In today’s day and age, many people need a legitimate reason to get out of the house and participate in some social event. There needs to be some form of collective groove and atmosphere that caters to more than just social butterflies. There needs to be a certain level of value in an era when we have less and less space to cherish time.
As such, social events must have a certain appeal that blends relaxation with comfortable engagement. They need to provide a thread of enjoyment that can connect an often heterogeneous collective. In this sense, a social event must check a lot of boxes without too much dilution of the level of entertainment that you expect.
With this list, we will do our best to provide some suggestions that can provide valuable solutions for social events that can provide real value to your free time. Whether they succeed in giving your social life new wind or just helping you reconnect with friends, things can gain some importance as things go along.
Why Social Events Still Matter
We would like to add a preamble to this list by discussing why attending social events still matters.
In fairness, there are online methods of engaging in social activities. Parasocial interactions, social media, and online communication platforms like Discord have changed the paradigm, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Data on daily social media usage in the 2020s shows us that these numbers soared, and things haven’t been the same ever since. We are seeing a level of change that we still feel today, and the effects of forceful migration to Internet socialization solutions are as clear as day.
For many, re-entering society after the turbulent years during and right after the pandemic is still a work in progress. With specifically impactful and helpful social events that can tick the boxes of comfort and entertainment, reintegration can serve as a thread that gives a fresh start to social life.
Themed Parties — Getting in Character, Getting in Tune
Themed parties are fun because they tend to get daft, even goofy. They can adopt any kind of tone that you can think of since not all of them need to be a carnival-like event that requires some interesting or outlandish approach.
Moreover, the freedom to pick and adhere to a specific kind of theme can basically create a carte blanche level of opportunity that can give a lot of meaning to the party. There are some popular choices that tend to come about at specific moments in time (Halloween, for example), but these are mainstream options that you can adhere to.
There are also situations like themed social events when there are activities that can have their own merit but be a part of a wider thematic environment. You could go all out with a vintage Vegas vibe — cocktail attire, lounge music, and casino-themed entertainment that channels classic movies. These events let people step into a different world, even if only for one evening.
Game Nights (of All Kinds)
Game nights can remind us of various types of activities that will feel like a blast from the past.
If you’re old enough to remember, there are instances when LAN gaming was the foremost format of multiplayer games. We have the aforementioned communication platforms and hyperconnectivity when it comes to online gaming, but the distance remains an impediment from various points of view.
Think about this: you’re at a social event in which you and your friends are playing the same online game – an old one, perhaps. One of you has a hard time, is unlucky, or has just been bested by someone. Isn’t it more fun and gratifying to look at their grimace in real-time rather than imagining it from the screen or seeing it on a screen?
How about having a consensus on taking a break and having a drink or something to eat together rather than on your own? Even the breaks between gaming sessions can have social value and be fun in their own right. Here’s another scenario: you play completely analogue games. Board games may be boring for some, especially if your attention span hasn’t been the same for a few years.
However, there are faster, more dynamic physical games like Cards Against Humanity, rummy, backgammon, or even checkers. Adding them to a competitive, tournament-style, incentive-driven format can spice things up and create a level of vivaciousness that will feel very entertaining.
Food/Beverage-Tasting Events
This is where there needs to be consensus about some things and some courage about others. You would basically go to an event where the whole act of tasting and getting out of your comfort zone comes in the case of something that feels very close to home.
For many of us, food and drinks represent more than just fuel. They represent a level of comfort that can alleviate stress and bring us closer to a harmony that we seek in the middle of times that may have been better. In this sense, issues regarding overconsumption and addiction can arise, which can change things with our proposal.
If you’re fine with the implications, going to a wine-tasting, beer-tasting, or liquor-tasting event can bring up the opportunity to meet your people, or just open up new socializing opportunities.
If you’re particularly familiar with or passionate about such a subject, it can be very endearing to get to talk to other enthusiasts of that domain. It doesn’t have to be an alcohol-coded event; it can be with food, but the idea of getting to talk about something so rudimentary yet so desirable is definitely interesting.
Since the subject of that tasting event is the protagonist, you are going to an event that can lead to interesting moments. The tasting itself within a social context has resonance since you can see how other people react to your tastes and vice versa.
Conclusion
To end this discussion, we would like to give you a slight nudge towards exiting your comfort zone if you’re ready for it. Socializing is very good for your self-confidence, especially if you’re going in without expectations and are just trying to get your personality to breathe some unfamiliar air. However, don’t forget to be polite, respectful, and responsible with your words and actions!
