When the season runs
Lunar New Year falls on 6 February 2027. Company year-end parties (尾牙) are held in the weeks before it, from mid-December to the last working days before the holiday. Spring banquets (春酒) follow after the holiday, mostly from mid-February into March. If you want a Friday evening in January, start planning early, because many companies want the same dates.
Eight weeks out: decide the basics
- Set the budget per person and the total.
- Estimate the headcount, including partners or guests if invited.
- Choose the format: office party, rented hall or event space; buffet or staffed service.
- Pick two or three possible dates.
Six weeks out: venue and catering
- Confirm the venue and ask whether outside catering is allowed, when you can load in, and whether there is power for hot holding.
- Request catering quotes with the same brief, so you can compare like with like: guests, date, food-ready time, venue, service level and budget.
- Check what each quote includes: setup, staff hours, serveware, cleanup and cancellation terms.
Three to four weeks out: menu and programme
- Choose the menu. Mix festive dishes with ones that are easy to serve to a crowd, and include a fish dish for 年年有餘.
- Collect dietary needs with the RSVP: vegetarian counts and specific allergies.
- Set the programme: when dinner is served relative to speeches, awards and the lucky draw (摸彩).
One week out: lock the details
- Confirm the final headcount with the caterer.
- Share the floor plan: where the buffet goes, where guests queue, and where the stage is.
- Confirm the delivery or arrival window, the contact person on site and building access rules.
On the night
Keep one person responsible for the caterer: they receive the delivery or team, answer questions about the room and sign off at the end. If service is staffed, agree when replenishment stops and when clearing begins, so it does not clash with the lucky draw.
Choosing the service level
Drop-off works for a small team celebration. Buffet with setup works for most office 尾牙: the buffet is ready when the party starts and collected later. Staffed service suits larger or more formal evenings where you want staff and managers to be guests, not hosts working the buffet.