The holiday season is the perfect time for companies to celebrate milestones, reward employees, and strengthen workplace culture. Choosing the right corporate holiday party venue sets the tone for a memorable event. Monona Terrace, Madison’s all-purpose, lakeside convention center, combines stunning views, flexible event spaces, and professional event support to create unforgettable holiday celebrations. Discover why Monona Terrace is the city’s top choice for corporate holiday parties and seasonal events. Read on!
Holiday Parties Matter
The holiday season is a time of celebration, thanksgiving, and spending time with friends and family. But it can also be overwhelming with shopping, planning, traveling and a to-do list that gets longer by the moment. But we all look forward to our company’s holiday party, where we can put work aside and enjoy each other’s company, celebrating the year behind us and looking forward to the year ahead.
Trust us, holiday parties matter to employees. It’s an opportunity for the company to build a fun, positive culture, reflect on and reward the staff’s accomplishments and achievements, and give everyone a well-deserved morale boost. And don’t forget secret Santas, ugly sweater contests, and Christmas scavenger hunts are always crowd favorites. We know that holiday parties are wonderful end-of-the-year events and Monona Terrace is ideally suited to host you and your entire staff.
But selecting the right Christmas party venue in Madison is paramount to ensuring your party is a Ho-Ho-Ho and not a humbug. To be sure, holiday party venue options in Madison range from renting out a bar or private room in a restaurant to a larger banquet hall or even a ballroom in a hotel. The questions you should be asking are what each venue has to support your party and guests, such as food/beverages, parking, accessibility, technology, nearby accommodations, and of course, ambience. You may discover that Monona Terrace is the premier holiday destination in Madison and ideal for everything you require and then some.
Location & Atmosphere: Celebrate on the Lakefront
Christmas time in downtown Madison is magical, filled with colorful holiday lights, ice skating, and festive events like the annual performance of the Nutcracker and the multi-sensory Candlelight concerts right here at Monona Terrace. We are in the heart of downtown and perfectly located to host your holiday event in Madison with easy access and plenty of parking for any number of guests.
Even the drive (or walk) to get here for a corporate holiday party sets a jovial mood with holiday shoppers, decorations, and the crisp winter evenings. When your guests arrive at Monona Terrace, they can take a quick walk through our rooftop garden to enjoy a nighttime view of Lake Monona and Madison’s amazing city skyline. Once entering Monona Terrace to your party’s location, guests soak in the elegant Frank Lloyd Wright design and unique atmosphere that no other holiday party venue in Madison can claim.
Wright wanted Monona Terrace to be a place where the community could come together and link the lake to the State Capitol, just a few blocks away. His intentions for a “Dream Civic Center” come to life here during the holidays, as our entire space is often filled with people celebrating the holidays and enjoying the spirit of togetherness that Wright wanted it to be.
Wright’s design also gives Monona Terrace wide ranging flexibility as a Christmas party venue. Our location on the water provides a rare opportunity to host parties with a wintery view of the oft-frozen Lake Monona from the comfort of one of our lakeview rooms. Nothing says “a holiday party” like enjoying a Christmas cocktail surrounded by friends and taking in the seasonal ambience of downtown Madison at night. Or if you prefer, choose a luxurious ballroom for a sumptuous dinner and late evening dancing. So, let’s talk about your holiday event wish list, and let our planning team make it come true.
Flexible Spaces for Any Company Size
Over the years we have hosted thousands of holiday parties of all shapes and sizes. With over 85,000 square feet of space and the team to manage it, Monona Terrace is a comprehensive corporate holiday party venue, and we are confident we can accommodate virtually any size gathering request.
Small private rooms for intimate team gatherings
We often are asked for a private room for companies with a small employee headcount or for special exclusive gatherings. Our Dane Room, Wisconsin Room, and Hall of Fame Room are ideal for smaller engagements, and the Community Terrace is perfect for upscale gatherings with a paneled glass wall overlooking the lake.
Large ballrooms for company-wide celebrations
If your guest list is in the 100’s or even the 1,000’s, we have several spaces to consider. From our Grand Terrace and Madison Ballroom to the Rooftop Garden and massive Exhibition Hall, we have the space available for the most grand and opulent event you have in mind.
Customizable layouts for dining, dancing, or entertainment
Over the years, we have hosted some amazing holiday parties, and having the flexibility and resources to handle requests is our specialty. We can customize a layout and offerings to be whatever you need.
Check out our multiple event spaces here.
Professional Event Planning Support
Yes, holiday wishes do come true, but it often requires the help of “seasoned” professionals. Our event planning team is second to none and are her to make it happen for you. First, let’s talk about food and beverages, which may be the central part of a successful holiday event. Our catering team has a massive array of options. Often, company holiday parties are just appetizers and cocktails followed by dancing and other festivities. But if a gourmet dinner is your preference, we would be delighted to accommodate! Take a peek at our dining and beverage options here.
Next, we offer state-of-the-art Audio / Visuals for your party. We’ve seen all kinds of high-tech holiday fun at company parties, from slideshows and videos to karaoke and full bands to staged performances that set a new bar of pageantry year after year. We can even link separate holiday parties in different cities, so combine all your offices into one virtual holiday party! Whether you prefer sweet and simple or elaborate and eye-popping, we have the expertise, infrastructure and equipment to make it all come true.
Check out all of our AV offerings here.
Book Early: Holiday Dates Fill Fast
If you judge by the decorations in big box stores, the “holidays” start in September. So, it’s important to get something booked as soon as possible, especially if you have a larger gathering. The corporate holiday season is here, and Monona Terrace is in high demand. That said, we’ll do all we can to make it happen for you!
Here are some tips to help get your holiday sleigh off of the ground.
Reserve space early: The earlier the better. So as soon as you know you’re having a party and want to have it in downtown Madison, give us a call.
Know your details: It helps if you have decisions already made. For instance
- How many guests (don’t forget +1’s!)
- H’ordeuvres and/or dinner
- Buffet or table service
- Open bar and what do you want to offer
- AV requirements, such as video monitors and a PA system. A stage?
- Outdoor and/or indoor, or potentially both with an outdoor reception and indoor dining.
- Any special needs, like a DJ, live band, or a visit from Santa Claus
Any decisions you can make ahead of time will expedite the overall planning process and help us suggest what options are available.
Celebrate the Season at Monona Terrace
Monona Terrace has become an annual holiday party tradition for many companies that call Madison home, thanks to our flexible spaces, depth of resources, technological support and knowledgeable staff. Celebrating the holidays with so many wonderful clients and their guests makes us merrier too! Maybe that’s why Monona Terrace is Madison’s best holiday party venue.
Contact Us today to book your corporate holiday event.