Christmas Function Ideas in Invercargill That Aren’t Boring
Another year, another Christmas function?
If the thought of booking a table somewhere, ordering dinner and calling it the staff Christmas party feels a little… predictable, you're not alone.
Your end-of-year function is a chance to thank your team, celebrate the year you've had and get everyone together away from work. And it doesn't have to follow the same formula every year.
At MASH Catering, we've catered Christmas functions across Invercargill and Southland for more than 20 years — from intimate team dinners to large corporate celebrations, outdoor parties and completely bespoke events.
So, if you're looking for Christmas function ideas in Invercargill that are a little less ordinary, here are some of our favourites.
1. Make It a Fire & Dine Christmas Party
Forget the traditional Christmas buffet.
Think roaring fires, incredible food cooked over flame, drinks in hand and a relaxed atmosphere where everyone can mingle.
A Fire & Dine-style Christmas function turns dinner into part of the entertainment, with food prepared and served throughout the evening rather than everyone simply sitting down for one meal.
It's social, interactive and something genuinely different for your team.
Perfect for businesses wanting a Christmas function that feels more like an experience than a work dinner.
2. Take the Team to The Hideaway 201
Want to get everyone out of town without actually having to travel far?
The Hideaway 201 offers a completely different setting for an end-of-year celebration, with beautiful gardens and several spaces suitable for everything from smaller teams through to large corporate groups.
Have drinks around the fire pits, add lawn games, enjoy canapés in the gardens and finish with a MASH feast.
Smaller teams can make use of the Stag & Hen Bar, while The Venue and The Marquee are perfect for larger groups.
The best part? You can make the event as relaxed or as impressive as you like.
3. Have a Relaxed Christmas Party at Gadoochi Brewing
For a Christmas function that feels casual, social and easy, Gadoochi Brewing is a great option.
Pair locally brewed beer with MASH food and you've got the foundations of a brilliant end-of-year get-together.
It works especially well for teams who don't want a formal sit-down dinner and would rather have a few drinks, great food and a relaxed atmosphere.
Add the MASH x Uppercuts Food Trailer, shared platters or a street-food style menu and let everyone settle in for the afternoon or evening.
It's simple, fun and ideal for teams who want their Christmas party to feel less like a corporate function and more like a good night out.
4. Transform The Scottish Hall
If you've got a larger team or want room to create something completely your own, The Scottish Hall is a fantastic blank canvas.
The real appeal is flexibility.
You can build the event around your business — whether that's a formal awards evening, cocktail function, themed party, banquet or a full Christmas celebration with entertainment.
Add tables, lighting, styling, a bar and a MASH menu and the space can be transformed into something completely different.
For larger corporate groups, it's also a great option when you want everyone together in one venue without compromising on space.
5. Bring in the MASH x Uppercuts Food Trailer
Who said Christmas dinner needs knives and forks?
Bring the MASH x Uppercuts Food Trailer along and turn your work Christmas party into a street-food night.
Burgers, Roti Rolls, Loaded Agrias and other MASH favourites make this a great option for businesses looking for something casual, easy and fun.
Add some drinks, music and somewhere for everyone to hang out and you've got a Christmas function without the formalities.
It's particularly good for workplaces with a mix of ages or larger teams where a traditional seated dinner doesn't really suit.
6. Create Your Own Mini Food Festival
This is where things can get really fun.
Instead of one traditional meal, create different food stations around your venue and let everyone eat their way through the evening.
You could combine street food, live cooking, grazing, BBQ, desserts and late-night food into one big MASH-style feast.
People can grab what they want, when they want it, which keeps everyone moving, talking and enjoying themselves.
For a big staff celebration, this is hard to beat.
7. Have a Long Lunch Instead
Who decided Christmas parties had to happen at night?
Finish work early and turn your Christmas function into a long lunch.
Start with drinks and canapés, move into a shared banquet or food stations and make an afternoon of it.
A Friday afternoon Christmas lunch can be particularly good for teams who don't want another late-night function during an already busy December.
And let's face it — there's something pretty good about finishing work at midday because the Christmas party has started.
8. Turn Your Workplace Into the Venue
You don't necessarily need to hire a function venue.
We've catered events in some pretty unconventional locations over the years, and our fully mobile catering setup means we can bring MASH to you.
Your workshop, warehouse, office, farm, marquee or outdoor space can become the Christmas party venue.
Add some furniture, lighting, music, a bar and great food and suddenly the place everyone comes to work each day looks completely different.
No kitchen? That's not necessarily a problem either. Our mobile catering setup allows us to cater in locations with very limited kitchen facilities.
9. Go Big With a Themed Christmas Party
If your team is up for it, give everyone an excuse to dress up.
Casino night. Après ski. Summer festival. A night at the races. 80s. Country. Black tie. Oktoberfest.
Choose a theme and then build the food, drinks, styling and entertainment around it.
It doesn't have to be cheesy — done well, a theme can completely transform a familiar venue and give everyone something to talk about before the party has even started.
10. Make It a Cocktail-Style Christmas Function
Not every Christmas party needs a seating plan.
For teams who want to socialise, a cocktail-style event with canapés, grazing food and substantial bites can work brilliantly.
Add a few larger dishes or food stations later in the evening and nobody is going home hungry.
It's relaxed, flexible and especially good when you want staff from different departments or areas of the business to actually mix rather than spending the entire night sitting beside the same six people.
11. Keep It Simple With Drop & Go Catering
Sometimes you already have the venue, drinks and entertainment sorted — you just need someone else to take care of the food.
That's where Drop & Go comes in.
MASH can prepare your Christmas feast and deliver it ready for your team to enjoy, giving you a quality catered meal without needing a fully staffed event.
It's a great option for smaller workplaces, office lunches and businesses wanting to put on a great spread without organising a full-scale function.
Planning a Christmas Function in Invercargill or Southland?
Whether you're organising something for 20 people or a few hundred, MASH can help you create an end-of-year function that's anything but boring.
We cater throughout Invercargill and Southland and work across established event venues, private properties, workplaces, marquees and remote locations.
From The Hideaway 201, Gadoochi Brewing and The Scottish Hall to Fire & Dine, Food Stations, the MASH x Uppercuts Food Trailer, banquets, buffets, canapés and Drop & Go catering, there are plenty of ways to make this year's celebration different.
And if you have an idea that isn't on the list?
Even better.
Tell us what you're imagining and let's see what we can create.