College offers a wealth of opportunities, from academics to networking and professional development. If you want to take on a more active role on campus and build your resume, organizing and hosting events is an excellent way to showcase your leadership abilities and become more engaged.
Wondering how to get started? We’ve compiled a list of social event ideas for college students that are both achievable and enjoyable to plan for your peers and the community. College students are always eager to find exciting activities and meet new people, and hosting events is a fantastic way to unite your college community.
Use this list of 10 fun college events to inspire your creativity and begin brainstorming the type of event you’d like to create.
Event Ideas For College Students
1. Host a Charity Event
Charity events not only make positive impacts but also unite a community of people who are passionate and driven to make change. They’re also great places to meet people who may have similar ideas to you.
You could organize a charity auction and ask business owners in the community to donate items to put on auction. Or you could host a blood drive, fundraising 5k, or a benefit concert. Choose a charity that is important to you and spread the word. Reach out to members in the community supporting that cause and ask them to help you run the event and bring support.
2. Cultural Food Festival
Chances are your college campus has cultural clubs and organizations. Consider partnering with one or a few of them and hosting a cultural food festival. It gives the clubs a chance to set up booths, recruit new members, and showcase their cultures. Students can set up food stalls and share dishes from their cultures. It’s an opportunity for everyone to showcase their culinary talents as well as expose others to new foods.
See what Eckerd College has done in the past to get your ideas flowing.
3. Themed Movie Night
Most college students love movie nights, and adding a theme can make them even more exciting! Pick a theme and select movies that fit it. For example, you could have a “Superhero Night” with superhero movies or a “Rom Com Night” with romantic comedy movies. Have snacks and drinks that coordinate with the themes. You could host a themed movie night in a common area in a residential hall or maybe transform an outdoor space into a cozy watching area.
4. Sports Watch Party
This event idea can work at any time as there are different sporting events happening all year round. You could create a sports watch party around any sport such as football, basketball, soccer, baseball, golf, hockey, tennis, etc. Pick a sporting event and plan a watch party around it filled with fun games, food, and decorations.
You could even create games based on the opposing teams to add some extra fun. Encourage fans to dress in their team’s colors, paint their faces, and participate like they were actually at the game!
5. Set Up a Networking Event
College is one of the best places to meet people and make lasting connections. Sometimes these connections are with friends or professors, and others may be professional connections that help you grow and give you guidance along the way. Invite professionals, alumni, professors, and students to interact together and share their interests.
This is a great way to learn about different majors and professions and may lead to future opportunities for internships or job referrals.
6. Host a Run/Walk Club
This event is not only good for you and the student body but also gets a group of people together in an active and lighthearted environment to socialize and meet new people. You could set the run or walk up around campus or maybe a nearby park or trail. If it goes over well, consider turning it into a weekly or monthly event. This is a great way to stay active and make friends.
7. Enter a Student Competition
Creativity and innovation are all over college campuses. Frequently, companies host competitions for student groups to enter in engineering, advertising, architecture, and all sorts of different areas and subjects. Entering these competitions can help develop skills, gain recognition, and possibly win prizes or scholarships. Take a look online and ask your professors if they know of any competitions to enter.
8. Puppy Pets to De-Stress
College can be stressful, and taking breaks is important to avoid burnout. And one incredibly popular way to do so is by bringing dogs for students to play with and pet. Partner with a local animal shelter or hospital and see if they will bring puppies and dogs that are up for adoption to your campus. Not only will this bring joy for you and your peers, but it may also lead to some furry friends finding their forever homes.
9. Host TEDx Talks
Hosting a TEDx event on campus can be a great way to introduce students to different speakers and topics. You can learn about speakers’ stories, insights, and experiences. You could invite people from the community to speak or students can speak about topics they are knowledgeable and passionate about. TEDx events bring together people to spark curiosity and creativity among students.
10. Host Alumni Speakers
School spirit is not just for current students. Alumni also love to feel school spirit and be a part of their college community. Reach out to alumni in the area and see if they will come in to speak about their profession. This could be in the form of one speaker or maybe it looks more like a networking event, with a room of alumni and current students connecting.
This can be incredibly motivating for current students and allows them and you to build relationships with graduates who may offer mentorships, internships, or job opportunities.
College is a time for personal growth, trying new things, and having fun. Planning events like these are a great way to take advantage of your college experience. From giving back to the community through charity events to exploring delicious cuisines from around the world, these event ideas for college students offer something for everyone in an achievable and fun way! Don’t forget to document how you assisted and organized these events for your resume.
Check out College Raptor for more ways to take advantage of your college experience, from finding scholarships to picking the major that’s perfect for you!
