Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen moved to a new space this year. Kristen Wile/UP

Looking for something other than small talk next to a cheap, office Christmas tree this year? We’ve already posted our list of private dining options near Uptown for dinners or cocktail parties, and today, we bring you the gift of active holiday parties. Get up and see the city, shake things up, get cooking, and simply have a good time with friends, family, or coworkers. —Kristen Wile

Liberate Your Palate cocktail classes

Why drink cheap cocktails at a party when you could learn how to make your own using house-made ingredients? Tamu Curtis’s Liberate Your Palate can come to you, or host classes at Sweet Spot Studio off Monroe Road. You’ll learn how to build a quality cocktail with guidance on the fundamentals, then toast with your classmates. Get more information here.

The Funny Bus

The Funny Bus has a variety of comedic tour guides, but the constant is that every ride lets you bring your own beer and wine on board. Load a group onto The Funny Bus, which departs from 7th Street Public Market (a perfect place to stock up on wine from Assorted Table Wine Shoppe). Learn about the city we call home and toast to a fun time. Don’t worry, there’s a bathroom break in the middle. I’ve done the funny bus three times and loved each experience, just make sure you check in with them about the level of crudeness you want in the humor if it’s a work outing. Get more information here.

Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen

These hands-on cooking classes moved into a stunning new space in LoSo, near Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, earlier this year. Host a holiday party that gives guests the ability to cook their own gourmet, healthy meals at home. The classes are BYOB, and culminate with everyone enjoying their creations at community tables, with recipe books to take home. Get more info here.

Feast Food Tours

Tell your team to wear comfortable shoes and loose pants for this tour, which brings guests on a walking tour of a Charlotte’s restaurant scene. Tours cover Uptown, NoDa, Plaza Midwood, Dilworth, or South End, and each one includes six restaurant stops with food samples at each (and a few drinks, too). The restaurants on this tour are well-chosen, and the tastes help tell the story of the neighborhoods. Get more information here.

Sweet Spot Studio

Owner Jossie Lukacik’s gingerbread cookies are the best I’ve ever eaten. Bring your team or friends and family to this cooking classroom off of Monroe Road in Oakhurst and learn how to decorate the most beautiful cookies. More into cakes? Lukacik can teach just about any desserts class. You’ll get dessert to take home, and learn some practical tips on how to bake better in your own kitchen. Get more information here.

Have other ideas? Leave them in the comments!