Whether you’re hosting a major corporate event or a milestone birthday party, one of the main incentives for your guests to attend is to make connections with one another. So, if your event doesn’t help guests connect, they’re likely to feel left out, bored, and unwilling to attend future events. Fortunately, with the right elements, it’s easier than you may think to drive those connections, starting with your event theme. Take your events to the next level with these interactive NYC event themes that foster unforgettable guest connections.
Treat Your Guests to a Journey Around the World
Guests love experiencing new cultures, so a Journey Around the World theme is perfect for generating excitement and encouraging guests to interact. Plus, if your guests hail from different cultures, you can highlight each culture to foster understanding and appreciation. Offer interactive experiences, such as trying food from each culture and learning traditional dances (if it’s culturally acceptable to do so.) Book entertainers from the cultures your event features, and choose decor that celebrates famous landmarks or cities.
Show Off Your Country-Western Style
A country-western theme brings endless opportunities for guest connections. Choose a NYC venue with plenty of space for the theme, and encourage guests to show up in their favorite country-western attire. Offer western-themed activities, such as horseshoes, cornhole, and line dancing. Petting zoos are always a hit for the kids, too, if you have space available. Then, for truly unforgettable guest connections, make a mechanical bull the literal center of attention. You can guarantee the hilarity that ensues will live on in your guests’ memories for years to come.
Help Your Guests Find Their Inner Chef at a Cooking Competition
Cooking competitions are popular for a reason: people love them. Tap into that excitement and foster guest connections by giving your guests a chance to learn from top chefs and display their culinary acumen. Having guests work together for a common goal is always a great way to foster connections, so divide your guests into teams, give them a cooking challenge, and let the competition commence! Bam!
Delight Your Guests with a Winter Wonderland Theme
Winter wonderland is one of the most magical themes you can choose for your NYC events. That’s because we’re fortunate to have incredible venues, including multiple ice skating rinks, that are perfect for winter themes. Choose a venue that’s right for your event, and create a magical atmosphere with decor, such as ice sculptures and lighting to mimic the Northern Lights. Then, offer special activities to get your guests mingling and foster connections. Ice skating, winter balls, and gourmet hot cocoa bars are always popular with guests.
Generate Fun and Connections with a Carnival Theme
Who doesn’t love a good carnival? There are games, rides, delicious food, and great entertainment. So, give your guests an unforgettable time with a carnival theme. Offer carnival games with prizes, book magicians, clowns, or comedians, serve carnival fare, such as funnel cakes and corn dogs, and offer a photo booth with carnival-inspired cutouts for your guests. Your guests will be mingling in no time!
Stand Out from the Crowd as an Expo Exhibitor
Standing out from the crowd isn’t always easy, but exhibiting at The Event Planner Expo 2025 is a great way to promote your NYC event planning business as one of the best in the industry. Whether you want to showcase your interactive NYC event themes or highlight another aspect of your business, exhibiting at The Expo allows you to connect with over 3,000 attendees. Sign up to exhibit today!
