Looking for event entertainment ideas that will wow your attendees and keep them talking about your event after they’ve gone home? With the technology available to event organizers today, there’s no excuse for a boring event.
After all, 65% of consumers say they understand a product better when they experience it through a live event. Wouldn’t it make sense that they’d also remember the product even better if an event is exciting?
A fun and engaging attendee experience is well within your reach with the entertainment ideas we’ll outline below. These suggestions are effective for any event, including corporate event entertainment, corporate party entertainment, conference entertainment.
1. Never too old for a magician
Magicians are a classic when selecting entertainment acts for events. The joy of magic involves bringing the unexpected into situations that might otherwise feel predictable and dull.
Contemporary magicians can do a little more than pull a rabbit out of hat, too. They have many more tricks up their sleeves with the help of technology! Plus, they can incorporate company messaging into their act as a way of making a fun activity educational and inspirational.
2. Talent shows
You may think you know your colleagues, but have you heard Kelly from HR deliver a mind-blowing rendition of a Taylor Swift song? Talent shows offer an opportunity to boost morale and camaraderie, highlight the diverse talents within your teams, and create more deeper connections among colleagues.
3. Interactive game shows
Who doesn’t love game shows? This can be as big or small as you make it, and as simple or custom as you’d like. You might create questions based on your industry, corporate inside jokes, company culture, team wins, product information, etc.
4. Live music
Some event ideas never get old, and live music is one of them. Consider hiring a band, DJ, or vocalist who can play a mix of popular hits and classics to cater to all musical tastes.
5. Comedy show
A good laugh can bring people together. Hiring a comedian for your next corporate event can lighten the mood and provide some much-needed comic relief. Of course, you’ll need to ensure the comedian’s material is appropriate for all attendees to maintain professionalism.
6. Charity auction
Charity auctions are a great mix of entertainment and service. Bidders have a chance to win items or experiences while helping to fund a good cause. Prizes are ideally gifted by local businesses or well-known brands and might include items like tickets to a sporting event, signed memorabilia, vacation packages, spa and wellness certificates, local dining experiences, gift cards, themed gift baskets, and more.
Be mindful of the charity you choose; their goals and ethics should align with those of your organization, and you’ll need to ensure there’s no chance of offending or polarizing your attendees based on social or political views.
7. Casino night
Want to liven things up? Give your guests a chance to dress up and test their luck at popular casino games like poker, blackjack, roulette, and other tabletop games. Create company branded betting chips or your own branded “currency” for the event, and develop a range of unique prizes that guests can win depending on the amount of “money” they accumulate over the course of the event.
The point isn’t to win money, like at an actual casino—it’s all about getting lucky, winning games, and walking away with some fun prizes.
8. Wellness activities
Whether it be wellness zones, breakout yoga sessions, organized runs, massage, meditation exercises, or otherwise, getting your attendees active is a great way to keep them entertained and demonstrate your commitment to health and wellness.
9. Interactive art installations
An interactive art installation is a way to encourage attendees to tap into their own creativity while fostering a sense of community (and fun!). Installations might include:
- “Paint and sip” parties
- Painting or drawing on a wall where everyone has a chance to contribute
- A digital heat map where attendees can input their home locations and see how many other attendees are from the same area
10. Theater experiences
Theater is beloved by many—why not bring the theater to your attendees? Host a performance at your event, or even create a small theatrical production yourself with the help of staff and partners.
11. Trivia night
A more relaxed version of a game show that requires far less planning and coordination, trivia can be an entertaining way to pass the time and let attendees test their knowledge about any topic you choose. Your trivia night could be themed around industry or brand knowledge, pop culture, history, cinema… the possibilities are endless!
12. Karaoke
A classic standby, karaoke is a great way to break the ice and entertain attendees, and a fun way to discover who might have a hidden talent (or not).
13. Scavenger hunting
A scavenger hunt involves participants searching for and collecting specific items or using clues to complete tasks. If you split attendees into groups, you have the added benefit of fostering teamwork while keeping attendees engaged and letting them explore your venue or city.
14. Photo booths
Think props and fun backgrounds—a photo booth doesn’t have to be a small kiosk with a curtain. These days, you can have photo “booths” set up for attendees to use their own phones to capture fun shots in front of a changeable background.
This is also a great opportunity for attendees to share images from their time at your event on their social media accounts, so be sure you have an event hashtag available for them to tag your event!
15. Workshops and classes
Provide your attendees with hands-on learning experiences on topics like cooking, art, or professional development. At a corporate event, a workshop can serve as both entertainment and an educational opportunity, helping attendees gain new skills or insights.
16. Outdoor activities
Is your event location particularly scenic, or are many of your attendees avid lovers of the great outdoors? Outdoor activities might include hiking, team sports, adventure challenges, bird watching, water-based activities, and so much more.
17. Virtual reality experiences
Virtual reality (VR) can be an immensely fun way to entertain attendees and offer them an experience they might never have had before. VR experiences can be as simple as putting on a headset and getting to see a new place or as involved as an interactive game.
You can also use VR for immersive product demonstrations or to showcase future projects or concepts, helping attendees visualize something that’s still being created.
18. Psychics, mind readers, and mentalists
Psychics, mind readers, and mentalists can add a sense of mystery and excitement to a corporate event, providing unique entertainment for attendees. While not everyone is going to buy into the legitimacy of these professionals, just like magic tricks, they’re still immensely fun.
19. Fireworks display
Whether it’s opening night or a grand finale, fireworks never go out of style as a way to entertain and awe your attendees. Want to make things really interesting? Splurge on some custom fireworks to light up the sky with your brand—you’ll impress your attendees and let any locals know who’s responsible for the light show.
20. Themed parties
Encourage attendees to dress up in costume or based on a theme, such as a white t-shirt party where blacklights will make everyone glow, a costume party based on popular cinema, or a decades party, where everyone dons their best ‘80’s garb.
21. Movie screenings
Who doesn’t love watching movies? Whether it’s a classic or new release, a movie screening is a great way to give attendees a chance to unwind and enjoy some easy entertainment.
22. Dance parties
Music, dancing, and socializing—what more could you ask for? Dance parties are a more lively form of entertainment where attendees can get out some pent up energy, enjoy the music, and have a chance to socialize in a less formal setting.
23. Food and drink experiences
There are so many options when thinking about food and drink experiences. You could try food tastings, cooking demonstrations, mixology classes, food and drink pairings, DIY food bars (like s’mores or frozen yogurt), food trucks, and so many more options.
24. Escape room challenges
If you’ve never tried an escape room, you’re missing out! Escape room challenges involve teams solving puzzles and completing tasks to "escape" from an area within a set time limit. This is a great opportunity for team building, fostering collaboration and problem-solving skills, but it’s also just plain fun!
25. Local tours
Hosting your event in an interesting city? Particularly if many of your attendees have traveled to your event, a local tour can be a great way to help them explore your destination, give the locals some business, and demonstrate some local gems or unique history. Think landmarks and cultural sites, hop-on hop-off bus tours, bicycle tours, ghost tours, and more!
26. Cultural experiences
If your event is taking place at a destination with rich local heritage, you might consider a cultural experience to entertain your attendees and give them a peak into the area’s culture. This could be many things, from tasting a local delicacy to attending a traditional dance performance.
27. Silent discos
A silent disco involves participants wearing headphones that allow them to choose a listening channel and dance. Depending on how many channels are available, attendees can all be listening to totally different songs while dancing together.
Silent discos are a unique way of experiencing music that allows attendees to enjoy much of the same excitement of a concert or dance party while getting to choose what they listen to. They can also be a fun way to help people connect with others who enjoy the same music tastes—if they can spot who’s moving to the same beat!
28. Drone shows
Much like firework displays, drone shows are another awe-inducing display to enthrall attendees. Drone shows use synchronized drones to create light displays in the sky, offering a unique way to put on a performance for your attendees and use some seriously cool tech.
29. Caricature and other by-demand artists
Ever walk by those street artists and wish you had time to stop and have them draw your caricature or paint a custom piece? By-demand artists offer unique, personalized souvenirs and interactive entertainment, making it memorable and personalized for attendees.
30. Meet your match game
A fun way to promote networking, “meet your match” games can be played throughout the duration of your event, with attendees assigned a number or some other identifier that matches that of another attendee. If they’re able to find their match, they win a prize!
Make entertainment part of your event strategy
The best entertainment doesn’t just entertain—it helps achieve your event goals. Think of entertainment as the secret sauce that transforms a conventional corporate gathering into a memorable experience that people actually look forward to. Sensible entertainment selections can transform a routine event into something people will be talking about for months to come.
Choosing the right entertainment isn’t just about pleasantly passing time, though—it’s about creating moments that resonate, inspire, and leave a lasting impression. By aligning entertainment choices with your corporate culture, objectives, and event trends, you can elevate your event from ordinary to extraordinary.
As you work entertainment into your corporate event planning process, think about how it can work with and enhance your overall event strategy. When choosing your conference themes, for instance, consider analysis of past events as well as recent industry trends to decide what might resonate most with your audience.
It’s essential to utilize an in-person event platform that allows you to keep attendees updated on all experiences available to them, whether they be informational or entertainment. You’ll also want to leverage an event marketing platform that helps you streamline and track your event engagement and marketing efforts so you can keep track of where attendees engaged most with your event, what feedback they may have provided after specific experiences, and more.
FAQs
How do you entertain guests at an event?
To keep event guests entertained, consider incorporating corporate event ideas that offer opportunities for engagement, encourage active participation, and allow attendees to connect with their peers. Activities can include performances and shows, DIY activities, hands-on learning opportunities, tours, team-based activities, and so much more.
How do you make an event entertaining?
Making an event entertaining requires offering positive and engaging activities that encourage participation from attendees. A good goal is to incorporate a mix of interactive activities that range from high energy to low intensity and help attendees maintain a healthy balance of scheduled activities as well as opportunities for socializing and time to recharge.
