Here is our list of the best corporate event ideas in Washington DC.
Corporate event ideas in Washington DC are ways to have a company gathering and keep guests entertained in the US capital. For example, your group can dine at Mastro Steakhouse, run The Great Guac Off, or visit Crumbs and Whiskers. The purpose of these ideas is to deliver the best experience to attendees while making the event memorable.
These gatherings are similar to company outings in DC and DC team building events. You can use these activities to entertain conference attendees, take teammates offsite, and have fun at work.
This list includes:
- corporate event ideas in Washington DC for adults
- outdoor corporate events in Washington DC
- corporate party ideas in Washington DC
- large group corporate event activities in Washington DC
- corporate conference ideas in Washington DC
Let’s get started!
List of corporate event ideas in Washington DC
Corporate event ideas include activities you can do and places to go for a group gathering. From dining at The Bombay Club to spending the day at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, here are some of the best ideas for corporate events in Washington DC.
1. National Mall Photo Scavenger Hunt (Top Choice)
The National Mall Photo Scavenger Hunt is an excellent way to entertain corporate groups in DC. In this 90-minute experience, teams receive a list of photo challenges and must work together to scour the city and snap pictures to beat other teams. The game begins at the Lincoln Memorial and leads teams to the Eisenhower Memorial.
Each experience includes:
- hosts to hand out materials and help teams
- challenging and engaging game prompts
- chances to foster teamwork, communication, and camaraderie
- sightseeing at some of the city’s most famous spots
- group photos and memory-worthy experiences
This experience can accommodate corporate groups of all sizes.
Learn more about National Mall Photo Scavenger Hunt.
2. The Great Guac Off (Team Favorite)
The Great Guac off runs one of the best large group corporate event activities in Washington DC. In this 90-minute, fully hosted experiences, groups face off in a guacamole mash-off complete with icebreakers and avocado-themed games. This event is beloved by companies like Amazon, Uber, and YouTube.
What to expect from the experience:
- talented hosts to guide the festivities and judge the competition
- ingredients, setup, and cleanup provided
- thoughtful, structured, and fun activities to engage employees
- a customer support team to ensure a smooth experience
This experience is ideal for groups big or small and is a great way to energize corporate events.
Learn more about The Great Guac Off.
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3. Museum Hack Scavenger Hunts (Popular)
Running Museum Hack is a great idea if your group would love to visit a museum during your company event. Museum Hack organizes fun scavenger hunts around the best museums in Washington DC.
The activity will run for one-and-a-half hours and show you how museums are amazing places to be. Aside from the enlightening exhibitions, you will also play fun games and do icebreaker activities. Museum Hack guides run these tours with team-building in mind.
Learn more about Museum Hack Scavenger Hunts.
6. The Art of Storytelling (Top Choice)
The Art of Storytelling is a training program designed to improve attendees’ storytelling skills. This 2-hour workshop is a masterclass in crafting compelling narratives.
What to expect:
- an engaging expert host/instructor
- breakdown of Museum Hack’s signature “story hack” method
- team practice in composing stories
- share-outs with feedback
- valuable, actionable skill-building activities
You will have story masters lead the event, provide feedback, and teach you the framework for skillfully creating tales. Also, the training promotes engagement among teams and encourages guests to work together while practicing their skills. The fully hosted training will hold for two hours, equipping attendees with knowledge of techniques guiding storytelling.
Learn more about The Art of Storytelling.
7. Boardwalk Bar & Arcade
Dining and drinking at Boardwalk Bar & Arcade is one of the most fun corporate event ideas in Washington DC for adults. Boardwalk Bar & Arcade has three bars, four private event spaces, and two floors. This bar, located on The Wharf, offers various arcade games, pinball, shuffleboard, and skeeball. The menu also features a wide range of frozen drinks, cocktails, beers, and food which you can take indoors or on a covered outdoor patio.
Learn more about Boardwalk Bar & Arcade.
8. Escape Artist DC
Escape Artist provides immersive escape rooms where your team can share an exhilarating experience during your event. You can extend your experience to include a team meal by reserving a food and drink package for groups with at least ten attendees. The escape rooms come in three themes, which are:
- House of Pawns: Your mission lies at a presidential candidate’s office, where you must retrieve incriminating evidence relating to the election.
- Gallery Heist: Your team will race against time to find a stolen painting and decipher the culprit behind the theft.
- Night at the Museum: You and other employees threw a party at the museum, leading to the destruction of an important painting. You have to control the damage quickly before your boss arrives.
The game’s duration is one hour. You may customize your experience to include hidden gifts and special clues in an escape room for an added fee.
Learn more about Escape Artist DC.
9. Kick Axe Throwing DC
Kick Axe Throwing provides facilities for you to enjoy a happy hour with your team while throwing axes. Your experience will start with a ten minutes lesson on the game’s basics. Depending on the experience that your team wants, you may throw just for fun or compete with each other to see who has the highest scores. You will have an axe-tructor assist you at any point during the event. If you want a private range with your group alone, then you must book all eight slots.
After throwing axes, your group can relax at the lounge or outdoor patio while dining and chatting.
Learn more about Kick Axe Throwing DC.
10. Pitango Gelato
The most fun corporate party ideas in Washington DC for small groups include sharing tasty gelatos at Pitango Gelato. The store does not use pre-made powders and artificial flavors in the products. Pitango Gelato also uses fresh milk from grass-fed cows and eggs from hens that pasture freely on the farmland. The gelato comes in 23 flavors, including milk chocolate, black tea, cinnamon, and fior di latte.
You can also get delicious sorbet made with whole fresh fruits in flavors like mojito, mango, cantaloupe, local strawberries, and kiwi.
Learn more about Pitango Gelato.
11. Crumbs and Whiskers
Crumbs and Whiskers is a fun café to hang out with your team and meet adorable cats. The cafe partners with rescues to care for homeless cats and connect them with potential parents. Most of the cats are six-month-old and above.
You will have a nice time with these cats. Some of your guests may even become cat parents if they decide to adopt. During your experience, you can play with the cats, take pictures, and cuddle with adorable kittens. If you have more than six guests, then you can book a private event for a pleasant experience. You will also receive kitty treats and polaroids.
You may add food and drinks to your reservation to entertain the attendees.
Learn more about Crumbs and Whiskers.
12. The Bombay Club
The Bombay Club is one of the top-rated restaurants in Washington DC. The restaurant’s main dining room can accommodate up to 120 guests. There is a strict dress code for guests, mainly smart casual.
The Bombay Club serves various Indian dishes like vegetable biryani, samundari thali, Bengali fish curry, crab kori roti, and crispy kale. If you have 10 to 20 guests, then you may book the private dining room. The restaurant also has a semi-private room setting that can accommodate up to 40 guests.
Learn more about The Bombay Club.
13. Cirque Climbing
Climbing walls at Cirque Climbing is one of the best fitness-themed corporate event ideas in Washington DC. You may bring or rent climbing equipment from the gym. If most of your group members do not have any climbing experience, then you can book a beginner class. The Intro to Indoor Climbing class will equip participants with the activity’s basics and the techniques for reading grade.
You should wear climbing or closed-toe athletic shoes. Also, you can only eat within the gym’s non-padded areas.
Learn more about Cirque Climbing.
14. Mini Bowling at The Eleanor DC
Eleanor DC is a bowling lounge in Washington DC. The lounge has two lanes where your group can bowl for one hour.
Eleanor can host up to 250 guests during an event. However, you have to comply with the event minimum, which includes the amount you can spend on food and games. You can choose a buffet, family, or platter style for dining.
Aside from bowling, you can also play fun arcade games. However, the arcade games and bowling lanes will not be accessible to your group exclusively, except if you buy out the space.
Learn more about Mini Bowling at The Eleanor DC.
15. Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is among the awesome places to have outdoor corporate events in Washington DC. Located in Northeast Washington DC, the park offers space and opportunity to enjoy various activities like a picnic, walk, or wildlife viewing. You can feed your eyes with different aquatic plants, frogs, turtles, and bird species. If your corporate event gears towards fitness, then your group can do yoga in this location. You can also check the park’s visitors center, where you will see exhibits displaying the garden’s history.
Admission and parking are free. Since there are many poison ivy plants on the grounds, be sure to educate attendees about the plant to avoid issues.
Learn more about Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens.
16. Dupont Underground
Located under Dupont Circle, Dupont Underground aims to showcase local talent and connect community artists. This facility repurposes an abandoned streetcar station into a stunning exhibit. The firm has partnered with companies and artists to create immersive art installations. For example, one former exhibit titled Re-ball featured 650,000 plastic balls formed into structures. Visitors can stop by during events to check out the exhibits and attend shows. For a truly unique art experience, be sure to visit Dupont Underground.
Learn more about Dupont Underground.
17. National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art is a nice museum to visit in Washington DC. Admission to the museum is free. Your team can go on a self-guided audio tour while studying different artwork. The Museum also offers free guided tours for groups with at least 15 members. You can choose a topic for your experience like the Italian Renaissance, American stories, and Discovering the National Gallery of Art. If you have a small group, then you can go on a public guided tour which is also free. The tour’s average duration is 60 minutes.
The National Gallery of Art is home to over 7,000 paintings and sculptures. You will find American and European artwork from the Renaissance period to present times. After the tour, you can stop at one of the restaurants around the museum’s premises. If you have many attendees, then you can reserve a group dining in your preferred restaurant.
Learn more about the National Gallery of Art Tour.
18. Throw Social
Throw Social is a fancy venue where you can socialize with your team. Gathering your group at Throw Social is one of the fantastic corporate conference ideas in Washington DC. You can rent a fully furnished cabana for your event. Your group size, event duration, and add-ons will determine the pricing.
The venue can accommodate over 200 guests and has six football bowling lanes and five curling rinks. You can also take pictures in front of different neon signs. Furthermore, you will find the Kick Axe Throwing in this location. So your group can further extend your event to include axe throwing.
Learn more about Throw Social.
19. City Swing
City Swing provides an indoor golf facility great for enjoying corporate events in Washington DC. The facility is accessible for both expert and beginner golfers in your group. An instructor will be available to ensure your group gets the best experience. The game pricing varies depending on the duration and reserved hour. Your reservation will cover six guests who can access the entire studio. You can also book a golf lesson to expand your group’s knowledge.
Learn more about Indoor Golf at City Swing.
20. Wok and Roll Karaoke
Having a party at Wok and Roll Karaoke is one of the most energetic corporate event ideas in Washington DC. Attendees will have a great time singing out their hearts. This karaoke lounge in DC Chinatown provides many songs in different languages, including English, Japanese, Spanish, and Korean. There are also several karaoke rooms having various size capacities, with the maximum being 40 attendees. Also, the room reservation pricing varies depending on the room size.
Learn more about Wok and Roll Karaoke.
21. Insomnia Escape Room DC
Insomnia Escape Room is one of Washington DC’s best escape game providers. Your group will work together to find keys, decipher mysteries, and solve puzzles. The game will last for 60 minutes, and you can pick themes like:
- The Patient: The theme will take your group of journalists to the 1970s to find out the events that happened in St. Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital.
- Dungeon Things: You will take a trip back in time to find your missing friend and fight the town’s evil.
- The Mafia: Your task is to help a politician retrieve evidence that reveals his connection to a notorious mob.
The maximum number of guests the game provider can accommodate for a private event varies from ten to 46. Insomnia Escape Room also provides virtual reality options with themes like Cyberpunk, Christmas, and The Prison.
Learn more about Insomnia Escape Room DC.
22. District Winery
Touring the District Winery is one of the fun corporate event ideas in Washington DC for adults. The winery offers a tour on all days except Mondays and Tuesdays. The experience will last for one hour, and you will also taste five wines. A tour guide will lead your group and educate you on the winery’s history.
The winery also offers a blind wine tasting experience called ‘Smarter Than A Somm’ on Wednesdays. You will first learn the wine tasting basics. Then you will taste five wines and try to identify them. There will be a prize for the first six participants to guess correctly.
After the tour, your group can visit the Wine Bar to chat over glasses of wine on the waterfront patio. In addition, the bar hosts a happy hour on Monday to Friday that lasts for two hours. The happy hour menu features cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, and Bottle & Board.
Learn more about District Winery Tour.
23. Mastro’s Steakhouse
Mastro’s Steakhouse is one of Washington DC’s nicest restaurants. The restaurant has a strict dress code that exempts clothing like sleeveless shirts, bandanas, gym apparel, beach wear, and tank tops. You find a variety of fruits, vegetables, seafood, soups, and salads on the menu. The restaurant offers four dining rooms with an excellent setting for corporate events. These rooms’ occupancy capacity varies from 16 to 500 guests.
Learn more about Mastro’s Steakhouse.
24. VR Zone DC
VR Zone is one of the best virtual reality experience providers. The gaming center offers various arcade games in solo and multiplayer modes. You can also play virtual reality escape rooms with your team, choosing from themes like Signal Lost, Jungle Quest, and Sanctum. The experience will last 40 minutes, starting with a brief introduction and game preparation.
VR Zone DC only allows reservations for eight guests at once for corporate events. You may bring your snacks or add pizza to your reservation for an additional fee. You can also access four well-padded virtual reality stations. Only one or two players can play in a station.
Learn more about VR Zone DC.
25. Woolly Mammoth Theater Company
Since 1980, Woolly Mammoth has been pushing the boundaries of theatrical performance. This theater aims to seek innovation and take risks. The company’s current missions include championing radical inclusion and promoting justice, and their productions are not afraid to embrace discomfort in order to spark change. An example of a previous show is The Nosebleed, which addresses parenthood, culture, and forgiveness. Visitors can also experience an array of ongoing events, such as galas and open mics. Additionally, event coordinators can rent the space. Woolly Mammoth Theater Company will give guests a truly unforgettable experience.
Learn more about Woolly Mammoth Theater Company.
Conclusion
A corporate event may revolve around marking a special occasion, celebrating employees, building a team, or even taking a break from work stress. Washington DC has many well-rated places and activities corporate groups can use for their events in the city. Before planning your corporate event, defining the event’s purpose is a good idea. The purpose will help you decide which of the corporate event ideas in this article is best for your group.
Next, check out this list of fun group activities.
Grace He