You know it's going to happen soon. Your boss, one of your team members - maybe even the intern! - is about to throw it out there: "What are we planning for the holiday party this year?" And everyone will inevitably chime in.
"Oh! How about an ugly sweater party?"
"Or we could do a white elephant thing..."
"Let’s get a photo booth!"
Everyone murmurs in agreement that the ugly-sweater-white-elephant-photo-booth party sounds great, and so it’s decided. Somebody (bless their heart!) tries to delegate planning tasks to the team.
Bob can’t do it - he’s out traveling for the next two weeks. Susan just got pulled onto the major project that's due before the end of the year. Everyone in Sales needs to make sure they're on track to hit their Q4 numbers, Ops needs to make sure orders are all fulfilled, and Customer Service is obviously out (“We’re slammed!”). Marketing? They’ve gotta finish the 2021 plan in two weeks. And Engineering is already working overtime to keep up.
Everyone starts thinking the same thing, until somebody finally says it out loud.
"We could just go to that bar we always go to. You know, the one we go to every time we do Happy Hour?"
And everyone begrudgingly agrees...
...EXCEPT YOU!
Because you've read this article, which means you have some EPIC ideas about easy-to-plan company outings that will be WAY more fun than just going back to that Same. Old. Bar.
Here it is: Our List of the Best Denver Office Holiday Parties - one for each personality on your team.
[ftoc]1.) “The Beer Lovers”
Drink in Denver’s history at its best breweries with Denver Microbrew Tour
Explore Denver Craft Beer with Denver Microbrew Tour. Credit Denver Microbrew Tour
Ideal if you want to... immerse yourself in Denver’s craft beer scene and learn some colorful, quotable local history.
Cost: $40 / person for public tours, $50 / person for private tours.
What's Included? Local guide, 10+ beer samples from 4 local breweries, scandalous stories from Denver’s checkered past.
Not Included: Food (but upgrades are available)
Length of Activity: ~3 hours
Location: Routes in LoDo and RiNo
Looking for an activity that works for pretty much anyone in Denver? Since loving craft beer is basically a requirement for residing in the Mile High City, the Denver Microbrew Tour is a great choice for nearly any team. On the guided tour in RiNo, you’ll have the chance to:
- peek behind the scenes at a German-style brewery whose all copper brewhouse was built - by hand! - in Germany in 1932
- taste the best dry ciders in Colorado
- see the most inviting brewery in Denver
- finish your tour at a brewery founded by former punk rockers.
Learn More and Book: https://www.denvermicrobrewtour.com
2.) “The Foodie’s Choice”
Eat your way through Denver with Savor Denver Food Tours
Taste your way through Denver with Savor Denver. Photo Credit Savor Denver
Ideal if you want to... indulge in Denver’s hottest restaurants.
Cost: $59 / person for public tour, $69 / person for private tours.
What's Included? Local guide, tours and tastes at 6 local eateries.
Not Included: Drinks (but you can upgrade your ticket to include 3 cocktail tastes)
Length of Activity: ~3 hours
Location: Downtown Denver
Is your office full of foodies who have been dying to check out Denver’s erupting restaurant scene, but just haven’t had the time to get out? The Savor Denver Food Tour hits all five senses. On this tour in LoDo, you’ll visit 6 local eateries and sample gourmet eats at each one. Stops include:
- a hot dog stand that was recently ranked on Forbes’ list of America’s 10 Best Hot Dogs
- a spot that serves up sheep’s milk cheese that was featured on the Bravo series Top Chef, and
- TWO restaurants with James Beard Award-winning chefs.
Learn More and Book: https://www.savordenverfoodtours.com/
3.) “The Jokesters”
Laugh your @#&! off at Voodoo Comedy Playhouse
Laugh your @#&! off at Voodoo! Photo Credit Voodoo Comedy Playhouse.
Ideal if you want to... see the best comedy in Denver and go home with your cheeks hurting.
Cost: Varies depending on the show.
What's Included? Guaranteed hilarity (and team building!).
Not Included: Food or Drinks
Length of Activity: Most shows run about 1 hour, but once you’re in the door, you can stay as long as you want.
Location: 1260 22nd Street, Denver, CO 80205
If you’re always laughing together at work OR you want to get to know each other better, this is where it’s at. Voodoo Comedy Playhouse has it all - whether you pick improv, sketch comedy or stand-up, your team will have a blast. For example, check out:
- Hit and Run Musical Improv (every Friday night) or
- LMAO Stand Up Comedy Showcase on December 22.
And if you really want to take it to the next level, they also offer private improv workshops: instructors from the Voodoo School of Improv come to your office to increase your team’s collaborativity (yes I just made that word up) through exercises that challenge you to think on your feet. The result? Improved presentation skills, confidence and morale.
Learn More and Book: https://voodoocomedy.com/
4.) “The Competitors”
Challenge your coworkers at Archery Games Denver
Archery Dodgeball is now a thing. Photo Credit Archery Games.
Ideal if you want to... battle adventurous office mates for sweet victory (and water cooler bragging rights).
Cost: $25 / person per session or $450 per session for groups of up to 20 players.
What's Included? A 75-minute session of Archery Dodgeball
Not Included: Food or Drinks (but you can BYO either - or both!)
Length of Activity: ~3 hours
Location: 5405 W 56th Ave, Unit D Arvada, CO 80002
Yes, you read that right - Archery Games Denver is bringing “Archery Dodgeball” to the Denver metro area, and it looks amazing. I’ll let them tell you about it: “Two teams battle it out with bows and foam-tipped arrows from opposite sides of the arena. Tag all of the opposing players with arrows to eliminate them from the game and win!” They offer 8 different game types for you to choose from, including Elimination, Engineer and Zombie Apocalypse, where “players are never actually out, they merely cross over to the other side and keep firing!” Rad.
Learn More and Book:https://www.archerygamesdenver.com/
5.) “The Art Buffs”
Dive into Denver’s street art scene with Denver Graffiti Tour
Check out RiNo Art. Photo Credit Denver Graffiti Tour + artists @artbyhex, @onver_one
Ideal if you want to... get the inside story of Denver’s hottest neighborhood
Cost: Starts at $30 / person with a $250 minimum for private tours.
What's Included? Guided tour of RiNo and its cutting-edge street art, murals and graffiti by local and global artists.
Not Included: Food or Drinks
Length of Activity: 2 hours
Location: RiNo Arts District
If you haven’t been to the RiNo Arts District recently, well… what are you waiting for? Nearly every wall in the neighborhood has become a canvas for eye-popping, innovative and controversial art from local, national and international artists. The Denver Graffiti Tour takes you on graffiti’s journey from illegal “tagging” to mainstream muralism, and reveals the stories behind RiNo’s most provocative street art pieces.
The best part? Even if you’ve been on the tour before, the ever-changing artistic and political landscape means there’s a good chance that the mural that absolutely floored you last summer isn’t even there anymore! Each year in early September, the world-renowned Denver urban art festival Crush Walls brings in new artists to cover new walls and paint over past masterpieces.
Learn More and Book:https://www.denvergraffititour.com/
6.) “The Future American Idols”
Sing your heart out at Voicebox Karaoke
Private Karaoke at Voicebox. Photo Credit Voicebox.
Ideal if you want to... let loose off the clock with your crew.
Cost: $90 - $140 / hour per room at peak times; less at off-peak times.
What's Included? Plush karaoke room with a flat screen TV, two microphones, remote-controlled song selection and an attentive staff.
Not Included: Food or Drinks
Length of Activity: ~2 hours
Location: 2601 Walnut St, Denver, Colorado 80205
Ready to get your team members out of their comfort zones? Voicebox offers private suite karaoke for groups of 6-10 and larger suites for bigger groups. It’s all the fun of karaoke without the “I’m being judged by total strangers” anxiety. Just picture Josi from Accounting singing “Thunder Road” to Alex from Shipping, who’s laughing so hard he’s crying. Bonus points if you start your team off with the RiNo Beer and Graffiti Tour before heading over to Voicebox.
Learn More and Book: https://voiceboxkaraoke.com/parties/team-outings/
7.) “The Explorers”
Plan a Denver scavenger hunt with Urban Party Adventure
Design your own urban adventure. Photo Credit Urban Party Adventure
Ideal if you want to... energize your outgoing group with an on-the-move city safari.
Cost: $20 / person for groups of fewer than 40; less per person for larger groups.
What's Included? A customized list of tasks, food and drink specials, and a prize for the winning team.
Not Included: Food or Drinks - you purchase them on the hunt
Length of Activity: ~4 hours
Location: Generally Downtown, but can be customized.
Keep everyone on their toes with some inter-department competition. Break your staff into groups and embark on an Urban Party Adventure. What’s that, you ask? It’s what happens when you mash up a bar crawl and a scavenger hunt. Each group heads to the host bar of their choice to pick up a customized list of tasks (with instructions) that can all be completed in the area. Each adventure includes about 50 tasks, many as simple as shaking hands with a bearded man, some that involve a bit of exploring and a few that demand serious silliness.
Learn More and Book: http://www.urbanpartyadventure.com/
8.) “Nerds Rule!”
Complete your Mission at Puzzah!
Solve a puzzle with your coworkers! Photo Credit Puzzah!
Ideal if you want to... harness the power of your team of brainiacs and unlock the secrets of the puzzle room.
Cost: Private groups (up to 50 people) start at $35 / person.
What's Included? A 60-minute puzzle room experience and a Puzzah! Brainy Box.
Not Included: Food or Drinks
Length of Activity: ~1.5 hours
Location: 1440 Blake St #150, Denver, CO 80202.
If your grandmother even knew what an escape room was, this wouldn’t be it. Puzzah! offers live-action, interactive puzzle room experiences. The moment your team opens the puzzle room door, you enter another world where you’ll have to work together to solve challenging and technologically-advanced puzzles. You’ll need every ounce of wit and creativity if you’re going to beat the clock in this unforgettable hands-on adventure!
Learn More and Book: https://www.puzzah.com/
And now that you’re already the most popular person in the office...
Whichever of these amazing parties you choose, make sure you help your coworkers and employees get home safely! Consider buying a handful of gift cards for Lyft or Uber and have them available for anybody who even looks like they might need one. It's a convenient and thoughtful way to buy them a ride home and you some peace of mind.
You live in Denver and there’s so much to do, so have a blast this holiday season. The Office Holiday Party will officially never be the same! ...With apologies to the bar on the corner. Let us know in the comments below which party you chose, and give us some juicy details about how it went for your team!
