How to host Virtual Family Day/ Carnival

Virtual Company Family Days are now becoming the best way to engage with your colleagues and family in an informal setting. The virtual platform allows you to reach team members no matter where they are in the world and bring the team together in a fun interactive manner. Here are a few of our tips on hosting a successful Virtual Family Day.

1 - Choose a theme

A fun theme is a great way to get people interested in your event. This could be based on company ideals such as environmental issues or something more lighthearted such as a superhero or circus theme. Encouraging the guests to dress in character or theme will give the team a sense of inclusion and participation.

2 - Make it interactive, fun & relevant

Know your crowd - Are the guests a mix of all ages from 6 year old to 60 year old? If so you need to tailor your program to suit all the guests. Fun and interactive activities are great for keeping your guests engaged. The virtual options are endless, from Scavenger Hunts, Escape Rooms to Family Talent Shows, Gamification, Lucky Draws and Photo Competitions. If you have the budget you may want to introduce virtual event spaces for the guests to explore fully equips with augmented reality and 3d Visuals - this could be a virtual fairground, theatre, underwater world or even venture to outer space!

3 - Call in the professionals - MC, Tech, Event company

Many people think that running an event on Zoom or Teams is easy, well its not always as straightforward as you think. Depending on your program you may find it’s worth paying for an Event Company and professional Emcee that has experience with virtual family days. They will take the stress over the technical parts of your virtual event and give your event a professional look and feel. An experienced company will also know what to do when something goes wrong. Remember these guys have been in the industry for years and are experts in reacting fast and thinking on their feet.

4 - Send out reminders

Bright and breezy invites will encourage guests to register but equally important is sending out timely reminders. We recommend sending the initial invite 1 month before the event, with follow up reminders 2 weeks before, 1 weeks before and a final “see you tomorrow” the day before the virtual event.

5 - Get the timing right

How long should your event last? A family day is different from a hybrid event, webinar or a corporate event so different elements need to be considered.

• keep your event short and sweet; probably 2 - 3 hours is the maximum

• break up your event into fun short elements to keep the gusts engaged

• vary the offering of your entertainment.

Looking at a computer screen isn’t the same as seeing someone in person, so take attention spans into consideration.

6 - Consider activity Packs, Gifts or F&B

We all love surprises and to receive a personalised activity pack will make your guests feel special. Don’t limit your imagination to gifts alone, food and beverages delivered to your door or food vouchers from companies such as WhyQ will add an extra element to your event.

Above all have fun, get creative and interactive. The virtual event world can be a fully immersive experience that your staff and their families will love to be a part of.