Freelancer Christmas Party

Watershed is hosting a Freelancer Christmas Party on Friday 11 December, and the whole thing is built around a specific kind of missing: the office Christmas party. If you're a freelancer, a solo creative, or self-employed, you're probably used to the quiet December—no company bash, no secret Santa, no forced small talk with the accounts department. This is aimed at exactly that crowd, the people who miss the annual office party and want a version of it that actually fits their working life.

The night runs from 19:00 to 23:00 in the Waterside 3 Event Space, and the music is handled by GAROËSS, who'll be on the decks for a DJ set. The organisers describe it as a chance to shake off the year that was 2026, so it's less about a formal sit-down and more about dancing off the last twelve months with other people who spend their days working for themselves.

It's worth keeping in mind where this is happening. Watershed is a cross-artform producer that shares, develops and showcases cultural ideas and talent, so it's a venue that's used to bringing together different kinds of creative work. That fits the crowd they're inviting here: freelancers and solo creatives from across the city, rather than one specific industry. If you've spent most of the year working from your kitchen table or a shared desk, it's a good excuse to get out and spend a few hours with people who get the same way of working.

So, if you've been missing the office party, here's your replacement. It's at Watershed in the Waterside 3 Event Space on Friday 11 December, from 19:00 to 23:00, with GAROËSS on the decks.