that want a local tradition in the plan.
11. A January Party After the Holiday Rush
Move the party to January and call it a New Year kickoff. A January weeknight usually needs one to two weeks’ notice for a group of 20 or more, while December dates need three to four. A January date also stops the party from competing with school concerts and family gatherings.
Best for: teams with a crowded December, and retail or service businesses that peak during the holidays.
12. Two Shorter Parties for Shift-Based Teams
If your team works shifts, one evening party leaves half the staff out. Hold two shorter parties, one at lunch and one in the evening, with the same food, awards and activity. Skinny Dogz is open daily from 11 AM to 11 PM, so both shifts can bowl on the same day. Each party needs at least 10 guests to book a package.
Best for: manufacturing, healthcare, distribution and any 24/7 operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a company Christmas party cost?
Cost depends on headcount, food and timing. At Skinny Dogz, group packages are priced per guest plus an 18% service charge, and Monday to Thursday daytime bookings (11 AM to 5 PM) cost less than evenings and weekends. Request a quote for an exact figure.
When should you hold a company Christmas party?
Any December date needs three to four weeks’ notice, and so does any Friday or weekend. A January weeknight is the easiest date to book, usually needing one to two weeks’ notice for a group of 20 or more, and it avoids the clash with family holiday plans.
Should a company Christmas party be during work hours?
Yes, if attendance matters most. A party on the clock removes childcare and commute conflicts, so more of the team can come. Hold it after hours if you want to invite spouses and kids or run a longer evening with dinner and activities.
How do you make a company Christmas party fun for everyone?
Give every guest something to do right away, keep speeches under 10 minutes, and offer a low-key option such as billiards, cornhole or the arcade for people who would rather talk than compete. Teams mixed across departments help people meet coworkers they rarely see.
Can families come to a company Christmas party at Skinny Dogz?
Yes. Bowling has bumpers for young kids, laser tag is open to all ages, and the arcade works for every age group. Reserved group sections keep families together while kids move between attractions.
What’s included when Skinny Dogz hosts a company party?
Packages are built from the six attractions (bowling, laser tag, gel blasters, the arcade, billiards and cornhole) and start at 10 guests. Staff handle setup, coordination and cleanup, with a dedicated host. The Big Dog and All Out Buffet packages include a private event room, and dietary accommodations, including celiac, are available on request.
Where can you host a company Christmas party in Ogden?
Skinny Dogz is at 2261 Kiesel Avenue, Suite 1, inside the Salomon Center at The Junction in downtown Ogden, open daily 11 AM to 11 PM. It hosts company groups of 10 to more than 100 guests from Ogden, Layton, Roy, Clearfield and across Weber and Davis counties.
Plan Your Company Christmas Party With Our Events Team
Send your headcount, your date and the idea you like best, and our events team will match it to a package. Most inquiries get a reply within 24 hours.
Or call (801) 627-4386 ext. 105, or email events@skinnydogz.com.
Written by the Skinny Dogz Events Team, the staff who book, plan and host company parties and group events at 2261 Kiesel Avenue in Ogden, Utah. The venue ideas in this post are drawn from the parties they run.
