Everyone loves Christmas. And these days, even the dreaded Christmas Party is throwing off the shackles and outdated perceptions, to arise as a new and contemporary event that is open, inclusive, and enjoyable for everyone. It’s been a big few years for those in the Christmas Party industry, and after a great deal of soul searching, change, and very hard work, it’s time to look forward to Festivities 2024.
It's funny how many trends move around, but that so many also stay the same. The industry has grown up to embrace every kind of culture, taste, food and alcohol preference, to become truly inclusive. But the rhythms of Christmas Party season stay the same. The big bold and high production events are well into the planning, but the smaller, boutique, and flexible ones are now looking at how they choose to celebrate the end of the year.
Equally, with so much changing on the plate, so much is staying the same, and it seems, away from extravagant themes and parties, more and more people just want the traditional Christmas. And who can blame them, the Christmas Dinner, done well, is the Queen of all roasts, and there can be nothing more festive than the smells of spices and seasoning that come off a well prepared Christmas table.
The food though has moved more elite and specialist. No longer a ‘tray-a-meat’ covered in stodgy gravy. There are new cooking and seasoning styles for locally sourced produce, vegetables and sides are given care to let natural tastes and colours shine through, and the trimmings pack so much of a punch, that less remains more on the plate. Even that once forgotten part of the Christmas table ‘the vegetarian option’ has been given new life and more options to choose from.
Not everything is so fine. Modern festive revellers, while cutting back on alcohol and overindulgence, still want the silliness of party hats, and the campness of crackers; its Christmas after all. When it’s all over they want space to return to families, and friends, without the need for a post party party, something calmer and dare we say it, more classy.
This is the essence of the Christmas Party of 2024, for groups as small as six, in isolated departments that just want to celebrate as a team. Or for larger affairs, but small enough for everyone to enjoy what Christmas is about; joy, reflection, and tradition.
From a Lime Venue Portfolio point of view, we like to think the right venue helps. Not just because they get the food, the entertainment, and the atmosphere. But because Christmas is about ‘local’; a global celebration done with those you care most about. Local venues, that offer a taste of the city or town your businesses is based in says something about that enterprise. It also means everyone is closer to home.
But it also says something different and creates anticipation in a whole different way. A castle, a country house, a football stadium, or a Cricket Ground, they all sell local, they support local businesses and they offer that wholesome mix of tradition and surprise; a Christmas Cracker of venue choice if you will.
It’s been a tough few years for everyone, there is no doubt about it. A cost of living crisis and high inflation will have left many people sore and keen to say goodbye to 2024. Businesses can do this in style and with class. They can do this with tradition but also empathy, not overindulgent, or old fashioned, but modern, caring, and contemporary.
Merry Christmas … when it arrives, from all at Lime Venue Portfolio.
