Corporate Summer Party in Lisbon: How to Organise an Arraial for Your Company
The arraial corporativo, the Portuguese-style corporate summer party, is, of all company events, the one that most naturally creates genuine connections between people. There is no formal agenda, no presentations, no declared objectives. That is precisely why it works: in a relaxed setting, people relate to each other differently, and those relationships have real value for company culture.
Organising a good arraial, however, is more demanding than it looks. The feeling of informality has to be built through careful planning.
What defines a well-executed corporate arraial
Three elements separate a memorable arraial from a generic party.
The first is thematic coherence. Arraial does not have to mean traditional folk music and potted basil. It can be a summer party with a Mediterranean aesthetic, a Latin-inspired event, or a celebration with the company’s own identity. What matters is that the theme is consistent across every touchpoint: decoration, catering, entertainment, and signage.
The second is entertainment quality. At an arraial, the energy of the party depends largely on what happens on stage or on the dance floor. Live music, a DJ who reads the room correctly, team games, or participatory activities are the elements that keep people engaged until the end.
The third is programme rhythm. An arraial without structure quickly becomes a gathering of people looking at their phones. It is important to create moments throughout the afternoon or evening that bring the group back to the centre of the experience.
The PepsiCo project as a reference
The PepsiCo Corporate Arraial 2023 is one of the projects in our portfolio that best illustrates these principles. With entertainment, catering, decoration, furniture, and audiovisuals fully integrated, the result was an event with a strong identity and an energy that was felt from beginning to end. The full project is available at venuesin.pt/portfolio/arraial-corporativo-2023-pepsico.
The same client subsequently entrusted us with their International Incentive Dinner, held at Casa de Desenho, which demonstrated how a celebration event can achieve a very high level of refinement without losing its festive spirit. See at venuesin.pt/portfolio/jantar-incentivo-internacional-pepsico-casa-de-desenho.
Venues for company summer parties in Lisbon
Lisbon and the surrounding area offer a considerable variety of spaces for corporate summer parties.
Outdoor or semi-covered spaces such as quintas, estates, private gardens, or urban terraces are the most sought-after option between May and September. The contingency plan question for rain is mandatory, and the answer needs to be concrete before confirming any booking.
Industrial or warehouse spaces with high ceilings and the ability to transform the entire environment allow for a completely customised atmosphere. They are an excellent choice for companies looking for a more contemporary aesthetic.
Restaurant venues with private event capacity such as restaurant parks, beach clubs, or locations with integrated catering services simplify logistics but limit customisation.
Entertainment: what works
Entertainment at a corporate arraial can include live music (cover bands, jazz groups, DJs), group games (football or padel tournaments, traditional games), brand activations, themed food stations, or street entertainment such as jugglers, polaroid photographers, or caricature artists.
The decision should take into account the profile of employees, the size of the group, and the goal of the evening. For groups of more than 150 people, diversifying entertainment focal points prevents everyone from concentrating in the same place at the same time, which tends to create bottlenecks and reduces the flow of the event.
Catering for a summer party
Summer party catering follows a different logic from a seated dinner. Food stations, themed buffets, cocktail bars, and circulating snacks allow people to move, interact, and explore without being tied to a table. This mobility is one of the main contributors to the energy of this type of event.
The quality of snacks and drinks is very visible at an arraial. Investing in this element always pays off.
How much does a corporate summer party cost
The investment per person for a corporate summer party in Lisbon typically ranges from €80 to €200, depending on the venue, catering level, entertainment, and degree of customisation. For groups above 100 people, economies of scale start to become relevant.
How to get started
To receive a proposal with venue, programme, and indicative budget for your company’s summer party, contact us at venuesin.pt/solicitar. Let us know the approximate number of people, the intended date, and whether you have a preference for an outdoor or indoor space.
*Venuesin organises corporate arraials, company summer parties, and celebration events in Lisbon and across Portugal.*