Planning private or corporate Chinese New Year parties involves considering unique and engaging Chinese New year activities that can make the event memorable for attendees. It need not be just a boring meet-up and eat with relatives or friends kind of activity! You can make it exciting and even attract more people to attend your event. If you are organising a family day cum Chinese New Year event, this will be perfect for you.
12 activities for Chinese New Year parties suitable for private parties and corporate event:
1. Chinese Calligraphy Workshop:
It is always great to learn and experience something new.
Engage a professional calligraphy artist to conduct a Chinese calligraphy workshop. Guests can learn the art of writing Chinese characters with brush and ink, creating personalized auspicious phrases or their names as a memorable keepsake.
2. God of Fortune Mascot
God of Fortune mascots or 财神爷 （cai shen ye） are one of the most popular items at any Chinese New Year event. These CNY mascots can be part of a store promotion, an appearance at your private party, or part of your pre-dinner activity for your corporate events.
Prepare chocolate bars, ingots, hongbao with lucky numbers, or just sweets to give away to your guests as good luck. You can also arrange with the mascots to make it interactive. For instance, have a few lucky numbers in the red packets as the fortune god gives them away to the guests.
3. Chinese Tea Tasting Session:
During our trips to our Xiamen office, we learnt to appreciate tea tasting as it was an amazing experience. You can hire a tea expert to conduct a Chinese tea-tasting session. Participants can explore various traditional Chinese teas, learn about the cultural significance of tea, and enjoy a serene and educational experience.
4. 变脸 （Bian Lian）or masking changing performance.
As 变脸 （Bian Lian）or masking changing performance is a traditional show from Sichuan, China, it is popular during CNY celebrations. The once elusive performers are now available more readily as the master decided to pass down their closely guarded secrets of this act. (On that note, some performers did not learn the true meaning of this act and just went through the motions of changing faces. Hence, if you want to impress your guests, please choose your bian lian masters carefully.)
Though the mask changing performance is usually less than 10min, it is worth every penny if you get a good one.
5. Lion Dance Performance:
Although booking a traditional Lion Dance performance may seem a little cliche, most clients find it indispensable. Lion troupes here have got creative with LED lions, and even acrobatics. Most throw in a god of fortune or zodiac mascot as part of the offering.
The lion or dragon dance is a lively and auspicious addition to any Chinese New Year celebration. Professional troupes can be booked to perform at private and corporate events, bringing good luck and festive energy.
Put early as this is hot in demand as reported by The Straits Times.
6. Fortune Telling Stations:
Set up a fortune-telling booth with professional practitioners offering Chinese astrology, palmistry, or face readings. This adds a touch of mystique and excitement to the event, allowing guests to receive personalized insights for the upcoming year. You can also get zodiac predictions for the new year and display them on your LED screens or print them as displays.
7. Chinese New Year Magic Show
In line with our core values, Mr Bottle decided to create an educational Chinese New Year magic show so we can teach children more about this traditional festival to all races in Singapore. The responses from schools and malls have been amazing and you can book this for corporate family days as well as private CNY parties too.
8. Interactive Craft Workshop:
Arrange for a Chinese paper-cutting artist to conduct a workshop where guests can try their hand at this traditional art form. They can create intricate paper cuttings that symbolize good luck and prosperity.
We also provide original craft workshops like fortune god and fortune cat roly poly craft, as well as Chinese lantern making and even a CNY-themed magic workshop for families.
9. Traditional Customised Photo Booth:
Create a photo booth area with a variety of traditional Chinese costumes and props. Guests can dress up in these outfits and take memorable photos, adding a touch of cultural immersion to the event.
10. Chinese Knotting Workshop:
Invite a Chinese knotting expert to guide attendees in creating their own decorative knots (中国结）. This traditional craft is not only visually appealing but also carries symbolic meanings of luck and unity.
11. Live Traditional Music Performance:
Enhance the atmosphere with a live performance of traditional Chinese music. Consider booking musicians playing instruments like the guzheng, pipa, or erhu to create an authentic and elegant ambiance.
Depending on the budget of your event, it can be a solo act, duet, or even a 15-member strong Chinese orchestra.
12. Interactive Games with Chinese New Year Theme:
Incorporate team-building or party games with a Chinese New Year twist. A lot of the SMEs in Singapore celebrate their D&D during Chinese New Year. It is important to get an emcee who can customise such games and of course, do everyone’s favourite of lohei.
Traditional games like mahjong or a modified version of the popular game “Lai See” can add a festive and competitive element to the celebration.
When planning these activities, it’s essential to consider the preferences and demographics of the attendees to ensure a tailored and enjoyable experience for everyone. These unique activities can contribute to a vibrant, culturally immersive, and memorable Chinese New Year celebration for private and corporate parties alike. Contact us if you need any ideas or help in organising your events.