BEACH CURLING COMES TO LIFE
August 9, 2019
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER IDEAS FOR 2020
January 14, 2020
Ready to deck the halls? Whether it's an office holiday party or a brand activation, winter events are a great way to encourage team building and engage your employees, customers, and fans. To create a memorable winter event, it’s important to plan ahead to ensure that your event is as successful as possible. Along with lots of festive vibes, make sure you consider the following when evaluating winter event ideas:
Corporate Winter Event Planning
While many people don’t start thinking about winter celebrations until the weather gets cooler, it’s important to start planning early to ensure you create an unforgettable winter event. Start brainstorming your theme and creating a short list of venues in January, so that you can lock down your date and venue early in the spring.
When considering winter event venues, keep in mind details including venue accessibility, staffing requirements, and decor regulations. Make sure to inquire about when you can access the venue to set up before the event and how long after the event you have for tear down. Once you have your venue and date confirmed, you’ll be able to plan out the details including choosing the entertainment. Planning your winter event early allows to lock down the best date, venue, and gives you more options. See below for some of the common venues our clients use for their corporate Christmas party.
- At the Office
- Local restaurant or bar
- Hotel, convention center, or Casino
- Community Center
- Lodges and resorts
- Outside! Heated tents have been an emerging trend
Winter Event Budget
The size of your guest list will be a large factor in determining how far your budget can take you. Your venue and food and beverage offerings will eat up a large portion of your corporate winter event budget. The remaining funds can be allocated to additional decor and party entertainment.
The Street Curling Express Rink is a budget friendly option that is perfect for one-off events, giving guests a place to gather for some friendly competition. The Street Curling Pro Rink is the ultimate synthetic ice curling experience that is sure to be the hit of the party. The Pro rink is ideal for annual events and party rental companies.
Winter Event Promotion
Once you have the planning and budget allocation, underway, the next important step is promoting your event so that it is a success! With everyone leading busy lives it can be hard to convince someone to enjoy a night out - especially around the holiday season where you will be competing for their time. If you are inviting employees and corporate partners, set up an online RSVP and use a series of emails to invite guests and remind them of the party as the date approaches. Using email software you can set up a system that will send invitees emails on a schedule. For VIPS, consider mailing out invites that show off the theme and overall aesthetic of the celebration. Eventbrite is an awesome tool for both event promotion and managing attendees.
If your event is targeting the public, use social media as your main means for promoting your event. In addition to creating events and organic content, budget to spend money advertising your event so that the right people see it. Create a very targeted audience based on interests, location, and online activities for the most success and most bang for your buck.
Throughout your promotions, make sure you advertise the entertainment, the food & beverage options, and all the fun that will be had. See below for some of the best ways to promote your winter event.
- Advertise on Social Media
- Send out personalized emails
- Mail out personal invitations
- Share event in local classifieds
- Advertise on a local radio station
- Put up posters around the community
Food & Drink for Winter Events
Everyone loves snacking on delicious appetizers and enjoying a signature drink or two while celebrating. To bring your event to the next level, develop a food and beverage menu that follows the theme of the event. The options are endless from speciality hot chocolates to hearty appetizers like sweet & savouring bacon wrapped puff pastry twists. See below for some of the holiday and winter party staples.- Frozen Cocktails
- Hot Chocolate
- Egg Nog
- Mulled Wine
- Hot Spiced Apple Cider
- Turkey
- Glazed Ham
- Gingerbread
- Fruit Cake
- Poutine (Go Canada!)
Winter Event Entertainment
While people may love your decor and enjoy the food & drink spread, your entertainment will be the showstopper. Good entertainment transforms an event from a fun gathering to a can’t-miss experience. Whether you hire a band or play a combination of winter classics and today’s best hits, music will keep the atmosphere upbeat and fun. Create an open area in your event for dancing and mingling. Giving your guests an activity to partake in also adds to the experience of the event and gives people a place to gather.
To make your event memorable, give guests the opportunity to experience something truly unique. Most people have seen the Olympic sport of curling on TV and have thought about giving it a try (even retired NFL star Jared Allen is curling now!). Street Curling allows you to wow your guests with a synthetic curling rink at your next event. You’ll hear celebratory cheers and competitive chirps as your guests experience all the fun of the sport.
With rental and purchase options available, contact us to find the right Street Curling set up for your next event. Our Street Curling experts can help you with all aspects of the activity, including signage, tournament design, and installation.
