As the seasons shift, it's worth bringing some fall energy into the office. Here's what the Culture Team has run in past years, ready for you to borrow for your own team.
Fantasy Football Draft
Turn draft night into a full team event. Set up a league, pick a date a week or two before the season kicks off, and throw a tailgate-themed draft party complete with a big screen for the draft board. Bragging rights, a trophy, and a full season of smack talk are on the line.
Send a team-wide invite to gauge interest and collect team names
Set up the league on a platform like ESPN, Yahoo, or Sleeper, and name a commissioner
Schedule the live draft one to two weeks before the season starts
Theme the party like a tailgate: sports decor, a big screen, wings, nachos, chips and dip
Send weekly leaderboards or recaps to keep the season engagement going
Throw an end-of-season happy hour to crown the champion, with fun bonus awards like Best Team Name or Biggest Comeback
Tailgate Day
Turn a random Thursday into game day. Everyone wears their favorite team gear, brings a tailgate-style dish to share, and the office runs a few rounds of cornhole, ladder golf, or ring toss in between meetings. Small effort, big payoff for morale.
Set a dress-up day and encourage team fan gear
Set up yard games in a hallway or outside if weather allows
Ask everyone to bring a tailgate dish, or order from local food trucks
Run a friendly competition with a prize for bragging rights
Fall Fest and Family Fun Day
Book an evening at a local pumpkin patch or corn maze and invite the whole family, kids and grandparents included. It turns a normal outing into a team tradition and gives people outside the office a real feel for the culture.
Contact a local pumpkin patch or farm to arrange a date and catered meal
Book extra vendors if allowed, think bounce houses or face painting
Set up a photographer or a staged photo backdrop to capture the day
Halloween Costume Contest and Pumpkin Decorating
Costumes are part of the culture at this point. Everyone goes all in, whether solo or as a group theme, and the pumpkin decorating contest adds a second round of friendly competition.
Let people choose an individual costume or team up for a group theme
Assign someone to photograph every costume, or host a mini runway moment
Share a survey with the photos so the team can vote on favorites
Hand out a trophy and a small prize for the winner
Give everyone a pumpkin to decorate or carve, and let the team vote on those too
Have everyone bring a fall dish or snack to share
Cider Bar and Gratitude Wall
A simple one to set up but it lands every time. Stock a cider station with all the fixings and pair it with a gratitude display where team members write what they're thankful for.
Offer a few cider flavors with add-ins like cinnamon sticks, caramel drizzle, and whipped cream
Set up mugs and festive decor to keep the vibe cozy
Add a gratitude tree, wall, or a few large pumpkins where people can leave notes
Encourage people to stop by throughout the day rather than all at once
Whatever the season, the goal stays the same: give people a reason to look forward to walking into the office. Steal what fits your team, tweak what doesn't, and keep the traditions that stick. If you build something great this fall, send it our way. We'd love to feature it next time around.
With any questions or to connect to share your culture ideas with us, reach out to [email protected].
This content is provided for informational purposes only. Firms are responsible for the implementation and should be aware of federal and state laws applicable to human resources. If you have any questions about employment practices, please contact an attorney familiar with the laws of your state.