Closing the Year with Visa: A Winter Celebration

Kristi DePew
Jan 9
4 min read

Visa’s End of the Year Party was designed as an immersive winter celebration that blended elevated production, interactive experiences, and meaningful opportunities to connect. Hosted on Visa’s campus, the event transformed familiar spaces into a festive environment that felt intentional, warm, and full of energy from start to finish.

Lauren with Eclipse Event Co. led the planning and execution, overseeing logistics, vendor coordination, and overall flow while working closely with the Visa team to bring the vision to life. The transformation began as Premiere Events installed large-scale tenting and rentals that anchored the celebration and created a central gathering space. Inside the tent, Unique Design and Events elevated the environment with custom-fabricated ceiling draping in rich hunter green velvet, immediately setting a refined holiday tone.

Throughout the courtyard and tent, LOOT Rentals curated lounge groupings, bars, shelving, farm tables, and seating moments that encouraged guests to move naturally through the space and settle into conversation. Their furniture selections layered texture and comfort, creating environments that felt polished yet inviting. Kitsch Event Styling brought the winter vision to life with pre-lit green and flocked trees, styled photo moments, and seasonal décor details that tied every area together.

Under the tent, the experience became a lively hub of activity. Groove Labs oversaw the wreath-making as well as the ornament-making experiences from start to finish, which were thoughtfully facilitated by their team. Guests created full wreaths to take home, making the activity both festive and personal. Nearby, The Cupcake Bar hosted a cookie decorating station, complete with beautifully prepared cookies, colorful frostings, and toppings that brought a playful, nostalgic energy to the space.

Bat City Beats was stationed under the tent, providing music that kept the atmosphere upbeat while still allowing guests to mingle, create, and connect comfortably. EPIC Entertainment added movement and surprise through a roaming contortionist performance that traveled throughout the event, spending much of the time under the tent and weaving seamlessly into the guest experience. Also under the tent, a dedicated donation booth allowed guests to contribute items to Families in Transition, making it easy to give back as part of the celebration.

Music and entertainment flowed throughout the event. Outside, Uptown Drive’s interactive Rockstar Karaoke became a high-energy focal point, allowing anyone to step up and sing karaoke with a live band backing them. The spontaneous performances sparked laughter and crowd-cheering moments and added a playful, celebratory atmosphere to the afternoon.

Inside, the energy shifted into a more playful, high-activity atmosphere. Game Plan Entertainment filled the space with arcade games and oversized favorites, drawing guests into friendly competition and spontaneous fun. Nearby, the Austin City Photo Booth installation became a standout moment of the event. This AI-powered photo booth transformed guests into Christmas cartoons or cowboy-inspired characters, blending technology and entertainment in a way that felt unexpected, interactive, and perfectly aligned with Visa’s innovative spirit.

Adjacent to the games and photo booth, a second wreath station focused on giving back. In partnership with Generation SERVE, guests helped create small wreaths that were later donated to families in need, extending the impact of the event beyond the celebration itself.

Food and beverage played a central role in bringing people together. Root Cellar Catering delivered a thoughtfully curated menu that balanced comfort and indulgence, featuring passed appetizers, interactive food stations, multiple bar stations, and a fully styled s’mores experience that perfectly complemented the winter setting.

Stage Directions supported the event with directional signage and production elements that helped guide guests seamlessly through the space, while The Inviting Pear provided digital signage that reinforced the polished, cohesive look of the celebration. Lauren Maria Photography documented the event from beginning to end, capturing the layered design details, interactive moments, and candid guest experiences that defined the day.

Visa’s End of the Year Party was a true collaboration—a celebration where every vendor played a meaningful role in creating an experience that felt festive. Through thoughtful design, immersive entertainment, hands-on activities, and moments of service, the event honored both the close of the year and the community that made it possible.

In the days following, Groove Labs assisted with delivering donations to Families in Transition, ensuring the spirit of giving continued beyond the event itself.

VENDORS

Planner: Lauren with Eclipse Event Co. — @eclipseeventco

Client + Venue: Visa

Rentals & Tenting: Premiere Events — @premiereeventstx

Photography: Lauren Maria Photography — @laurenmariaphoto

Custom Draping: Unique Design and Events — @uniquedesignandevents

Furniture & Specialty Rentals: LOOT Rentals — @lootrentals

Event Styling & Décor: Kitsch Event Styling — @kitscheventstyling

Directional Signage & Production: Stage Directions — @stagedirectionsinc

Digital Signage & Graphics: The Inviting Pear — @the_inviting_pear

Games & Interactive Entertainment: Game Plan Entertainment — @gameplanent

Rockstar Karaoke: Uptown Drive — @uptowndrive