End of year events for teams that don’t all celebrate Christmas
Sydney teams are wonderfully mixed. Here’s how to run an end of year celebration where nobody feels like a guest at someone else’s party.
Picture a team of 40. Some celebrate Christmas. Some celebrate Diwali, Eid or Lunar New Year. Some don’t drink. Some have kids at home by 5pm.
A big Christmas-themed night out works for some of them. A well-planned end of year celebration works for all of them. Here’s how.
Start with the name
Call it an end of year celebration, not a Christmas party. It’s a small change that tells everyone they belong.
Keep the festive touches if your team enjoys them. Tinsel and Secret Santa are fine. Just make them optional, not the whole point.
Pick a time that works for most people
- Daytime beats late night. Parents, carers and early starters can come. Nobody worries about getting home.
- Avoid key religious dates. Check the calendar for major observances before you lock in a date.
- Mid-week can be better than Friday. It feels like a reward, not a lost weekend evening.
Read our guide to daytime versus night-time parties for a full comparison.
Make food and drinks work for everyone
- Ask about dietary needs in the RSVP, not on the day.
- Make vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and kosher options standard. Label them clearly.
- Treat alcohol as optional. Have great non-alcoholic drinks, not just water and soft drink.
- Keep the focus on the activity, not the bar.
At Anderson Events, every catering menu can cover vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and kosher needs. If you want a licensed bar, we need at least 20 days’ notice.
Choose activities anyone can join
The best inclusive activities have three things in common. Mixed teams, a clear role for everyone, and no pressure to be good at anything.
- Sports carnival with silly events. Egg and spoon, sack races and tug of war. Skill doesn’t matter. See the sports carnival.
- Trivia and quiz challenge. Mix generations and cultures in each team. Everyone knows something.
- Amazing Race. Puzzles, photos and challenges across the city. See the Amazing Race.
- Games Night In. Giant board games and card games. Great for introverts. See Games Night In.
- Family fun day. Invite partners and kids. See the Family Fun Day.
Celebrate the year, not just the season
An end of year event is a chance to say thank you. Use it.
- Run a short awards session. Mix serious awards with fun ones.
- Share three wins from the year in under five minutes.
- Thank the people behind the scenes by name.
Cultural celebrations can also happen at other times of year. Teams in Western Sydney often hold Diwali, Lunar New Year and Eid events at venues like Camellia Indoor Sports Centre near Parramatta.
A simple inclusive run sheet
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | Arrive, welcome drinks (non-alcoholic first) |
| 12:15 | Mixed teams announced, quick warm-up game |
| 12:30 | Activities: carnival events or trivia rounds |
| 2:00 | Lunch with clearly labelled dietary options |
| 2:45 | Awards and thank-yous |
| 3:15 | Optional drinks for those who want to stay |
Most people are home by dinner. Nobody misses out.
Plan an end of year event everyone enjoys
Tell us about your team. We’ll suggest formats, food and timing that work for everyone.
Get a free year end quoteFAQs
What should we call a work Christmas party if not everyone celebrates Christmas?
Call it an end of year celebration or end of year function. It keeps the festive feel without leaving anyone out. You can still add optional festive touches like Secret Santa if your team enjoys them.
How do we make a work party inclusive for people who don’t drink?
Make alcohol optional and build the event around an activity, not a bar. Serve good non-alcoholic drinks, hold it during the day and plan games or challenges that give everyone something to do. People stay for the fun, not the drinks.
What activities suit a diverse team?
Activities with mixed teams and no skill pressure work best. Sports carnivals with silly events, trivia, Amazing Race challenges and games afternoons all suit people of different ages, cultures and fitness levels.
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Anderson Events has run corporate sport and team events in Sydney since 2003. We're part of Sydney Sports Management Group, which also runs Camellia Indoor Sports Centre near Parramatta.