Hold the Ultimate Melbourne Cup Event

Held on the first Tuesday in November, the Melbourne Cup seems to sneak up faster and faster each year. Although it may not be a public holiday for all states (except Victoria), who says catching all the Melbourne Cup day action from the trackside at Flemington Racecourse is the best way to celebrate?

A fun Melbourne Cup party in the office can be just as exciting. It’s the corporate event of all corporate events! The perfect chance to share some good fun, office sweeps, games and delicious food with your colleagues.

From initial planning to cheering on your horse across the finish line, here is the ultimate guide, tips, tricks information and ideas on how to throw the best Melbourne Cup party at work or at your Melbourne Cup function.

Plan ahead for Melbourne Cup Day

When planning a Melbourne Cup office party, it always pays to be organised and prepared from the get-go. You’ve got to think about Melbourne Cup office catering, games and activities, what kind of budget you have to play with, all while making sure there’s enough time in the day for everyone to have fun.

1. Before the Planning

Before sending an invitation out to the entire office, it’s crucial to get buy-in from your management team. A few questions to clear with them before you begin making plans:

• What hours can your colleagues take off during the Melbourne Cup?
• Will people be expected to go back to work after the race?
• What is the allocated budget for the event?

Once all those details are confirmed, you can then send out your save-the-date notice to the office. Try and give them at least two to three weeks of lead-time, so they have plenty of space to make preparations and you have the numbers you need for catering.

2. Set a dress code

You wouldn’t wear jeans and a t-shirt for the horse race, so why not invite the office to get dressed up for the day? Make it easy for everyone to participate by introducing a theme. Remember, not everyone will want to dress up, so if you’re going to specify a dress code on your invitation, make it an optional choice.

3. Prepare games and activities

Having party games and activities prepared on the day of the great race is a great way to entertain everyone. Below are a few Melbourne Cup office party favourites:

• Fashions on the field – Host your very own version of Fashions on the Field and give out prizes for the best dressed or best race day hat categories.
• Trivia – Get the office buzzing with a classic pub-style trivia game. Break up the office into teams and offer prizes for the first, second and third place.
• Office Sweep – Host your own office sweep to really emulate the spirit of the racetrack and give away some prize money of your own.

4. Food and drinks

There’s nothing more important than the food and beverage options at your Melbourne Cup day party.

Catering the ideal way to celebrate the race that stops the nation and there are many Melbourne Cup catering menu options that will suit your budget and needs.

A sit-down three-course lunch, or a casual informal buffet, if you are planning the party for just an hour when the race begins to start why not go with a grazing style table with food platters or a small cocktail party with finger food – the choices are endless.

Melbourne Cup day is all about the bubbly. But don’t forget to offer alternatives, such as beer, wine, soft drinks and water. We recommend mixing it up with Frozen Cocktails on offer

Most importantly, provide enough food and beverage options for everyone so no one goes hungry.

How Chair Hire Co Can Help with Melbourne Cup

At Chair Hire Co, we have a range of options with planning for your Melbourne Cup event. Our bar cocktail furniture is the most popular hire items for this event day. We stock Slushie Machines as an alternative to sparkling wine and beer, and also TV’s for hire to watch the race that stops the nation. So if you are in the planning stages of your Corporate Melbourne Cup Event, give us a call at Chair Hire Co.