9 Fun Meetup Ideas (2024)

So much of our day-to-day interactions take place online that even the “clubs” we join can sometimes exist solely on a virtual platform. These days, there is a Facebook group for every hobby, interest, and career under the sun, and most of them never host in-person meetings (social media live streams do not count!). Fortunately, fun meetup ideas are nearly endless.

And if you want to meet up in a more private venue, then check out Peerspace. Peerspace is the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, with stunning spaces available to you in just a few clicks and in cities across the globe. You’ll find an array of suitable options near you, from airy lofts to welcoming rooftop spaces. We’ll include information about real Peerspace venues throughout this article to illustrate diverse meetup venues that may suit you and your group.

Whether you’re a group of improv actors, artists, single parents, writers, or cosplay enthusiasts, hosting a meetup event is a great way to get your members out from behind the computer screen and interact in the real world. The perfect meetup will depend on your group’s unique interests. Getting everyone together in one place offline will allow you to network, socialize, work towards common goals, and make some magic happen! Following are several creative and fun meetup ideas to get you started.

1. Take over an amusement park 

Places like Universal Studios and Disney Parks are popular places for meetups, not just for theme park enthusiasts. If you have a nearby amusement convenient for your group members to get to, take a field trip there. Suggest carpools, pick a meeting spot, book restaurant reservations in advance if necessary, and gather to enjoy a day full of fun rides and tasty food.

The time spent waiting in lines and sitting down to lunch can be an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other. And the best part is, with an amusement park meetup, you don’t have to worry about a venue, entertainment, or food — it’s all there!

You can even rent out your own personal adventure park through Peerspace! For instance, check out this beautiful forest campground and adventure park in Scott Mills, OR that provides you and your group with lawn games, ziplines, axe-throwing, paintball, archery, and even tent and yurt rentals if it’s a multi-day meetup!

2. Build a sense of community and lend a hand together

Volunteering together is an excellent way for a group of people to bond. It’s not only a fun meetup idea but a meaningful one.

Some of our favorite options include:

• Habitat for Humanity
• Cleaning up a local green space
• Serving meals to the homeless in a local park
• Putting together care packages or holiday gifts for those in need
• Hosting an entire fundraiser like a bake sale, garage sale, or car wash together

VolunteerMatch is a great resource for finding both one-time and ongoing volunteer opportunities, and this blog can provide you with everything you need to host a successful fundraiser.

If you are hosting one, choose a charity that aligns with your group’s mission if possible. For example, if you’re a group of writers, you might choose to raise money for a literacy program. 

You can also book a Peerspace venue, like this urban historic venue in Seattle, WA for your group meetup. It not only provides an amazing setting to host your meetup, but 100% of its proceeds go to charity.

Other Peerspace users love it, with one reviewer who hosted a networking event here commenting: “Their team was absolutely lovely to work with. Organized, efficient, and the space was absolutely perfect. Couldn’t have asked for a better venue. Will definitely use them again if we hold an event in Seattle.”

In the spirit of giving back, these quirky fundraising ideas will help you meet your financial targets while growing closer as a group. Check them out!

3. Get crafty and bond over your creations

If your group is artsy, a crafting event may be the best way to go. Go to a make-and-take event at a local craft store or art studio — or design your own event. There’s no limit to what you can make. Candles, pottery, bath bombs, paintings (wine-and-paint night, anyone?), knitting projects, cross-stitch — it’s all possible! Even if your group doesn’t focus on art, a make-and-take event can be a productive and fun meetup idea that everyone can enjoy.

If you are hosting your own event, you can book an art studio, industrial space, or even a cafe through Peerspace. This bright and sunny workshop space in San Diego is a great example. It provides space for 35 guests and is a perfect spot to connect.

4. Band together and defeat an escape room

Escape rooms have popped up in just about every major city. They are fantastic team-building — or, for a singles group, relationship-building — activities. You can easily find a great deal for an escape room experience on Groupon.

Afterward, you can plan to chat over drinks and appetizers at a local bar. When it comes to fun meetup ideas, this is ideal for groups of competitive people who love games.

5. Get outdoors and get active

For a fun meetup idea that doesn’t require a ton of planning, consider taking your group outdoors. Organize a hike, plan a day of mini-golf or a night at Top Golf, or even a game of bowling, and enjoy socializing while being active.

At places like Top Golf and bowling alleys, you can even order food and drinks during the games. Getting up and active with a group is a great way to motivate yourself, so take this opportunity to find your new workout buddies. 

Check out these community event creative ideas to bring your community members together in meaningful ways!

6. Host a potluck and ask everyone to bring their favorite dish

Gathering to bond over a meal is the oldest form of a meetup in the book. Choose a food-friendly venue with plenty of tables and seating and invite every member to bring their favorite dish.

To stay inclusive and organized, create an online form where people can submit any dietary restrictions and announce what they are bringing. If it helps, construct your potluck around a theme like holiday foods or foods from around the world. That way, everyone has an idea of what to bring.

You can also turn your meetup into its own cooking event! Start by booking a spacious and well-equipped kitchen on Peerspace so that you have plenty of space to gather, cook, and dine. One very cool option is this sunny spacious loft in Chelsea/Nomad, New York City, NY. It is a nearly 7,000-square-foot space with a functional kitchen, several meeting rooms, a lounge, A/V equipment, and city views.

7. Host a book (or movie!) club

For a group of film buffs, a movie marathon followed by a discussion is the obvious meetup idea. Still, any group can enjoy a movie screening if you pick a relevant documentary that aligns with the group’s mission. However, if literature is more your group’s style, host a book club meetup! This, of course, requires advanced planning because you need to give all of the members enough time to read the book, but it’s a worthwhile event that will spark meaningful conversations.

For some tips, check out this blog. Some books even come with guiding questions for discussions. If you don’t have a living room big enough to host everyone, consider booking a cozy cafe or bookstore for the meetup. Don’t forget to complete the movie or book party with snacks and drinks!

8. Break the ice by getting interactive

Break the ice the modern way by booking an interactive venue through Peerspace and exploring it with your meetup group. For example, check out this interactive museum on The Strip in Las Vegas that is home to numerous interactive exhibits that serve perfect selfies. It’s a great excuse for your meetup attendees to bond while exchanging social media handles.

9. Book a gaming lounge and let the competition begin

One of the most fun meetup ideas we can think of is getting out and spending time at a gaming lounge. While most people today game online, opting to instead book a gaming space will help build bonds and, of course, help solidify what you’re there to do in the first place: meet up face-to-face. Luckily, Peerspace can connect you to incredibly fun gaming lounges in cities across the globe to help make your planning easy.

For example, our friends in New Jersey can book this gaming lounge loft in downtown Rahway. It’s a BYOB event space that provides arcade games, indoor basketball, rhythm games, skeeball, arcade consoles, and so much more. It’s easy to see how your participants can easily bond over their shared interests in certain games (and have an utter blast doing so!).

Fun meetup ideas: conclusion

These fun meetup ideas can be an entertaining way to build stronger teams and friendships no matter what you are meeting about. We may be an internet-centric society full of remote workers and virtual experiences, but nothing beats face-to-face events.

So set a date, pick an activity, send out some invites, and get together with like-minded people. You can easily book a unique gathering venue on Peerspace that provides all the amenities you need in a unique and exciting setting. Your attendees will be glad you did, and it may just become your new favorite way to gather with friends and family!

Find unique event venues on Peerspace