Unique Ideas for BIG Event?

You might consider having one vegetarian/vegan option. There are more of us all the time, and I cannot count the number of events I have been hungry at.

BBQs are great fun! What about an old fashioned theme, potato sack races, fill the cup with the spoon, three legged races etc.
Have wondering clowns making balloon animals. (yes adults LOVE clowns and balloon animals)
What about an old time "variety show"? you know a couple of dancers, a magician and a band.

Have fun, the more fun you have the more everyone will remember it.

We did Bento Boxes and that was a HUGE hit! Even people who dont know what Bento is - end up loving it, for the most part. We did rice, with a choice of chicken or beef and had an excellent coconut green curry sauce to put over. Many people think they dont like curry, but if you have a good sauce, they will see that it is tasty and not what they thought. We also had a teriyaki sauce available for another option. The meats should be deboned and shredded. Cook them with a little Thai Sweet Chili Sauce and also offer this as a sauce option. You can use disposable clam shells or real bowls/plates. Put the rice down first, then a layer of a shredded cabbage mix and put the meat on top of that, and then cover with the sauce. It is so delicious, it is a healthy option that will please even vegetarians, who can go meatless and still have a satisfying meal. My husband is an Executive Chef and we used his curry sauce recipe, which I can likely get for you, if you are interested.
Build your own sundaes is also a big hit!

Wow! What a great host you are to think of making this such a special event for your employees! I read so many of the other posts below-- full of great ideas! I just thought I would add one more maybe. I heard about an event where the photo booths were rented and everyone loved being goofy and taking home a souvenir photo! The raffles are always a big hit, too! Best of luck and hope everyone has a fun time!

I planned and organized a dinner for a huge bowling tournament with nearly 200 people. I picked a theme of "Night in the Island" and did a luau. I had a catering place do a whole pig with all the stuff to go with it. I did the decorations and it came out great. Everyone wore Hawiian clothes and because it was bowling, each team had a island themed name,, it was great.

I would pick a theme and run with it. Picking a theme always helps a party/event seem put together, specail and fun. Set a budget, indoors, outdoors, where will it be (size will play in as to how much or what you can do), have great food that matches your theme, activities that go with the theme, music (live band, DJ or CD/ipod), and maybe a little token of thanks in a gift bag (chocolates, picture frame or whatever fits in your budget).

For any of the below you could find someone that has costumes and backgrounds, have it set up along a wall/corner as a station/booth so your employees can take a themed picture there.

Hawaiian Luau
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Western
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Fiesta
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Hat Party
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Is this for the whole family or just the employees?
If it is for the whole family have kids friendly activities too.

there is a place called Sky High - trampoline place - they do corporate events. Bowling would be another idea...something more active than just sitting and eating...maybe a cruise? Get tickets to a ball game and have a catered event before it at the stadium (not sure what your budget is)...I think that there are companies that rent the big blow up sumo wrestler costumes and the velcro wall/jumpsuits, bull riding thing, etc...

Well I have a friend who is a walking magician/clown and does big corporate events. When he told me this I was like Really?? He said yes everyone loves it, and he just walks around mingling with people and doing whatever comes up.

The best company party that I went to involved us taking a ferry over the the airport and having dinner on the water at the hotel there. Dinner was - I kid you not - a full-on clambake including lobster. Those were the good old days - now we have one event a year and it's in our cafeteria with beer, wine, and appetizers. It's nice, but no waterfront lobster dinner!

I second having raffles/prizes.

Rent out a suite at the local ballpark or racetrack - some of the suites are pretty decked out.

One picnic we had, our VP arranged for us to play a baseball game in the Astrodome. We all had fun taking pictures in the dugout.

Theme party in a hotel ballroom is always nice.

One VP took us to Splashtown (a nearby waterpark) and we had a buffet lunch in the big pavillion, and play games like "dunk your manager", water balloon fights, and a pie eating contest.

hth

Have a fun band playing!!! Have plenty of serving lines....so people don't have to wait in a long line to get food. Open bar.

Argosy cruise? maybe rent a bowling alley?

It is a little out of season right now but a big crawfish boil is fun.

What ever you do, I'd have plenty of servers so no one waits for a long time, open bar. A live band is good too!!

I like the ideas of going to a big event. Around here Lone Star Park horse racing, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Cowboys, etc. Maybe a golf outing?

Grilled Oysters, Lots of Tempura Vegetables, Salads with unique themes like eggplant tahini and long stemmed artichokes.
Meatless antipastos, Interesting dips for cut raw vegetables and popadromes.
Small Pita breads you could drop things into.
Sushi always goes over well in the appetizer department.

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Grilled Oysters, Lots of Tempura Vegetables, Salads with unique themes like eggplant tahini and long stemmed artichokes.
Meatless antipastos, Interesting dips for cut raw vegetables and popadromes.
Small Pita breads you could drop things into.
Sushi always goes over well in the appetizer department.

A bouncy castle for adults! Belly dancers - I saw some amazing dancers the othervday that I could have watched all day! Booths with fun activities like tarot reading, henna painting, massage, a candy-floss maker, wine and cheese tasting. Ooh, I wish in was coming!

My husband used to work for Ford, they had awesome picnics. It was the standard tritip and chicken, but they had lots of raffle ticket prizes and plaque awards for the outstanding employees. Always a band that played rock and country. And of course a beer and wine booth. A volleyball net and a horseshoe pit were also always being utilized. They always threw it on a week night so the people would drink wisely since they had to go to work the next day.

Love the responses you're getting. My husband's company has done Wild Waves: they had a reserved section where we ate and gathered. We all had fun.

There was one held at an indoor go-cart place. These type events provide a nice mix of together (for eating and socializing) but also a break with the fun element.

The worst event we ever attended was an overly pretentious dinner party. The invites said business casual, yet when we showed up all the executives were in black tie attire. Felt like we were being segregated into classes like on the Titanic, the company went under four months later. Hardly anyone knew each other outside of the office location they worked for and no attempt was made to introduce people.

As for food, the theme ideas sound great. Maybe Salmon or another fish? I know you want to throw a wonderful event and take care of everything for those who've worked so hard, but a potluck is always fun, too. Maybe you could provide the main dish and drinks and potluck the sides. There's something about sharing food that is remembered long after the party.

Congrats on your great year!