A Year in Review - Meet Our Staff

Our team hosted 143 events in 2025. These included everything from weddings, engagement parties, anniversary celebrations, birthdays & graduation parties, to galas, award celebrations, employee annual meetings, fundraisers, casino nights, and Christmas parties. Of course, we also hosted numerous conferences & workshops, meetings, expos & craft fairs, and even a holiday concert and a gun collector's show!

We've been blessed since we opened in December of 2016 to have outstanding teams of individuals who truly care about The Venue, it's clients, and each other. The result are hundreds of 5-star reviews throughout various social media platforms and dozens of thank-you notes from elated clients.

We'd love to host you and YOUR team in 2026. Our location at the junction of I-75 and I-40 in Middle East Tennessee makes us a convenient location for groups coming from throughout the region. So whether you're in Knoxville, Farragut, Oak Ridge, Pigeon Forge or Kingston, The Venue at Lenoir City is the perfect choice for your next event!

​This year’s Christmas party can be about more than food, decorations, and speeches. It is an opportunity to create shared memories and future stories. As a venue that welcomes holiday events of every style and size, we’ve seen firsthand which activities spark laughter, bring people together, and keep the energy level high all night long. We’re happy to share some ideas to make your party feel unforgettable.

1. Build-Your-Own Hot Cocoa or Coffee Bar
There’s something downright cozy and comforting about a station that pulls guests in and keeps them coming back for more. You can use an actual “bar” for fun or just decorate a long table to stage your station. To avoid crowding, we suggest placing your Cocoa Bar away from entryways or other areas that might impede good foot-traffic flow (we can help you choose the perfect spot!). Load the station with toppings such as peppermint sticks, crushed candy canes, white & milk chocolate curls, marshmallows, cinnamon & nutmeg dusters, and flavored syrups. Whatever you do, don’t forget the whipped cream!

2. Christmas Cookie Decorating Bar
A second food-based option you can’t go wrong with is a Cookie Decorating Bar. But be prepared to have guests decorate a cookie, eat a cookie, then decorate another one! Trust us…it happens every time! We recommend using shortbread or sugar cookies partnered with festive icings in piping bags. For more fun and creativity, add some toppings bowls (sprinkles, sanding sugar, crushed peppermint, chocolate shavings, etc.). Don’t forget the to-go boxes for guests to take home their extras. The Venue will help you design a bar with easy clean-up in mind, as colored icing always finds a way to stray!

3. Holiday Mixology Class
The third (and some might say “best”) food-related activity: Let guests learn to shake, stir, and garnish their own signature holiday cocktail. In keeping with the holiday theme, you might try spiced cranberry margaritas, gingerbread espresso martinis, or pomegranate rosemary spritzes. There are plenty of options for mocktails with festive garnishes as well. We’re happy to help create efficient bar setups to keep lines short but still fun and interactive.

4. Christmas Karaoke Corner
Those margaritas or martinis may (or may not) be required to tolerate some of the Karaoke-ists in your group, but nothing bonds people together like belting out “Jingle Bells.” Planning is easy, as most of the resources required are The Venue’s responsibility, not yours! A stage with a festively decorated backdrop and a karaoke machine or a sound system with background instrumental music (easily obtained from a service such as Spotify or Pandora) are all that's required. But, you can amp up the fun by having a “naughty or nice” song jar for guests to draw from. You can even offer prizes for the best (or worst!) holiday performances.

5. Ornament Crafting Station
Ornament crafting isn’t just for the little ones! Creating a keepsake ornament is one of the most unexpectedly popular activities for kids and adults alike. Set-up wise, round tables tend to work best for crafting, as they allow more elbow room and decrease the risk of spills. There are several directions you can take this activity. Opt for clear ornaments that guests can fill with faux snow, glitter, or tiny seasonal trinkets. Or choose a more traditional route with wooden ornaments and painting supplies. You can even supply ribbons and calligraphy tags to allow for ornament personalization.

6. Interactive Photo Vignettes
While not a new or unusual idea, a photo station is always a hit. But instead of a standard photo booth, consider creating themed “mini sets” throughout The Venue. Guests will love a cozy fireplace scene (easy to create with The Venue’s double-sided fireplace feature), a Santa’s Workshop with tool benches and oversized toys, a winter ski lift complete with plaid blankets and prop skis, or even a retro Christmas living room featuring vintage décor. Having multiple stations also helps with crowd flow, since they naturally spread guests around the entire event space instead of creating one long photo line.

7. Holiday Trivia or Game Show Hour
Games are the perfect solution for corporate groups or families who love a little friendly competition. For example, you can feature team trivia rounds with Christmas movies and song categories. How about a “Name that Holiday Tune” showdown? Perhaps most fun (or “funny,” as the case may be) are silly Minute-to-Win-It challenges guaranteed to generate hilarity. There are numerous easy to use trivia and gaming apps with social options available, such as “Kahoot!” and “Sporcle.” Don’t worry…we’ll even help you arrange seating so that every team can clearly see the screen or host.

8. Live Wreath or Garland Making Workshop
Like the popular Flower Bars featured at baby and bridal showers, your guests can enjoy a hands-on, beautifully fragrant activity that doubles as a take-home gift. Simply supply the wreath material (cedar, pine, magnolia, eucalyptus, etc.) and an assortment of ribbons, pinecones, dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, sparkly picks, and even seasonal ornaments. The more natural your items, the more likely the finished product will fill the air with sentimental nostalgic fragrances. Should you choose to go this route, let The Venue know in advance. These workshops require more table space (and sometimes a great vendor to do the heavy lifting).

9. “Santa’s Secret Tasks” Scavenger Hunt
Keep your guests busy by creating “missions” to complete throughout the evening. For example, have them find an ornament with their name on it, snap a photo by the tallest Christmas tree in the building (hint: ours is in the front lobby!), and track down the host wearing a Santa hat. Scavenger hunts naturally encourage guests to explore The Venue, which is perfect if you’re utilizing multiple spaces and want them to spread out to ensure a casual flow of foot-traffic.

10. Charity Give-Back Station
Guests always remember and appreciate a meaningful, heart-centered activity that embodies the spirit of the season. Suggest your guests bring assorted hygiene items and assemble blessing bags to donate to a local charity. Have the materials to write cards for nursing home residents, deployed service members, or children from the local Boys & Girls Club. Perhaps plan a bring-a-toy donation wall that can double as a photo background. Or work with your local food bank to arrange a canned food drive as part of your event. The Venue is happy to provide you with contact information for local nonprofit organizations who would benefit from any of these activities. 

Bring Your Christmas Party to Life With Thoughtful Experiences
As a venue, we love helping hosts create not just a party, but a truly engaging holiday experience. Whether you prefer a cozy night of cookie decorating or a full-blown activity-filled celebration, we can help you plan layouts, source materials, coordinate vendors, and design interactive zones that fit your group’s size and style.

Ready to start planning? We’re here to turn your Christmas celebration into the most memorable one yet!