The best Christmas party entertainment is something your guests join in with, not just watch. Circus skills workshops and walkabout acts — stilt walkers, magicians, bubble artists and LED performers — work brilliantly at office Christmas parties, Christmas markets and shopping centre events of any size. Elevate Circus Workshops supplies DBS-checked circus tutors and performers across mainland UK, with prices starting from £225.
Every December, the same problem comes round. The venue is booked, the food is sorted, and then someone asks: "But what are we actually going to do?" A DJ and a quiz only go so far. Here are our best Christmas entertainment ideas for workplaces, markets and shopping centres — and exactly what to expect on the day.
Why circus skills work so well at Christmas
Circus skills are a great leveller. Nobody walks in already knowing how to spin a plate, so the new starter and the managing director begin in exactly the same place. Within ten minutes, people who barely speak in meetings are cheering each other on.
They also work indoors, which matters in December. A hotel function room, an office atrium or a village hall is all you need — no muddy fields, no weather worries.
And unlike most entertainment, everyone leaves with a story: the colleague who finally kept three balls in the air, or the team that got a whole row of plates spinning at once.
Christmas party entertainment ideas for the office
1. A circus skills workshop as the ice-breaker
Start the party with a hands-on session of 30–60 minutes before the meal. Our tutors bring everything: juggling balls and scarves, plate spinning, diabolo, poi, hula hoops, flower sticks and beginners' stilts. Guests try a few skills, pick a favourite and build up to a final group challenge. It breaks the ice far quicker than a welcome drink ever could.
2. A Christmas team-building afternoon
If your Christmas do includes a "work" part of the day, make it this. A circus workshop covers the things every team-building session claims to — communication, trust, resilience and laughing at your own mistakes — without anyone having to do a trust fall. We've run sessions for organisations including the BBC, Sky, the NHS and the National Trust. Find out more about our corporate circus workshops, or read how circus skills help corporate team building.
3. Walkabout entertainment during the drinks reception
A close-up magician moving between groups, a stilt walker greeting guests at the door, or a balloon modeller working the room keeps the energy up while everyone arrives. Once it's dark, an LED poi or fire performer makes a striking end to the night (fire is for outdoor spaces only, of course).
4. A Christmas family day
More companies now hold a daytime family party alongside, or instead of, the evening do. Pair a drop-in circus workshop for the children with a face painter and a balloon modeller, and the parents get to enjoy themselves too.
Entertainment ideas for Christmas markets and light switch-ons
Christmas markets and lights switch-ons live or die on atmosphere. You want people to stop, stay longer and come back next year.
Stilt walkers are seen from right across the market and make the perfect photo opportunity. Our performers can match a theme, and we even have elves on stilts.
Bubble artists draw a crowd of children (and plenty of adults) in seconds.
Drop-in circus skills workshops give families something to do between stalls, and keep them on site for longer.
Fire and LED performers are a showstopping build-up to the big switch-on moment.
Walkabout performers bring everything they need, so there's no stage, power or sound system to arrange. Stilt walking and aerial acts are very physical, so they're scheduled in short sets of around 30–45 minutes, with breaks in between. Balloon modellers are best kept for smaller events: at a busy market the queue soon gets out of hand. If you'd like a choreographed show rather than walkabout (usually a double act), check with us first. For a show in front of a large crowd, you'll need to provide the stage and a PA system. See our full range of walkabout entertainment for events.
Shopping centre Christmas entertainment
Shopping centres want two things in December: more footfall and longer visits. Live entertainment delivers both. A stilt walker or magician during late-night shopping gives people a reason to linger, while a weekend drop-in circus workshop turns a quick shopping trip into a family day out. Our blog on winter bookings explains why shopping centres are among the venues that benefit most.
What happens on the day
Here's what a typical Christmas circus skills workshop looks like:
Arrival and set-up. Your tutor arrives ahead of the start time with all the equipment and sets up in your space. Indoors, a clear area roughly the size of a tennis court works best.
Welcome and demonstration. A quick hello, a short safety briefing and a demonstration of the skills on offer — usually the moment people start thinking "I could never do that".
Have a go. Guests try each skill with one-to-one tips from the tutor, then move on to whatever they enjoy most. One tutor can look after a group of up to around 30–35 people; larger groups simply get more tutors.
The finale. We finish with a group challenge — the most plates spinning at once, or a team juggling pattern — and a lot of cheering.
For walkabout acts, there's nothing to set up at all. The performer arrives in costume and gets straight to work. On longer days, every tutor and performer needs short breaks, plus an hour for lunch on bookings of more than five hours.
How much does Christmas party entertainment cost?
Our circus skills workshops and walkabout acts start from £225, and we never quote below that for any booking. The final price depends on how long you need us, where you are, how many guests you have and how many tutors or performers the day needs. Specialist walkabout acts such as stilt walkers start from around £450, and travel is added to quotes in line with government guidelines.
The good news: October to March is our quieter season, and our winter rates are lower than in the summer. See our pricing page for how quotes are worked out, or email us for an exact price.
When should you book?
As soon as you have a date. December Fridays and Saturdays are always the first to go, and Christmas market organisers tend to plan their entertainment well ahead of opening weekend. If your date is flexible, an early-December or weekday booking gives you the widest choice of performers.
Why book with Elevate Circus Workshops?
150+ professional tutors and performers across mainland UK, so we can usually find someone local to you.
DBS-checked, with every tutor holding their own public liability insurance (typically £5–10 million).
All equipment included — you provide the space, we bring everything else.
Trusted by the BBC, Sky, the NHS and the National Trust, along with schools, festivals and community groups.
Fairly paid performers. We pay our artists properly, which is why the best ones choose to work with us.
Frequently asked questions
Can adults really learn circus skills in one session?
Yes. Most people can spin a plate within a few minutes and juggle scarves within the first session. The aim isn't perfection — it's the fun of getting there together.
Do you need a big venue for a circus skills workshop?
No. A clear indoor area roughly the size of a tennis court is ideal. Hotel function rooms, office atriums, community halls and sports halls all work well.
Can you provide Christmas entertainment anywhere in the UK?
We cover all of mainland UK through our network of more than 150 tutors and performers.
How much does a circus workshop for a Christmas party cost?
Prices start from £225 plus travel, and depend on the length of the session, your location, group size and the number of tutors needed. Winter rates (October to March) are lower than in the summer.
Can you combine a workshop with walkabout acts?
Yes. Many clients book a workshop as the ice-breaker and add a magician or stilt walker for the drinks reception.
Book your Christmas entertainment
Tell us your date, location and roughly how many guests you're expecting, and we'll come back to you with ideas and a price. Email info@circusworkshops.co.uk or visit our corporate circus workshops page to get started.
