THis is what my company did for our Xmas party last year:
picked up everyone at the office around 2pm on weekday with limos. drove the into NYC. stopped at several stores (nike was one I know) and handed them gift cards and said you have 30 minutes to buy whatever you want. then off to a nice restaurant for food and drink. at the restaurant they gave individual presents to each person reflective of their hobbies/passions whatever (i.e. this one girl is a huge NASCAR fan so they gave her 2 tickets to a big race in Cali, including airfare and hotel and shiyat). Then the after party which I guess got crazy - vomitting in the limo ensued.
They keep it a secret too. All we know this year is that it is the location (the city) and the date. Fuckers better get my Yankees season tickets. Or dbol.