The best small team holiday party ideas for 10–20 people are activities your group can split into and then regroup around: parallel escape rooms, an X-Grid tournament, free-roam VR in rotations, a splatter room session or a golf simulator lounge at Delta. At CipherX, group sessions are private with no strangers mixed in. A coordinator can combine two activities into a 2–3 hour evening at either location.
Small teams have a real advantage over big ones: everyone can actually talk to each other. The trick is choosing formats that keep 10–20 people busy without anyone stuck on the sidelines. Below are five ideas that fit, what they cost per person, and a sample evening you can copy.
Why activities beat another restaurant booking
At a long dinner table, a team of 15 turns into three separate conversations. An activity puts people who don’t usually work together on the same side for an hour, then gives everyone a shared story to talk about over food.
It also takes pressure off the organizer. You don’t need an agenda full of speeches or icebreakers because the activity does the work. And since CipherX group sessions are private, your team won’t be sharing a game with strangers.
Five holiday party ideas for 10–20 people
1. Parallel escape rooms, then compare times
Each CipherX location has four themed rooms built on-site, each for 2–6 players, with a live Game Master. Games run 60 minutes at $35 per person. Multiple rooms can run at the same time, so a team of 12 can split into two or three rooms, and a team of 20 into four rooms of five, subject to availability on your date.
When everyone is out, compare escape times. Rooms range from beginner to expert, so hand out bragging rights per room rather than naming one overall winner, or give the team in the hardest room a head start in the rankings. Browse the escape room lineup to match rooms to personalities.
2. An X-Grid tournament
X-Grid is an interactive light-up sensor floor with live leaderboards and team game modes. Sessions take 2–10 players and run 30–60 minutes, from $30 per person. A team of 10 fits in one session. For 20, make X-Grid one half of a rotation so ten people play while the rest do something else. Remind everyone that closed-toe shoes are required.
3. Free-roam VR in rotations
Free-roam VR uses wireless headsets, so players walk freely through the game. Sessions take up to 6 players, run 30–60 minutes and cost $30–40 per person. The Coquitlam location runs HeroZone games, while Delta runs VEX VR Adventures and Spawnpoint titles with haptic vests. Because six is the cap, free-roam VR works best as one stop in a rotation rather than the whole night for a team of 15.
4. The splatter room for a creative, low-pressure hour
Not every team wants a competition. In the splatter room, everyone paints their own canvas, then it’s on to a blacklight UV paint battle. Sessions run 60 minutes at both locations, suits and gear are included, and each person takes a canvas home. Ask the team for group pricing.
5. A golf simulator lounge at Delta
For a team that prefers conversation to competition, the golf simulator at CipherX Delta takes 1–6 players per booking, is rented by the hour and comes with clubs and 100+ courses. It’s a Delta-only option, and it pairs well with an escape room for the rest of the group.
What a small team party costs per person
These are the per-person prices listed on the CipherX site. Confirm current pricing in your quote, and keep in mind that food and extras are separate.
| Activity | Group size | Length | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escape room | 2–6 per room, multiple rooms at once | 60 min | $35 |
| Free-roam VR | Up to 6 per session | 30–60 min | $30–40 |
| X-Grid | 2–10 per session | 30–60 min | From $30 |
| Splatter room | Ask the team | 60 min | Ask for a quote |
Example math: an evening with one escape room and one X-Grid session starts from $65 per person ($35 plus from $30). For a team of 12, that’s an activity budget from $780 before food. The rage room, at $50 per person with 12 glass bottles, a car windshield and full protective gear, makes a good optional extra for the people who want to blow off some year-end steam.
For food, ask about catering add-ons when you enquire, or book a dinner reservation for after the games. Branded materials can also be arranged on request if you want the night to feel like a company event.
A sample evening for a team of 16
Here’s one way to run a weeknight party for 16 people. Your coordinator will adjust it to room availability and your chosen location.
- 5:45 PM, arrive: Everyone arrives 15 minutes early for the briefing and waivers. Ask people to sign the waiver online beforehand to speed things up.
- 6:00 PM, round one: Split into three escape rooms of five or six. Mix departments on purpose.
- 7:00 PM, round two: Ten people take on an X-Grid tournament while six head into free-roam VR.
- 8:00 PM, food and a toast: Enjoy catering you’ve arranged in advance, or head to your dinner reservation. Announce the escape room and X-Grid winners here.
That’s about two and a half hours, long enough to feel like a proper party and short enough that nobody is checking the time.
Picking a location and booking
CipherX Coquitlam (1065 Ridgeway Ave) is convenient for teams in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Burnaby and New Westminster. It’s open Monday to Thursday 2 PM to 10 PM and Friday to Sunday 12 PM to midnight. Plan a team event in Coquitlam.
CipherX Delta (7949 120 St, on the Surrey border) is open Monday to Thursday 12 PM to 11 PM, Friday 12 PM to midnight, Saturday 11 AM to midnight and Sunday 11 AM to 11 PM. It’s the only location with axe throwing and the golf simulator. Plan a team event in Delta.
- Book 2–4 weeks ahead, and further out for peak holiday dates.
- Send the coordinator your date options, headcount, preferred location and per-person budget.
- Offer a mix of energy levels so quieter teammates have a comfortable option.
- Put the closed-toe shoe rule for X-Grid in the invite.
Want more inspiration? Our roundup of company event ideas in Vancouver covers bigger formats too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good holiday party activity for 10–20 people?
Parallel escape rooms, an X-Grid tournament for 2–10 players per session, free-roam VR in rotations of up to 6, or a splatter room session all work well. Combining two activities keeps everyone busy for a 2–3 hour evening.
How much does a small team holiday party cost at CipherX?
Posted prices are $35 per person for escape rooms, $30–40 for free-roam VR, from $30 for X-Grid and $50 for the rage room. Food and extras are quoted separately, so ask about catering.
Will our team have the activity to ourselves?
Yes. Group sessions are private, so no strangers are mixed into your games. Full private buyouts are also available by quote.
How far ahead should we book a holiday party?
Book 2–4 weeks ahead, and further ahead for peak season dates.
Which CipherX location should our team choose?
Coquitlam is convenient for the Tri-Cities, Burnaby and New Westminster. Delta sits on the Surrey border and is the only location with axe throwing and a golf simulator.
Ready to plan? Send your date options and headcount through our corporate bookings page and a coordinator will help you build the evening.