Community Management

15 event ideas for your Slack community

Muskaan Sethi
Published / 
January 18, 2023

Online communities are becoming increasingly popular, and with them come events for members to attend and enjoy. Whether you’re a fan of gaming, anime, music, politics, or any other interest, chances are there’s an online community where you can find like-minded individuals to interact with and share your experiences. And with more and more communities forming, events within these circles are on the rise too.

When it comes to events, they differ greatly depending on the interests of the group. Smaller, more specific communities often stick to one type of event like regular video game streams or podcast recordings. Larger communities, however, can bring a variety of events to members. The scope of events within online clusters can be vast, from art showcases and physical meet-ups to Q&A sessions and music performances.

Here are 15 event ideas for your Slack community that will help you keep your members engaged, motivated and having fun:

1. Lunch and Learns

A Lunch and Learn is an informal session that allows group members, typically in a workplace setting, to come together during their lunch break and learn from a guest speaker. Instead of sitting through a boring lecture, participants can interact and engage with the speaker while enjoying a much-needed break from their day-to-day routine.

2. Virtual Game Nights

Are you missing the social interaction of in-person meetings? It's time to hit the virtual space and have some fun with a virtual game night.

Game nights offer a unique opportunity for your team to come together for some stress-free, low-stakes fun, as well as a way to reconnect with one another and release some built-up energy. They’re also a great way to boost camaraderie, which, in turn, can improve collaboration at work.

Here are a few of our favorites:

  • Trivia or Quiz Games: For a lively game night atmosphere, why not try one of the many online quiz or trivia games? Plenty of options are available, and everyone can join in on the fun. Plus, nothing beats testing each other and learning incredible, fun facts.
  • Online Poker: Who said poker night couldn’t be virtual? Today's online sites offer innovative and realistic poker experiences with leaderboards, tournaments, and exciting levels. The interactive feature allows friends, colleagues, and family to join in from anywhere.
  • Strategy Games: Strategy games such as chess, checkers, and backgammon can already be played online and with friends. Why not add a bit of a challenge by creating a game night for these games? Everyone can enjoy the game and have a friendly competition.
  • Virtual Escape Rooms: Escape rooms are usually a fun physical activity, but you can also play online versions of these games! With virtual escape rooms, people can explore different worlds while they solve puzzles and complete the mission. It’ll provide your team with a fun, interactive option that adds a hint of challenge to the mix.

3. Movie Nights

Virtual movie nights are ideal when everyone doesn't have the time or the means to meet up in person. Whether it’s because of distance, inclement weather, or time constraints, gathering online makes it much easier to bond over a movie.

4. Virtual Happy Hours

If you’ve been feeling the brunt of physical isolation, you’re not alone; fortunately, there are some solutions. One way to keep your team connected is to host a virtual happy hour.

Virtual happy hours can be a great way to stay connected with your team while following all the necessary safety regulations and guidelines. Not only will it be a welcomed break from their work-at-home routines, but it can be a fun, low-pressure way for coworkers to catch up and unwind together.

5. Idea Jams

If you want your team to come up with creative and innovative solutions to a problem, then hosting an idea jam is one of the best ways to get it going. In an idea jam, the team meets up to come up with and discuss potential solutions to the problem. This type of brainstorming event can be precious for team members to exchange ideas and opinions and open their minds to consider even wilder possibilities.

6. Q&A Sessions

Q&A sessions offer a unique way to engage with customers and employees and an excellent opportunity for members to interact and stay informed. Inviting a guest speaker with experience in the topic will add credibility to your event and drive member participation. Your Q&A session could be a great success with the proper planning and implementation.

7. Live Chat

Are you looking to foster meaningful conversations or learn something new? Live chat is the perfect way to do that. Live chat offers a platform for guests to have conversations with both participants and listeners and host interactive discussions on various topics.

Live chat helps to create an organic flow of conversation that can drive engagement and spark curiosity in your audience. Whether it’s about health and wellness, art, technology, or something else, live chat gives your audience a chance to engage with familiar voices from around the world.

8. Hack Day

Hack days are becoming one of the favourites of the corporate world, and for a good reason- they help promote collaboration and innovation. A hack day is when team members (or multiple teams) come together to take on a challenge: a hack. This could be anything from a software development project to a hardware-related challenge.

9. Volunteer Projects

Volunteering is one of the best ways to help make a positive difference. It is also a great way to be a part of a supportive community and create lasting friendships. In addition to making a difference, volunteering also offers many personal benefits. Volunteers often work with a sense of purpose, find new skills in their work, and build friendships.

10. Virtual Retreats

Everyone could use a break from their everyday lives now and then. Have your members take a virtual retreat together with fewer worries!

With virtual retreats, your members can experience many mindfulness activities such as guided meditations, stress-relieving and relaxation exercises, and gentle yoga. This can be highly beneficial to your members, as they can slow down, reflect, and gain deeper insight and understanding into their thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Your members will be taking a break from their regular routines, allowing them to have a chance to recharge, refocus, and realign their minds, bodies, and spirits.

11. Skill Sharing Sessions

Skill Sharing Sessions are the perfect way to bring people together and help harness the power of sharing knowledge and skills. These sessions can be invaluable when it comes to growing a team or organization, as they foster engagement between team members and help to share best practices.

A successful Skill Sharing Session requires a host and an agenda beneficial to the group. It's essential to have an engaging topic in mind, whether it's related to coding, design, or another skill. The host should create an atmosphere encourages people to share their ideas and experience.

12. Networking Events

Are you looking for a great way to create stronger relationships and build a more extensive network within your event community? Why not host a virtual networking event? This can be a great way to bring together individuals and enterprises with the same interests, allowing each to create and cultivate meaningful relationships.

For any event enthusiast, virtual networking events can be an invaluable platform for making strategic connections with industry professionals and potential customers. Instead of meeting in a physical space, everyone can join simultaneously over the internet.

13. Contests

Hosting a contest related to a particular topic can be a great way to do just that. Whether an art contest, a photography contest, or something else, a well-executed contest can be an excellent way to keep your online community connected and engaged.

Before we dive into the specifics of hosting a contest, it’s important to note that every contest needs specific rules and regulations to succeed. You should state the rules for your contest clearly, the contest dates, and the prizes that are up for grabs. Additionally, you'll want to develop a calendar to promote the contest and determine how long you will be running the contest.

14. Group Discussions

Have members discuss a particular topic and share their perspectives.Group discussions must be effectively managed and facilitated to ensure an engaging and productive dialogue. Creating an inclusive and comfortable environment where members can share their opinions without fear of judgement or ridicule is essential. Clear expectations should be set from the start, including guidelines for participation and a timeline for the discussion. It's also a good idea to make sure that everyone knows the ground rules, such as group etiquette and expectations for listening and responding to others.

15. Creative Challenges

Creative challenges can unite employees for teamwork and bonding for larger organisations and businesses. These challenges can even be incorporated into internal training programs, which can help develop employees’ creative thinking and problem-solving skills. For smaller businesses, creative challenges can help keep members engaged and offer them a way to express themselves while still staying productive.

Creative challenges might be as simple as designing a new logo or creating a story using a set of provided images. You could also have your members devise a creative solution to an issue facing your business or organization. You could have them create an engaging video or create a unique slogan. The possibilities are endless!

Soooo…..

Using these 15 event ideas is a great way to keep your Slack community engaged and motivated. It will also help build relationships and foster collaboration among the members. So don’t hesitate to give some of these ideas a try!

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