While many companies go the extra mile to celebrate the holiday season with their employees, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners often find themselves excluded from such festivities. These individuals need coworkers to share the joy with and usually don't have access to corporate-sponsored holiday events.

What these ostensibly isolated individuals have is a community of people they can celebrate with at their coworking space. Organising a holiday party at a coworking space can inject a much-needed dose of festive spirit into this time of year, which is a rather solitary period for those who primarily work independently.

Lorna Turner, Sales Director at Flexioffices says ‘ "Inclusivity and community are at the core of our coworking philosophy. The holiday season can be a lonely time for freelancers and small business owners, and it's our mission to bridge that gap. We believe that celebrating the holidays together not only fosters a stronger sense of community but also enhances the overall coworking experience, making it a truly special and memorable time of the year."

1. Participate in a Local Community Charity Event

Harness the holiday season's spirit of generosity by organising an event or drive for a local charitable organisation, offering your coworking space community a meaningful opportunity to come together while contributing to the well-being of your local community. Additionally, this endeavour can serve as excellent publicity for your coworking space and the businesses of your participants if it garners attention from local residents.

Select a cause that deeply resonates with your coworking community and explore options like volunteering with a related charity or collecting donations on their behalf. Holiday-related volunteer opportunities could involve serving meals at a local soup kitchen, gathering gifts for underprivileged children, or assembling care packages for the homeless.

2. Host a Game Night

For a relaxed and enjoyable holiday party at your coworking space, consider arranging a game night for your members. Provide an array of board games or encourage participation in classic games like Charades and Pictionary.

The beauty of a game night is its flexibility; you can tailor it to your coworking space's preferences. For instance, if everyone celebrates Christmas, you could incorporate Christmas-themed trivia or have individuals act out holiday-related clues in charades. Alternatively, you can opt for a more inclusive approach by excluding specific holiday references and focusing on the shared enjoyment of the moment.

3. Office Olympics

Office Olympics ideas are fun and exciting games that get everyone in your coworking space involved. The most important part of the Office Olympics is getting organised. Post a schedule of events that everybody can get involved with. Often these are spread out over the whole day, but with so many people working to different deadlines, it might be best to keep them between 12-2 or to have them spread sporadically throughout the day.

Don’t team up within your already tight-knit group, try to get to know each other and mix yourselves around. That way the activities can be a fun group activity where everyone has the opportunity to earn medals. 

Plan a series of fun and lighthearted competitions or games within the coworking space, such as chair races, paper snowball toss, or desk chair curling. Keep the competitiveness at a fun level, stay safe and you’ll have plenty of fun with any of those activities and more. 

4. Icebreaker Games

Beyond the desks and coffee machines, coworking communities thrive on icebreaker games like "Two Truths and a Lie" and "Human Bingo." These games encourage those in coworking spaces to get out of their comfort zones by sharing intriguing details about one another. Whilst you may not work with them, they are easy ways to make friends outside of your bubble. More cynically, they are great networking opportunities for freelancers and small businesses.

5. Plan a Holiday Wellness Gathering

Recognising that the holiday season can be a stressful period for many, consider an alternative approach to ease the stress at your holiday party. Instead of offering alcoholic beverages and baked goods, organize activities that promote physical and mental well-being.

Invite a yoga or dance instructor to lead a class, host a group meditation session, or arrange for a speaker to discuss workplace health practices. Encouraging your coworking community to explore and engage in these beneficial physical and mental health activities can inspire productive New Year's resolutions and contribute to a happier and healthier work environment.

6. Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Organising a Secret Santa gift exchange in your coworking space is a fantastic way to foster a sense of camaraderie and excitement during the holiday season. To ensure that everyone can participate and enjoy the experience, set a reasonable spending limit that accommodates varying budgets. This approach keeps the gift exchange budget-friendly and inclusive, ensuring that no one feels financially burdened by the activity. 

Nobody really knows their colleagues, so being in a coworking space doesn’t change how personal these gifts will be. Just try to be thoughtful and don’t offend anyone and you should be fine. 

7. Office Decorating Contest

Spreading holiday cheer can begin right in your coworking space, and a festive decorating contest can be a delightful way to do so. Encourage your coworkers to deck the halls of their workspace with colourful lights, tinsel, wreaths, and all things holiday-themed. The competition element adds an exciting dimension, as participants vie for the title of "Best-Decorated Workspace." 

This contest not only instils a sense of friendly competition but also cultivates a cheerful atmosphere throughout the coworking space. Without a central theme for the whole office, you will have an eclectic bunch of workspaces that everyone can enjoy

8. Potluck Dinner

Sharing a meal has always been a cornerstone of holiday celebrations. Hosting a potluck dinner in your coworking space is a surefire way to bring everyone together. The only thing to keep in mind before setting it up is to make sure that all allergies, food intolerances and food preferences are taken into account. 

With a workforce spread over multiple industries, you are more likely to have workers with more diverse backgrounds coming together for this potluck. It’s a great way to bond, share recipes and enjoy each other’s dishes.

9. Coworking Space Movie Night

Movie nights are a classic way to unwind and enjoy the holiday season's spirit. By arranging a movie night in a shared common area of your coworking space and screening classic holiday films, you create a cosy and inviting atmosphere where coworkers can relax and bond over shared cinematic experiences. 

You don’t even have to have set times to watch these movies. Set up a watchlist of classic holiday movies and let it run throughout the day. Coworkers can drop in and out of the common area to unwind and enjoy some holiday classics. If there is a demand, then you can continue this watch party after working hours. 

10. Holiday Playlist Share

An office-wide Christmas playlist is less intrusive than a classic holiday movie watch party.

Creating a collaborative holiday music playlist in your coworking space allows coworkers to add their favourite festive songs, transforming the shared environment into a celebration of all things Christmas. Even if you don’t have a full-blown Christmas party, a holiday playlist, is a small gesture that can have a significant impact on brightening the workday during the winter months.