Throw a Festive Party in Seattle Southside

Planning the Ultimate Holiday Party

Last Updated: July 23, 2026

Planning a corporate holiday party is a big job. Below, find tips for making your holiday party fun, memorable, and stress-free.

If you'd like personal guidance planning your corporate party in Seattle and the surrounding area, feel free to reach out to Explore Seattle Southside for ideas. Our team will gladly point you towards the best venues and vendors for your needs.

Book Early
Budgeting Basics
Find the Right Venue
Eats and Treats
Keep it Active
Get Them Home Safe

Book Early to Take Advantage of Venue Deals

Many venues, especially hotels, offer special perks and discounts for planners who book early. If you can start searching and talking to hotel salespeople as early as spring or summer, you'll likely get access to better deals. Check out our Deals page for promotions at Seattle Southside hotels. You can filter your search for "holiday" to pull up holiday deals.

What to Budget for Your Corporate Holiday Party

Party costs can add up fast, so you'll want to review the budget before doing any planning. The most expensive line items are typically the venue and catering, so you may want to choose those first. Then you'll know how much you have left for less consequential details such as decorations and favors.

Wondering how much to budget for catering? A 2024 survey by ezCater found that companies spend about $44 per guest on food and beverages. If cost is a concern, lunch and other midday events tend to be more affordable than dinners. In fact, the same ezCater survey found that more than half of employees said they'd want their holiday party in the afternoon during work hours. If you're set on an evening event, you could have a cocktail reception, rather than a sit-down dinner.

When it comes to picking a venue, avoiding the priciest options can save you a lot. Restaurants, community centers, and hotels are all great options to explore (more on that below). Note that hotels in Seattle Southside are typically 30% less expensive than those in downtown Seattle. (Browse dozens of options here).

Timing matters, too. Chat with venues about which days are most affordable, as many offer lower rates on less popular days. You could even consider hosting in November or January when rates tend to be lower.

Know Your Audience

Before planning the party, you may want to gather some information about attendees and their preferences. One easy strategy is to send a survey to the staff using a simple tool such as Google Forms or SurveyMonkey and include questions about what times and days they'd prefer to celebrate and whether they have dietary restrictions. A survey also allows you to gauge interest in various activities such as bowling, arcade games, and wine tasting.

Find the Right Venue

The best venue for your party depends on your priorities. Consider the below types of venues to see which best fits your needs.

Hotel Spaces

Many people mistakenly think hotels are only for large events like galas and weddings. But many hotels, including those in Seattle Southside, have a variety of different room sizes. These spaces can run the gamut from the small and cozy to the large and formal. Many of them also bundle deals for event space with food and beverage, making planning events easy. Just note that some hotels will not allow outside catering, so be sure to check their policy when planning.

Pictured: One of several event rooms at Seattle Airport Marriott in SeaTac, Washington.

Restaurant Spaces & Buyouts

Hosting your event at a restaurant is a great way to have food service built into your event. Some restaurants have private or semi-private dining spaces, which allow you to host your party during normal service hours. Other restaurants may require a full or partial buyout to host your party. Contact the restaurant you're interested in to discuss options for a buyout. Naturally, a restaurant would likely not want you to bring in outside food or drink, so be sure you're selecting a dining option that works for all of your guests. (Another reason that sending out a survey can come in handy!)

Pictured: Private event space at Pasifika NW Grill & Bar, at Foster Golf Links in Tukwila, Washington.

Specialty Spaces: Museums, Arcades, and More Attractions

To really wow your guests, have your holiday party someplace that doubles as a memorable attraction. Some popular options include:

  • The Museum of Flight (Tukwila): Wine and dine guests beneath vintage planes suspended from the ceiling, creating an elegant and awe-inspiring ambience.
  • Family Fun Center (Tukwila): Host your event at this indoor amusement park where they can play arcade games, race bumper cars, and challenge each other to bowling.
  • The Highline Heritage Museum (Burien): This local museum has a very special offering for private events - "glow parties" with glowing exhibits, place settings, and centerpieces.
  • K1 Speed (Tukwila): Book a room at this electric go-kart racetrack and let the staff race between bites.
  • Waterland Arcade (Des Moines): Rent out this retro arcade to give your staff hours of unlimited play.
Pictured: A private event at The Museum of Flight in Tukwila.

Standalone Event Spaces

For the maximum flexibility in food and drink vendors, a standalone event space is usually the go-to, as these spaces are not attached to restaurants and so do not have the same restrictions that hotels and restaurants might have. These are usually large spaces such as community centers, auditoriums, and similar spaces, and can range from the beautiful log cabin aesthetics of the Des Moines Field House, to the epic and sporty, like the ShoWare Center.

Pictured: The Des Moines Field House in Des Moines, Washington, set up for a private event.

Overwhelmed by options? Remember that Explore Seattle Southside can help you narrow down your choices. Contact meetings@seattlesouthside.com for expert guidance.

Eats and Treats: Selecting Catering Options for Your Holiday Party

Let's be honest, half the fun of a party is the food. There are several ways to approach catering:

  1. Choose a venue that includes food and beverage service. Hotels and restaurants are great options.
  2. Hire a catering company. Act3 Catering, based in Tukwila, offers full catering and staff. Many local restaurants will also provide catering or bulk food orders.

Next, choose between various setups:

  1. Plated Meals: Feels more formal. You may be able to offer guests a few options, but choices will likely be limited.
  2. Buffet-Style: A guest favorite because it allows them to choose between lots of dishes. Note that buffets can be more expensive than plated meals. However, if you order from a local restaurant (say, a local Mexican restaurant or wood-fired pizza parlour), you could set up a taco bar or pizza bar and let guests serve themselves.
  3. Appetizers and Bar Service Only: Typically, the most affordable option, but can still feel fancy and festive.

Consider Dietary Restrictions and Preferences

Make sure to be sensitive to guests' restrictions and needs. Some options you may want to offer:

  1. Vegetarian
  2. Vegan
  3. Gluten-free
  4. Free of common allergens such as peanuts
  5. Halal
  6. Kosher

Bar Service

First, check with the venue on their alcohol policy. Some venues offer bar service, as either a cash bar (where guests pay for their own drinks) or a hosted bar (where the host pays for the drinks). Some venues allow for a hybrid model in which some drinks are paid for and others are on the host's tab. You could have a drink ticket system, or offer only certain kinds of drinks for free. Remember: not everyone drinks alcohol, so having some good mocktails, N/A beers, or fancy sodas can be a nice way to be inclusive.

Party Favors and Goodie Bags

Edible gifts and small, locally made goods make great party favors. For example, we love Maeve truffle bites (formerly Seattle Chocolate), with their bright, seasonal packaging. Check out our local gift guide for ideas.

A group of smiling people toast with champagne at a holiday party

Party Activities for a Corporate Holiday Party

Having some organized activities makes the party more enjoyable. Some ideas to consider:

Secret Santa: Each employee draws the name of another employee at random and buys just that one person a gift, with a fixed dollar amount.

White Elephant Exchange: Everyone brings a small gift, then plays a game in which you can "steal" other people's picks.

Give back: Many workplaces choose to pool donations for charity. Guests could bring non-perishable foods to the event, or make cash donations for charity in exchange for raffle tickets for prizes.

Live music and dancing: Book a local band or DJ to spice things up.

Karaoke: Rent or buy a karaoke machine, or go to a venue that offers private karaoke rooms, such as Round1 Bowling and Arcade in Tukwila.

Help Party Guests Get Home Safe

If your party involves alcohol, you'll want to think about how you can help guests get home safely.

Reserve a hotel block: If you're hosting your event at a hotel, you could reserve a room block for your partygoers to crash after they get too festive to drive.

Encourage the use of public transit: Many Seattle Southside hotels and venues are located close to Link Light Rail, which can be used to safely get attendees closer to home before they take a rideshare service home.

Subsidize rideshares: You could pay for guests who need to call a Lyft or Uber, within a certain distance.

Ask for volunteer designated drivers: Before the day of the event, put out a call to all staff for those willing to abstain from drinking so they can provide rides to coworkers.

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And don't forget, if you need advice on transportation, venues, or anything else related to event planning in Seattle Southside, don't hesitate to reach out to meetings@seattlesouthside.com.

We've got a ton of experience in putting together events in our area, and we'd love to assist you with yours.

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