The Pre-Christmas Party Is No Small Thing Anymore

Pre-Christmas parties are back on companies' agendas, not because organising one has become more demanding, but because people are craving shared moments more than before. Many companies have in fact increased their pre-Christmas party budgets this year (US ezCater survey). If you think this is a return to the old format, just an evening out with a packed programme and plenty going on, it's still worth pausing for a moment.

In our experience, wellbeing and responsibility are no longer a new trend; they're a permanent part of how companies decide on their events. A string of evening activities is no longer reason enough on its own: staff and leadership alike ask why this particular event, and what it gives back. The answer is rarely found in the number of programme items.

Less bolted-on programme, more participation

The best approach isn't to trim the party, but to place it differently, and that's what we'd recommend. When the pre-Christmas party is built into the workday, an afternoon slot rather than after dark, more people manage to join, and the event reads as a natural part of working together rather than a separate celebration bolted on. In practice, this comes down to space above all: one flexible enough for both a short programme and more open time together, without having to build anything from scratch.

At the same time, the programme itself doesn't need to be big. A small, well-chosen piece of content is enough: the wow factor rarely comes from a performer or activity, more often from the space and the atmosphere. A central location helps here too, in a very practical way: it makes it easy for people to drop by for part of the event before other plans, or move on elsewhere right after.

Tuomas Järveläinen, who heads up the events side at Innovation Home, says a programme that works is one built together with an expert, going through what people actually want and bringing them into the programme rather than treating them as an audience in front of it. Even the formal part of an event is easy to make interactive, for example with Kahoot-style polls timed well around the breaks.

What's not worth cutting: genuine connection

One thing is still worth keeping firmly in mind: events still need, maybe more than ever, time for unstructured conversation and genuine connection. The value of that connection has only grown: hybrid work means people gather at the office together less often than before, and every so often a change of scenery outside your own desk is exactly what's needed. We've found that a relaxed atmosphere is enough on its own to create the kind of good feeling that no single programme item can produce. A pre-Christmas party is one of the few moments each year when the whole team is in the same place at the same time: room to meet and actually talk. These days, we think of face-to-face connection as a genuine luxury.

"When the space and the service just work, I can focus as the organiser on what matters most: people connecting with each other."

Akira Ropo, Tampere Chamber of Commerce, Executive Network

The timing supports this too. Pre-Christmas parties land in the darkest part of the year, but also its most atmospheric. It's a natural moment to pause, say thank you, and acknowledge a year's worth of work.

Make sure this "little" Christmas makes a big impact

Pre-Christmas party season doesn't wait for December: the best dates and venues are traditionally booked before midsummer. We repeatedly see that plenty of people still plan their events on a shorter timeline anyway, and expect a turnkey solution. With more events expected this year than in previous ones, the available options narrow even faster as the year goes on. If you haven't booked yet, now's a good time to get moving, while the space and date that best suit your people are still open.

Pikkujoulu is no small thing anymore, and it doesn't need to be a big undertaking either. The right space and a service that works take care of most of it for you.

In Kamppi, our event spaces flex from workshops to festive sauna evenings, right in the middle of the city. In Tampere, we operate through Finlayson Meetings: a stunning setting that works for anything from a smaller gathering to a private event for more than 100 people, with the whole area and its services adding an extra touch. At both locations, alongside a great atmosphere, you also get catering from our own kitchen, and we're happy to help plan the event itself.