The festive season is just around the corner, and with it comes a multitude of reasons to be full of Christmas cheer – presents, food, drink! And the one thing that everyone looks forward to at Christmas is the office party. So, what turns a good office Christmas party into a GREAT office Christmas party? Contributor Dave Bevan, MD – Alive.

Having a theme is a guaranteed way of adding excitement and sparkle to an event and this strategy is being adopted by more companies this year than ever before, according to live entertainment booking agency Alive Network. Alive’s own research has revealed the top Xmas party trends for 2017 – and offers some tips on recreating them…

1) Great Gatsby Christmas. Celebrate the roaring 20s in style with modern vintage bands, flapper dancers and a bootleg gin pop-up bar. Your cool-cat colleagues will be doing the Charleston and Foxtrot in no time – just make sure the champagne glasses remain filled.

2) Ski Lodge Getaway. Beers, waffle carts and live Oompah bands ahoy! Bring the Bavarian spirit to your Christmas party for a night of great music, dancing and DJ-accompanied après ski.

3) Glitter Ball Experience. A party about City style, glamour and dazzling entertainment; masquerade meets modern sophistication. Music should be Bacharach and Bublé, with wandering magicians adding to the glitz. Make sure you and your colleagues dress to impress!

4) Cirque de Noel. Roll up! Roll up! Recreate the magic of the Big Top by including funfair stalls to recreate all the fun of the circus. Tightwire performers add to the excitement, while death-defying fire performers will leave your colleagues gasping in wonder!

5) Hollywood Party. Take a walk down the red carpet with a Hollywood-inspired event that will have you and your colleagues photographed by the adoring press, or simply take selfies with any number of lookalike stars. Live West End singers provide the entertainment for a theme that your and colleagues will remember forever.

6) Whimsical Winterland. A magical and enchanting experience fit for Ice Queens and Kings, acrobats dance inside a shower of glitter and Ballerinas pirouette around Magical Snowdomes. Giant snowmen and snow covered trees add to the sense of wonderment.

7) Victorian Christmas. Deck the halls with boughs of holly and take your colleagues back to a time when Dickens introduced Christmas tradition to a nation. Think carousels, nut-cracker soldiers and live music by festive carol singers. The smell of roasted chestnuts and the addition of vintage photo booths all add to the Victorian Christmas experience.

8) Christmas Beach Party. Guarantee your colleagues feel-good vibrations with a tiki-tastic Christmas featuring island inspired food and a camper van cocktail bar. No need for winter coats – turn the heating up and opt for loud t-shirts and Bermuda shorts. Go for a classic beach theme with a steel band playing Christmas tunes, or switch it up for an Ibiza party vibe with accompanying DJ.

9) James Bond Party. The Bond resurgence is in full effect for 2017 since the announcement that Daniel Craig will be donning his bow tie as 007 for the 25th outing of the popular thriller. Martinis (shaken, not stirred) meet roulette tables and card games, with giant Scaletrix F1 racing and special agents let loose on the dance floor.

10) Christmas Karaoke. Turn the party into a Mariah-style sing-a-long where your colleagues take centre stage as the headline acts, belting out festive favourites. Sing like a diva? Or sound more like a drowning dog? It doesn’t matter! Bandaoke live bands provide the backing for you and your colleagues to sing your hearts out!

11) Candy Land Christmas. Adventure into the sweet unknown as ‘Drink Me’ Mad Hatter Martinis are served with ‘Eat Me’ biscuits. Bring out the inner child in you and your colleagues in a setting where rivers are chocolate and exciting bands and candyfloss girls perform around chocolate fountains. Performers entertaining on hover boards will certainly add to the experience.

12) Geek Party. Geek is the new chic! This theme is about embracing your inner geek as retro games meet Star Wars cool. Giant Nintendo Wii or racing car simulators will keep colleagues entertained for hours, while the UK’s best gaming band plays medleys from games such as Sonic, Mario and Pokémon. Decorate the venue with your favourite comic book super heros and simply have a blast!

“Most businesses are aware that they’re asking more and more of their staff – and the one way to thank them for their hard work is by throwing a Christmas party to remember,” explains Alive Network MD Dave Bevan. We’re seeing more companies opt for a themed party this year than ever before. It’s a great way of getting guests involved and celebrating together.”