13 Great Social Mixer Ideas (2024)

Searching for the best social mixer ideas for your upcoming event? At Peerspace, we get it! After all, hosting a fun mixer to break the ice is one of the best ways to get a group of total strangers laughing and chatting like old friends. Whether you’re trying to bring together a team of new coworkers, volunteers, classmates, or any other group of people, a mixer can help get rid of all the awkwardness that comes with meeting new people for the first time.

But where to begin? Here are some of our favorite social mixer ideas to get groups of all kinds all mixed up! Since Peerspace is the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, we’ll also share information about perfect social mixer rental venues to complete your event. Let’s get to it!

1. Book the perfect party venue rental on Peerspace

Want to mix up the scenery for your mixer? Head over to Peerspace and find a fantastic venue! You can find many unique places to host social gatherings, like open and airy lofts, eclectic breweries, and even epic retreat spaces.

Peerspace venues are owned by local hosts who strive to help ensure your event goes off without a hitch. In fact, you can reach out to your venue’s host with any questions or requests leading up to and during your event to see how they can help.

So what types of Peerspaces are ideal for social mixers? Here are a few examples:

• This bright and spacious loft with indoor/outdoor space in Santa Monica, CA (pictured above)
• This New York-style space in London, England with speakers and arcade games
• This rustic storefront event space in Lemont, IL with gardens and an open layout
• This multi-use home in Bentleigh East, Melbourne, Aus with a kitchen, murals, and an open floor plan
• This gorgeous and unique turn-key event space in Seattle, WA that offers tasting experiences

You get the idea! Whatever theme or fun activity you want to use for your mixer, hosting at a stylish and well-equipped event venue can help you set the perfect stage for all the fun to come. 

Want more ideas? Just search the listings in your city and check out the photos and reviews to get the full picture before booking. Though venue descriptions tend to be pretty thorough, you can contact the host if you have any questions. When you’ve chosen the perfect social mixer venue on Peerspace, it’s all yours for as many hours as you like!

Throwing this social mixer spur of the moment? No worries; our 10 last-minute party ideas can also help you pull off an epic event!

2. Break the ice with a scavenger hunt 

Here’s a classic social mixer idea to get your group working together as a team. Hide a series of objects around your venue, and encourage guests to work together as a team to uncover the grand prize. You could start by giving each guest a different clue to the initial puzzle to promote group participation. Everyone will have to work together to discover the first item. 

In the Bay Area? Then you need to see our guide on the best group scavenger hunts in San Francisco!

3. Mix up the name tags

This social mixer idea works best for small groups since too many members can get overwhelming. Upon entering the venue, give everyone a name tag that belongs to someone else. Guests will have to swap out the tags with other attendees to get the right name. It’s an excellent way to get everyone to approach each other for a chat. And once the initial introduction happens, genuine conversations can happen a whole lot easier.

Considering a virtual event? Then our 11 great virtual retreat ideas will show you how!

4. Play “guess my name”

Instead of swapping out name tags, why not make a game out of guessing each other’s names instead? With this social mixer idea, no one is allowed to tell another guest their first name. Rather, they have to give out clues to lead guests on the right track.

If someone’s name is Paul, they might give hints that they have the same name as a member of The Beatles or the lead character in Dune. If someone’s name isn’t from a popular form of media, they can try to mime act it out instead or give hints with similar-sounding words or names. When you make a game by discovering another person’s name, it’s much easier to remember it later!

5. Make an art project together

If you’re feeling crafty, making something together is an amazing way to break the ice as a group. You could host a painting party where everyone paints their version of the same image or build a fun craft that you found on Pinterest as a group. So long as everyone is getting their hands dirty and having fun, fun conversations are sure to follow!

This is easily achieved by booking a workshop venue through Peerspace. For instance, this unique boutique workshop in Fort Myers is a bright and charming art studio that has everything you need to host the ultimate paint night at your mixer.

6. Sing your heart out at a karaoke night

There’s nothing like belting out a little Journey together to bond as a group. You’ll get to learn a lot about your new teammates, like what everyone’s favorite song is and who has the best of pipes.

Don’t feel like heading to a cramped, crowded local karaoke bar? No problem, head to a private karaoke bar rental through Peerspace instead. We love this sleek and modern karaoke bar in Manhattan, NY as a suggestion for your social mixer. It has all the karaoke equipment already set up, a gorgeous setting, and delicious Pan-Asian cuisine that’s sure to inspire conversation.

Just in case your social mixer takes a 70s turn, be sure to read up on our 11 groovy disco party ideas!

7. Host a cocktail mixer to help tame shyness

Here’s a fun mixer idea to bring a little boozy fun to your event. As new guests arrive, give each guest a different cocktail ingredient to wear along with their nametag. Encourage guests to work together and create different cocktails. When a guest with a “vodka” nametag and one with an “orange juice” meet, they make a cocktail, and each receives a straw. The guest with the most straws at the end of the night wins a special prize!

This would be extra fun at a cocktail party venue. One suggestion? This totally charming horseshoe bar in Brooklyn, NY. It provides cocktails as well as speakers and an outdoor space.

“Beautiful bar,” shares a Peerspace reviewer. “Tarek was great at communicating with us and making sure everything went smoothly”

Discover our 9 cool cocktail party ideas to enhance this idea even more

8. Have attendees play “What’s on your phone”

Typically, being on your phone at a mixer is a sign of boredom. Not so at this fun mixer idea! Have everyone get out their phones and challenge guests to take photos with their fellow participants. They might get 5 points for taking a selfie with someone else, or ten points if they can get a quick video of another guest singing the first line to their favorite song.

Whoever has the most points by the end of the night wins. And while everyone has their phones out, this is also a great time to exchange contact information for later!

9. “Speed date” your introductions 

You’ve heard of speed-dating, the act of going on brief 60-second dates with potential partners. If speed-dating can ignite a romantic spark, why not a spark of friendship? Set up a series of quick 60-second “dates” with every member of the group.

This gets a lot of introductions out of the way fast, and once everyone breaks the ice, natural conversations become a whole lot easier. 

10. Play “what am I”?

Here’s a fun mixer game to get conversations flowing! In this interactive card game for adults, everyone places a card inside the headband on their forehead and tries to guess their occupation, using only yes or no questions that other guests have to answer.

For added fun, don’t use the pre-packaged cards from the game. Instead, have everyone write down an object on an index card and distribute them randomly. This can lend a more personal touch to the game with hilarious results! 

Make it even better by hosting it at a comfy lounge rental space, perfect for card games. This elevated lounge and deck in Addison, TX is a beautiful option.

Try these icebreaker ideas for more creative ways of getting to know each other!

11. Play “desert island”

This is another classic icebreaker game, a staple of any good mixer event, no matter the type. Ask everyone which three objects they would bring with them to a desert island. It could be anything from favorite books, movies, albums, or more broad categories like food and household objects.

You’ll get to see how much you have in common with other members of your group, including who else chooses “How to Build a Raft” as one of their desert island books. 

Let the inspiration flow easier by booking a retreat venue on Peerspace that looks a lot like a desert island, like this slice of paradise in Miami, FL. It’s a spacious outdoor jungle with plenty of greenery and wildlife to explore.

Considering an outdoor event? Then our 9 lovely garden party ideas article is brimming with inspiration!

12. Bake something as a team

For this fun mixer idea, you’ll get to mix up some fantastic treats in the kitchen! Pick out a recipe for a delicious treat beforehand, like some scrumptious sugar cookies, and have your guests bake it up together. It’s an excellent way to build teamwork from the get-go.

When everyone finishes baking their treats, you can host a decorating contest to see who can create the most original cookie design. It’s a great way to encourage both teamwork and competition at your mixer. It could be even more fun if you host it at a well-equipped kitchen rental. For instance, this bright farmhouse kitchen in Kensington, NH is a particularly beautiful and spacious option. Along with its lovely kitchen, it also offers you the use of a fireplace, perfect for gathering with some cocoa and sugar cookies after the baking is done.

13. Mix it up with a paint and prosecco activity

We’re putting a 2024 spin on a classic social event! Instead of the beloved paint and sip in which you paint a picture along with other guests while sipping wine, why not add a bit of pop pop fizz to the proceedings with a paint and prosecco mixer! If you book this gorgeous historical venue in Logan Square in Chicago, IL, you can ask the host to provide a prosecco wall for a fun and Instagrammable addition to your social mixer.

Bubbly wine gives the event more flair and can be its own conversation starter. Plus, with all your guests painting and sipping, there is sure to be plenty to bond over and laugh about, which is what a social mixer is all about.

Social mixer ideas are best served at a Peerspace gathering venue

These are just a few of the best social mixer ideas to get people comfortable and chatty. Don’t forget, you can easily book a relaxing and stylish event venue on Peerspace to further encourage natural interactions! Book the venue that has the best ambiance and most helpful amenities.

When you do, you can also rely on the exceptional services of your venue’s local host to help with all the event details. It’s fun, easy, and takes away a lot of the stress associated with event planning. Good luck!

Find unique social mixer venues on Peerspace