Host A Virtual Celebration for the Holidays Using Microsoft Teams
With Microsoft Teams, it’s easier than ever to have a virtual celebration for the holidays to ensure everyone is safe yet together, while they’re apart. Virtual celebrations are a safe and easy way to stay in touch with your family, friends, and loved ones. Businesses and organizations can also benefit from virtual celebrations, using them for team building and togetherness while employees are remote. Pen Publishing Interactive is a Microsoft Partner and would like to share some insights into how to have a successful, virtual holiday using Microsoft Teams. We’ve also created a list of 10 activity ideas to make your holiday celebration fun!
How to Get Started with Your Teams Event:
1. Organize your meeting
You’ll want to coordinate with coworkers, family, or friends beforehand to pick a day and time that works best for everyone and gather email addresses of attendees. The organizer will need to create the event within their Microsoft Teams account. Keep in mind, as long as the organizer of the event has access to Microsoft Teams, the rest of the participants don’t have to have Teams! Users without teams will use a link that is emailed to them for access and simply set a guest name, no login required!
2. Add the Meeting to the Calendar and Send Invitations
- In Microsoft Teams – open your calendar and go to the day your event will take place.
- Double click on the day and time you’ve chosen for the event.
- Start entering your event details such as title, attendees, time, etc.
- You can invite attendees that are outside of your organization by simply entering their email address in the “add required attendees” field.
- This will send them an email notification where they will be able to access the virtual meeting when you click “Send”.
3. Join the Meeting
Attendees will get an email notification with event information and yes, no, or maybe options for attendance. It also includes a link to join the meeting and an option to add it to the calendar on their device. When added to the user’s calendar, a reminder will be sent about the event and the calendar entry will include the link to join the meeting as well.
On the day of the event, users can use the link they were sent (or the link from their calendar entry) to join. The organizer will get a reminder through Teams but can also go to their calendar in Teams and click on the event and then click join the meeting.
With a few simple steps, you can celebrate the holidays safely and easily with your coworkers, friends, or family. Microsoft Teams makes it easy to be together, even when you’re apart.
How to Make Your Virtual Holiday Event Fun
Are you wondering what you’re going to do to make your virtual holiday event fun for everyone? Whether you’re teambuilding with your business or organization or catching up with relatives and friends, you’ll need to plan some activities to make it fun and inclusive for everyone. Keep reading for some activity suggestions!
1. Play a Game
There are tons of games out there that you can play virtually. Virtual bingo, Jeopardy, scavenger hunts, trivia, Pictionary, and more are easily accessible with a quick browser search. Find a game that is right for the age group and nature of your event and share virtual materials as needed.
2. Share Your Screen
Since your event will be virtual, you can easily share images and videos from your device with others at your event. For instance, you could have a PowerPoint presentation of your favorite pictures from the year ready to share with the group.
3. Share What You’re Thankful For
Have an attitude of gratitude. Take turns listing things you are thankful for this year! Share some positivity and light with your team or loved ones and get everyone into a positive mindset.
4. Open Gifts or do a Virtual Secret Santa
Gift giving is easy to do through the mail and you can open presents with the gift givers virtually! Send gifts ahead of time if needed and carve out some time during your event for virtual unwrapping.
5. Make a Toast
Celebrate the wins, successes, and growth by making a toast! Invite attendees to have the drink of their choice ready to raise to toast the good together.
6. Watch a Movie or Show Together
Stream a holiday movie or show and watch it together as a group.
7. Organize a Recipe Exchange
Although you can’t be together, you can still share delicious food! Organize a virtual potluck and prepare a virtual version of your favorite recipe to share with the group!
8. Host a Happy Hour
Depending on the age group and nature of your event, virtual happy hour is a great way to wind down, relax, and chat with your coworkers, friends, or family without having to go out to a bar or restaurant.
9. Have an Ugly Sweater Contest
Invite attendees to wear their best, or worst, sweater to your gathering. Then, create a poll where attendees can vote on the winner.
10. Participate in Group Crafting
This activity requires some planning ahead of time and gathering of materials, but it can be a great success! Choose the type of crafting you’ll do as a group and make a list of materials needed. It can be as simple as paper and markers for a guided drawing game to gingerbread, frosting, and candies for a gingerbread house competition. Get creative with your group and choose an activity that suits everyone.
The Pen Publishing Interactive Team Is Here to Help
We hope this article was helpful to everyone wishing to celebrate the holidays virtually. The Pen Publishing Interactive Team celebrated an early Thanksgiving together and enjoyed some team-building games and sharing of recipes. If your business or organization is interested in implementing Teams to work together in a cohesive manner, no matter where the office may be, we’re here to help. Contact us today to see how your team can start sharing, collaborating, and growing with the tools and applications available through Microsoft 365.