As the person responsible for office events this fall, you're planning Halloween around one calendar detail: October 31 falls on a Saturday this year, so the office celebration happens in the workweek before it, Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30, about six weeks from now.
This post covers how to plan that week, including whether to host a team lunch, an afternoon party or an after-work happy hour. With the week mapped, the office catering for your event comes together easily.
Start with what's already on the calendar that week, then decide which day gets the event. Three things to check against your office calendar:
Metro's Oktoberfest menu is available through Friday, October 30, so it's an option on any day that week if your team would prefer an event without a Halloween theme.
A team lunch fits inside the workday, and nobody has to stay late for it.
Of the three, a lunch takes the least planning. Pick the day, reserve the room, and estimate a headcount range.
Thursday and Friday are the workdays closest to Halloween, which makes either one a good fit for a costume contest or a group photo. An afternoon party around 3:00 or 4:00 gives people a break from the day without taking over the evening.
Finger food and small bites suit this hour, since people eat standing up and move around the room. Book a space with an open floor plan, and send the invite now so people can schedule their afternoon meetings around it.
Go with a happy hour when you want the event to feel separate from the workday. Settle the evening, the space, bar service, and a headcount range first.
A set menu priced per guest makes a happy hour easier to budget. Metro's version is its Special Events & Happy Hours Prix Fixe Menus. There are four packages built around cheese, crudités, and hummus, the three larger ones add 5, 7, or 9 hors d'oeuvres per guest, and each starts at a 20-guest minimum.
By the end of this month, have these four in place:
Pick the day and the event this month, then reach out to Metro with both.
Author
Chris Zamfotis
Managing Partner, Metro Catering
Chris Zamfotis is the Managing Partner at Metro Catering, a New York City catering company serving corporate offices, private events, and businesses across Manhattan. With a focus on reliable service, thoughtful menu planning, and polished presentation, Chris helps lead Metro Catering’s approach to modern corporate catering, from daily office lunches to executive meetings, happy hours, and large-scale events.
Metro Catering has been NYC’s trusted corporate catering provider since 1981, offering fresh, high-quality meals for office lunches, corporate events, and workplace dining—delivered on time, every time.
