Holiday Planning – October 2023

The holidays will be here before you know it. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner and pose the perfect opportunities to host holiday parties. Business parties are a must around the holidays. To ensure your employees and clients have a great time, start planning now!

Where should you host the party? What food will you provide? Will there be gifts? Let the local professionals of Lincoln help you with it all!

Food that Entertains

It’s never too early to start planning your holiday party. And with October already here, you shouldn’t wait any longer to nail down the details of your company’s holiday party. You’ll want to consider how your party will progress from start to finish before making any commitments.

Within your budget, how much money can you allot for each detail of the party – the venue, the food, the decorations? Is it more important to have great food or amazing entertainment? Is there a way you can combine the two to save money? Doorstep Diner Catering (doorstepdiner.com) says yes.

Providing your party guests with fresh, quality food is a must. When booking Doorstep Diner Catering, you won’t have to worry about the food impressing your guests or making it to the party. Delivering from their doorstep to yours, they’ll make whatever venue and theme you choose work. Their always fresh, always from scratch themed catering will generate buzz that’ll last for weeks after your party.

The Gift of Wine

Though not all holiday parties involve gifts, they shouldn’t be overlooked altogether. Whether gifting wine or supplying wine for the party, it adds a touch of sophistication that most of your guests will enjoy and appreciate.

At James Arthur Vineyards (jamesarthurvineyards.com), they offer a variety of wine. From their award winning holiday wines to wine related accessories, they have the holiday season covered. “Two of our most popular holiday wines include our Sleighbell Blush and Santa’s Secrete. They are the perfect gift for a company gift exchange of a holiday gathering,” stated Owner Barb Ballard.

James Arthur Vineyards as a venue will take care of every detail of your holiday party, making it an unforgettable experience. They provide a place to hold small, intimate holiday parties. Not only providing the venue, James Arthur Vineyards also provides food and drink as well as any special requests that will help make holiday planning painless.

When choosing James Arthur Vineyards as a venue or as the brand of wine for a gift, be sure to reach out earlier rather than later. It’s always better to have the planning done early so you don’t have to worry about it as your party draws nearer. You’ll want to research their wines to choose the ones that will best fit your goals, and then book the venue early if needed. You never know what they’ll have up their sleeve, so reach out early to plan your best party yet!

Something for Everyone

Whether your business is small or large, finding activities that all of your employees and clients will enjoy isn’t an easy task. Everyone has their own interests and abilities, with some people preferring conversation-driven parties and others preferring to have fun and let loose. Regardless of what your business wants out of your holiday party, Sun Valley Lanes & Games (sunvalleylanes.com) is sure to have something for everyone – and then some. To ensure that you get every offering you want, book your event earlier rather than later.

“We believe that variety is the spice of life, and offer everything you can think of to keep you entertained,” shared Event Coordinator Jen Miseno. “We have something for everyone.”

Offering an arcade, bowling, hyperbowling, cornhole, laser tag, lucky putt mini golf and sand volleyball, as well as food and drinks, you won’t have to worry about if those attending your party are having fun. Sun Valley Lanes & Games will customize your party to fit your needs and your budget, relieving some of the stress of party planning. With them hosting your party, all you’ll have to worry about is your guest list and how they plan to get to and from the party. The party itself will be a massive success!

Holiday on Wheels

Some of the most fun company parties are those that happen unconventionally. To throw a party that no one will forget, and that everyone will enjoy, consider booking a party bus for your holiday gathering. Party buses provide a unique party atmosphere on wheels, complete with music, lights and a great time. At Tailored Dreams Party Buses (tailoreddreamslimousines.com), they provide a dream holiday experience that lives up to party bus expectations.

With available dates filling up a year in advance, they recommend scheduling your holiday party now. There is no guarantee that they will have buses available if you wait, and they don’t want you to miss out. Though they can’t guarantee availability, they can guarantee a great time for everyone, regardless of who is on your guest list.

“We know how to throw a party, and love hearing about the success afterwards,” shared Owner DeeDee Loomis. “We are known for great service and our ability to please every crowd.”

Their dependable, luxury fleet of party buses can accommodate 26-45 passengers. Buses include the Mirage, a 35 passenger pink party bus; the Oasis Party Bus, which holds 26 passengers; the Odyssey, a 28 passenger party bus; the Fantasy, a 35 passenger black party bus; the Disco, a 35 passenger gray party bus and the Executive, a 45 passenger party bus. All 35 passenger party buses are wheelchair accessible.

Safe and Convenient Transportation

Transportation for holiday parties is a vital component of ensuring that guests can enjoy the festivities safely and conveniently. Whether your party is held at a venue or your office, it’s essential to consider the needs of your guests. To encourage responsible drinking, promote ridesharing services, designated drivers or shuttle services for larger gatherings. Providing clear information about parking and public transportation demonstrates your commitment to their safety and ability to enjoy everything your party has to offer.

With Nebraska having some nasty winter weather, taking measures to address potential hazards and delays is crucial. By prioritizing transportation logistics, you can create an environment where guests can focus on the joy of the holiday season while minimizing transportation-related concerns.

Creating a comprehensive transportation plan for your holiday party involves clear communication with your guests well in advance – which means starting the holiday party planning process now. Ensure that everyone who will be attending has all the necessary information, such as addresses, contact numbers and transportation schedules.

For guests who may be coming from similar locations, encourage carpooling as an eco-friendly and cost-effective option. Not only does carpooling reduce the number of vehicles on the road, but it also allows friends and colleagues to share the journey and start having fun before the party begins.

You should also explore specialized event transportation services provided by local companies. These services are designed for occasions like holiday parties, offering group transportation to and from the event. They often provide convenience, comfort and a sense of luxury, which can elevate the overall experience for your guests.

Eastside Transportation LLC (eastsidetransportationllc.net), a local company dedicated to group transportation, knows how challenging traveling during the holiday season can be. Spending extra time to keep their vehicles well-maintained, clean and equipped with the latest technology, Eastside Transportation LLC strives to ensure your safety and convenience. They don’t want the worry of an accident to prevent you from having an unforgettable holiday party.

A Unique Gift

The gift of safety extends far beyond material possessions. It embodies the act of providing security, protection and peace of mind to someone, whether that someone be a loved one, a friend or a coworker. The gift of safety can take various forms, such as providing a safe home, ensuring access to healthcare, offering a secure location or, as D.E. Guns (deguns.net) prefers it, the protection of a firearm backed by classes teaching you how to best use it for your safety as well as the safety of others.

D.E. Guns offers several classes that introduce people to self-defense, handgun operation and safety and concealed carry. If you know someone that is interested in using firearms for protection, paying for one of these classes as a gift could prove to be invaluable. Plus, you won’t have to worry about your gift being a surprise – no one is going to guess this!

The Ideal Location

Though some businesses prefer to host their holiday parties at their office to be cost-effective and keep party planning simple, office parties aren’t feasible for all of us. One, office spaces often have limited room, making it difficult to accommodate a large number of guests comfortably. Two, the office environment is not conducive to creating a relaxed and festive atmosphere. The presence of work-related elements can make it challenging for employees to fully unwind and enjoy themselves. Some employees may feel uncomfortable with the idea of socializing in the same space where they work, as it blurs the line between their personal and professional lives. Lastly, office parties may have fewer entertainment options compared to dedicated venues, which often offer amenities like dance floors, stages for performances and specialized catering services. To say the least, our vote is to host your company’s holiday party outside of the office.

Whether entertaining clients or employees at your holiday party, the Talon Room comes as a highly rated venue. The Talon Room (talonroom.com) strives to provide a stress-free holiday party planning experience, which means that if you book them now, you won’t have to think about your party until it’s time to show up and enjoy it. By offering catering, bar service, decoration packages and venue setup and teardown, the Talon Room makes holiday parties fun for guests and easy for businesses, so long as your party isn’t bigger than 250 people – what a party that would be!

Owner Matthew Rogge firmly believes in exceptional customer service and unforgettable events. According to him, “We set it up, you make it a party! Getting out of the office for your holiday party means letting loose and having fun, so take advantage of everything we have to offer!”

The Talon Room is the ideal spot to host a party involving casino games, tailgate activities, live music, bingo, trivia or whatever other activities your guests are interested in. They can make all the activities holiday themed, so you won’t have to worry about holiday spirit. If you want a low-key party centered on talking, they can host for that too!

Catering a Hearty Meal

Driven by the passion of Firehouse Subs franchisees to serve their local communities, for the fifth consecutive year, based on recent Technomic Insight consumer data, Firehouse Subs® (firehousesubs.com) was named the number one brand in the restaurant industry that “Supports Local Community Activities.” When it comes to throwing your holiday party in support of your employees and clients, what better way than with another company dedicated to supporting the local community?

Firehouse Subs makes party catering a breeze, streamlining the ordering process to ensure you receive all the food you need and want. Founded in Jacksonville, Florida in 1994 by two brothers and former firefighters, Firehouse Subs is a brand built on decades of fire and police service and hot and hearty subs piled high with high quality meats and cheeses. Firehouse Subs is a restaurant chain with a passion for hearty and flavorful food, heartfelt service and public safety. With the ability to serve large groups of people efficiently, they are ideal for holiday parties – where we know everyone shows up just for the free, amazing food.

“Our Lincoln Nebraska family owned and operated Firehouse Subs locations take great pride in providing the best quality (and quantity) of subs! We use the best meats and cheeses for our guests. We can serve any size party, from 10 to 500 people! Parties, meetings and anything in between!” shared Owner Tom Mejstrik.

Don’t Forget the Dessert

Desserts at a holiday party are a cherished finale, adding an extra layer of warmth and delight to the festivities. They’re not just sweets; they’re a way to make the party special, cozy, fun and get guests in the holiday spirit. These sweet treats bring people together and create a sense of joy unlike any other.

In Nebraska, some of the most common holiday sweets include kolaches, poppy seed rolls, cherry pie, pumpkin pie, sugar cookies, caramel corn and homemade fudge – all of which are traditional favorites because of how delicious they are. However, for many of us that have tried baking, making these desserts to their full potential isn’t easy. If you really want to wow your holiday party guests, consider hiring a professional baker to ensure your sweets are incredible.

If you are planning a larger party, local bakery Sweet Things by Marcy (sweetthingsbymarcy.com) offers cupcakes and southern tea cakes by the dozen. Owner Marcy Haas encourages you to reach out in advance to ensure that all the desserts are fresh and ready for your party. Quality is of utmost importance to her, and quality dessert takes time.

“My bakery specializes in authentic southern-style desserts. Our desserts are made from scratch, with real butter, real vanilla and real love,” said Marcy. “My mother taught me how to bake basic southern staples such as biscuits, cornbread, tea cakes and sweet potato pie. I eventually played around with making pound cakes, cookies and other things, and put my 40+ years of baking experience to the test every day.”

Marcy has a wide variety of flavors and dessert options to choose from, many of which aren’t the most common. While it’s important to have some traditional desserts at your party, don’t hesitate to stray from the holiday norms. Marcy is happy to bake a dessert that will be on your guests’ minds for weeks.

Planning a holiday party involves a series of thoughtful steps aimed at creating a festive and memorable event. Though planning an unforgettable party can be stressful, the professionals of Lincoln are here to help you every step of the way. From choosing a venue, a menu and a theme to choosing entertainment and transportation services, Lincoln professionals know how to plan the best holiday party your business has ever experienced.