Creative College Event Ideas to Boost Your Campus Evenings

6 College Event Ideas Students Will Definitely Adore

Are you trying to plan college events that students will genuinely enjoy attending?! If yes, then it's time to change your approach. Whether you're an event planner, faculty member, or involved in any other aspect of campus life, these six simple yet impactful college event ideas will help increase participation and engagement.

Every college and university has students who want to participate actively in campus life and the wider community. However, planning fun activities for college students and developing innovative ideas that resonate with students can sometimes be challenging for businesses, organizations, and even university event planners. 

The options we present below are tailored to student interests, fostering connections among them, enhancing their event experience, introducing them to local businesses and organizations, and much more. These event ideas are activities each student will find enjoyable to attend. 

1. Evenings of Laughter

With the stress of exams, extracurricular activities, and jobs, students constantly search for ways to unwind and relax. One popular event choice for stress relief is comedy nights. Comedians often add colleges to their tour schedules, making it worthwhile to inquire about famous names and their availability. Another option is to host an open mic night and encourage students to showcase their comedic talents. To ensure total attendance, promote your events for college students on social media. For example, you can create a Facebook Event for your activity, where students will mark whether they're going.

Comedy nights are entertaining and an opportunity for students to connect and share a burst of laughter together. To make the event more engaging, it's recommended to have a diverse lineup of comedians with unique styles and perspectives. By providing different comedic acts, students will find something that resonates with them and guarantees a memorable and fun experience. Don't miss the chance to bring laughter and joy to your campus spirit with a well-organized and promoted comedy night.

2. Cooking Classes for Students

Are you looking for fun events for college students to attract them?! Offering food is an excellent way to spark their curiosity, and hosting cooking classes is your answer. This activity promotes healthy eating habits and teaches students to become more self-sufficient in the kitchen. However, it's essential to have a captivating theme and to select affordable, accessible, and college-student-friendly dishes for your classes. Consider dishes like homemade ramen, macaroni, cheese, pho, or stir fry. Burritos, gyros, and wraps are also great options as they're quick, delicious meals that require only a few ingredients.

Cooking classes can be fun and practical, providing students with an enjoyable experience and valuable skills. With having college-student-friendly cooking classes with flavorful recipes and exciting themes, you'll surely attract students and boost positive emotions in the campus community. When planning your lessons, keep in mind the preferences and tastes of your target audience to ensure their interest and participation. 

3. 80’s Music Festival

Have you ever attended any music festivals?! They have a long history starting from the early 20th century with religious and classical music. As the music festivals expanded and evolved, they started to include hippie culture in the late 60s, becoming increasingly popular throughout the 70s. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, music festivals spread rapidly with the introduction of electronic music.

When thinking of event ideas for college students, you can take examples from 80's music festivals, such as - Like Totally Music Festival, Heatwave, or Farm Aid. You can hold a miniature version of these festivals on your campus. 

The Like Totally Music Festival in Santa Ana, California, is a nostalgic blast from the past that transports us back to the neon-colored, big-haired era of the '80s. The festival includes several iconic musicians' performances, video games, roller derby, food trucks, craft beer, and more. It's like stepping into a time machine and reliving the golden age of 80s music and style.

You can make your college event in 80s style too. Have it as a costumed and themed party, with 80s music, dancing, vintage clothes, etc. If you have exams and can't attend the party, contact college essay writers for hire, and while they handle your paper, you can dress like Kate Bush and enjoy the mini-festival.

4. Free Activities to Relieve Stress

College life can often be an overwhelming experience, with students juggling numerous responsibilities like exams, part-time jobs, coursework, and extracurricular activities. Mental health is essential for dealing with all these responsibilities healthily, and hosting de-stressing events on campus can be an effective way to help students manage stress, particularly during exam seasons. Instead of thinking, 'Who can write my research paper for me,' they can just relax and enjoy the day.

Exercise is a proven mental health booster, so partnering with local fitness instructors to host yoga, pilates, or other outdoor events in the park is a great option. Free massages are also always popular among students, providing an easy way just to relax and enjoy the process. 

To combat test anxiety, hosting 'Donut Stress' can be considered one of the great college event ideas too. Free donuts are a fun and tasty way for everyone to relieve stress. Meditation classes and late-night breakfast bars are also effective strategies for helping students decompress and fuel up for their next all-nighter.

Bringing service dogs in training for students to play with can also be a heartwarming and uplifting way to remind them of their furry friends at home. Offering any of these de-stressing activities that are accessible and enjoyable, students can better manage stress and improve their mental health, leading to a more positive and productive college experience.

5. Furry Friends Therapy

Pet therapy can be a relieving way for college students struggling with stress and anxiety. It can also help homesick students by providing comfort and familiarity. When planning activities for college students, partnering with a local pet therapy organization can be a great way to allow students to interact with animals and alleviate their worries. 

Faculty members can also be invited to bring their pets to campus, or a therapy animal organization could be contracted to bring animals for students to interact with. Whatever the approach, furry friend therapy can offer students a much-needed break from the pressure of college life and help to promote a sense of well-being. With this activity, students can just be relieved and excited for a couple of hours instead of searching for a philosophy essay writer for their coursework.

6. Fun Run for Students

When considering creative college event ideas, have you ever considered hosting a campus fun run?! It can be a great way to promote physical activity and community on campus. The event can be designed as a fun run emphasizing participation and enjoyment rather than competition. It's important to lay out a safe and well-marked route for the runners, with water stations and treats like ice cream or fruit cups available for finishers. 

After the run, organize a party with delicious drinks, food, and sweets, and create a lively atmosphere with a disco or other fun activity. To add more fun, encourage participants to dress up in themed costumes and consider making the event a fundraiser with pledges for laps completed. To make your event ideas for college students more memorable, it's always a good idea to take some pictures and videos of participants to help capture the memories of the event. 

Sum Up

To increase student involvement, incorporate creativity and innovation into event planning while taking students' input. College events don't have to be boring, nor should they be restricted to panel discussions or city tours only(though these ideas can also be an excellent way for students to engage). There are countless fun ideas that can be executed on campus to engage students and boost campus everyday life.