A 20-Step Planning Checklist for Holiday Events

The holiday season can be one of the busiest times of the year for event producers. Organizing a successful holiday event requires meticulous planning and attention to detail to get every last detail right. No matter what kind of holiday magic you are aiming to create, this comprehensive checklist will guide you through essential steps to ensure a memorable event for all.

The Basics

1. Define your event vision and goals: Start by clarifying the purpose and objectives of your event. What do you want to achieve as a result of your holiday event? This will guide your decisions throughout the planning process.
2. Develop a budget: Determine how much you're willing to spend on the event and where you want to allocate those funds. This will influence your choice of venue, decorations, catering, entertainment, and more, depending on what you can afford.
3. Set the date and time: When considering different dates, think about your intended audience and when they most likely would be available to attend your event. This will also help with picking out venues and other services based on their availability. 
4. Craft a comprehensive timeline: Having a timeline that will help you manage tasks efficiently is essential for your event. This should include everything from pre-planning to post-event follow-up. 
5. Prepare for unforeseen circumstances: Even with meticulous planning, unforeseen circumstances can arise at any holiday event. Develop contingency plans for weather-related issues, technical difficulties, or any other potential challenges.

Setting Up Your Space

1. Pick the perfect venue: Select a venue that aligns with your event's theme and can host the number of guests you are anticipating. 
2. Theme and decor: Holiday party planning isn’t complete without designing your space with a captivating theme that resonates with your audience. From the color scheme and decorations to music, ensure that every element falls in line with your chosen theme.
3. Test your event tech: Confirm that your venue is equipped with the necessary audio and visual equipment for any presentations, performances, or music. Test all equipment well in advance to prevent any last-minute mishaps.

Set Up Your Ticketing

1. Choose the right ticketing service: Work with an online ticketing platform that is customizable to fit all of your needs. Schedule a demo with Passage for your ticketing needs to see how easy it is to get set up in 60 seconds.
   

Experience and Activities

1. Catering and menu planning: If you want to provide food at your event, decide what you’d like to serve to guests. This could be as simple as a platter of appetizers to a full course meal. Then select a catering service that specializes in your selected type of cuisine and can design a menu that caters to various dietary preferences. 
2. Entertainment: Make sure to arrange live performances, carolers, DJs, or even a visit from Santa Claus himself, far in advance. Additionally, you can incorporate different interactive activities like ornament decorating or cookie-making stations to keep guests engaged during your event.

Staffing and Training

1. Hire an event team: If your venue doesn’t already provide staff, it’s important to recruit reliable team members who will make sure everything runs smoothly. Determine how many people you will need, then write up job descriptions of what you need help with, and begin your search.

Start Promoting

1. Create engaging social media content: Use eye-catching visuals and interactive content on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to promote your event and get potential visitors excited about attending.
2. Obtain media coverage: Media coverage helps to amplify your event’s presence on your local TV stations, newspaper, and more. Luckily, Passage has a free-to-use “Promote Your Event” feature that can get your event listed in hundreds of local media directories in seconds. 
3. Set up digital ads: Investing in digital ads can help drive ticket sales and traffic to your website or social media pages, all with the ability to target specific audiences by demographics. 
4. Optimize email marketing: Build and maintain a mailing list of both previous visitors and potential guests that fit in your target audience. Then send out reminders about upcoming events.
5. Get creative with swag bags: Invest in different merchandise and swag to give out at your event. This will help guests remember your event and leave them with more tangible memories they can hold onto. 

Evaluate for Future Improvements

1. Say “thank you”: Don’t forget to send guests a follow up email or make a post on social media to thank them for attending your event. This could include photo highlights or information on future events. 
2. Collect feedback: Encourage visitors to leave reviews and feedback, both online and in-person, to identify areas for future improvement.
3. Make the proper adjustments where necessary: Regularly assess your event and implement changes to enhance the guest experience and make future operations go even smoother.

Happy Holidays to All!

The holiday season offers a unique opportunity to bring people together and spread cheer and joy. By following this comprehensive checklist, you'll be well-prepared to create a festive experience that leaves guests filled with holiday spirit and wonderful memories. While you’re busy planning your holiday event, let Passage help out with your ticketing. Schedule a demo with one of our event experts, or start creating your first event now - it's FREE!