Networking That Isn’t Painful: 27 Event Ideas That Are Actually Fun

| by Watson Adventures
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When it comes to networking events, the format can make or break the experience. Traditional mixers often leave attendees standing awkwardly with name tags, unsure how to spark conversation beyond the basics. Incorporating a fun or unique activity helps break down social barriers and offers a natural point of connection, making it easier for people to engage with each other. Having staged fun and unique activities for more than 25 years, we would know!

Since 1999, Watson Adventures has grown to span the nation, with more than 1 million people participating in team building scavenger hunts, murder mystery activities, and trivia games, including the employees of thousands of prestigious corporations. We’ve seen it all, and we’ve learned what makes an event work and what falls flat. So whether you’re planning for 20 people or 200, we’re sharing top activity ideas to spark connection, foster partnerships, and bring the fun to your next networking event.

Tips for Planning a Fun and Effective Network Event

  • Think outside the box to craft unique networking opportunities. A memorable networking event does more than collect business cards—it builds genuine relationships. Fun, interactive formats encourage deeper engagement and tend to leave a lasting impression, which can lead to more genuine follow-up.
  • Choose inclusive and engaging activities. Ensure the activities cater to all participants, considering diverse interests, physical abilities, and comfort levels. While you’re at it, structure the event in a way that allows people to find others with similar interests for more meaningful connections.
  • Stay on-trend. If an event is industry-specific, try to find ways to incorporate industry trends to get people talking.
  • Encourage collaboration, not competition. If your activity includes a competitive element, remember to prioritize cooperation and communication. Choose exercises that require groups to work together rather than just compete against others.
  • Stress less with help from the experts: Planning a networking event of any size can be stressful and time-consuming. Experienced team building event hosts like Watson Adventures can help lighten the lift from inception to execution and ensure you end up with an activity that is fun and engaging for everyone. After decades of experience planning and hosting team building activities, we know what gets people connecting and collaborating and what doesn’t, and we’ll work with you closely to plan the perfect activity for your group.

7 Quick Ice Breaker Activities to Add to Any Networking Event

Including short ice breakers can be very effective if timed right. Short ice breaker activities offer groups a quick and effective way to meet, communicate, and collaborate in a low-pressure setting. Kicking off your event with quick activities, or peppering some in here and there, can energize participants, spark creativity, and get the networking ball rolling.

1. Two Truths and a Lie

Have each participant share two true facts and one false one about themselves while others guess which is the lie. It’s a lighthearted way to learn unexpected facts about one another. This game naturally sparks follow-up conversation and laughter.

2. Speed Networking

Pair participants up for three-minute chats before rotating. This fast-paced format ensures everyone meets a variety of people without pressure. It’s perfect for warming up a room quickly and breaking cliques.

3. Common Ground Countdown

In small groups, challenge attendees to list five things they all have in common in just three minutes. These can be hobbies, shared experiences, or even favorite foods. It encourages fast collaboration and reveals surprising similarities.

4. Business Card Bingo

Create bingo cards with traits like “has a dog” or “speaks more than one language,” and attendees must find people who match each square. It gets people mingling with a purpose. Offer a small prize for completed cards to boost motivation.

5. The Emoji Introduction

Ask everyone to introduce themselves using three emojis that represent their personality or work style. Others can guess the meaning before the person explains. It’s a playful way to spark curiosity and share personal flair.

6. Would You Rather: Career Edition

Pose light but career-relevant “Would You Rather” questions, such as “Would you rather work remotely forever or never work from home again?” Let attendees choose sides and briefly explain why. It opens the door to fun debates and professional insights.

7. Object of Significance

Have each person pull a random object from a mystery box and explain how it connects to their work or background, even if it doesn’t. The creativity required often leads to hilarious or profound answers. It’s a fantastic warm-up that showcases personality and storytelling skills.

20 Unique Networking Event Ideas Your Guests Won’t Forget

Looking to rethink the entire networking experience? Get outside the hotel conference room or banquet hall with these unique networking ideas to make your next event memorable, prompt meaningful conversations and connections, and maybe even encourage guests to share their event experience on social media.

1. Outdoor Scavenger Hunts

A group of players running around the Embarcadero for a team building scavenger hunt in San Francisco.

Watson Adventures scavenger hunts are a great way to team up and work together while exploring interesting places. Teams use our browser-based app to follow clues and find cool features, surprising secrets, quirky architectural details, and fascinating hidden history. And as they go, they answer tricky questions about what they find.

With games in more than 55 cities around the U.S., your group might choose to…

Find scavenger hunts near you

2. Progressive Networking Dinner

A progressive networking dinner is a dynamic, multi-course dining experience designed to foster meaningful professional connections. Rather than remaining seated with the same group for the entire meal, attendees rotate to new tables or change seating between each course—typically appetizer, entrée, and dessert. This structured movement encourages participants to engage with a wider variety of peers and industry professionals over the course of the evening.

Hosts can assign seating strategically to ensure participants meet people from different departments or roles, while some of those ice breaker activities we mentioned earlier can help ease introductions. By the end of the evening, attendees walk away with a broader network, fresh insights, and often a renewed sense of community.

3. Reverse Mentoring

Reverse mentoring roundtables are structured discussions where junior employees mentor senior staff, offering fresh perspectives on technology, culture, and emerging trends. Unlike typical mentoring, early-career professionals get to share trends, tools, and ideas with older generations. Each table may then rotate after a set period of time to mix insights and perspectives. This format encourages knowledge exchange in both directions.

Each roundtable typically features a small, diverse group to ensure candid conversation and active participation. Topics might include digital tools, social issues, or current consumer behaviors that younger professionals navigate daily. The format encourages inclusivity, empowers early-career professionals, and strengthens organizational adaptability. And, again, unlike typical mentoring, reverse mentoring roundtables encourage knowledge exchange in both directions.

4. The Better Get Acquainted Game

What if a series of ice breaker activities became an event in itself? You’d have the Better Get Acquainted Game! This game will help you get to know your group—with some fun, funny twists along the way. On teams, players will interact with others on such laugh-provoking challenges as…

  • Two Truths and a Lie, where each player finds a recent photo on their phone and shares two honest facts and one lie about the picture. Opposing players earn points for correctly guessing the fibs—and in the process, everyone shares fun facts about their lives.
  • Tell Us a Story, with players repeating a brief personal story told by another player, doing their best to retell the tale and earn points by using secret words.
  • One of a Kind, in which players reveal interesting details about themselves and win points for being unique.

As with many of our games, the Better Get Acquainted Game can be played virtually anywhere, from your office to your favorite restaurant, for groups of all sizes.

5. LinkedIn Live Connections

Planning a LinkedIn Live networking event starts with selecting a relevant and timely theme that resonates with your target audience. Think career transitions, industry trends, or professional growth strategies. Choose a panel of engaging speakers or thought leaders who can provide value while sparking conversation. Promote the event on LinkedIn at least two weeks in advance, using targeted posts, direct invites, and strategic hashtags to build anticipation and reach.

On the day of the event, open with a short introduction and clear instructions on how attendees can participate, such as using the chat or reaction features. Include live polls or a short Q&A session to create real-time engagement and encourage interaction among viewers. After the broadcast, follow up with attendees by sharing key takeaways, speaker highlights, and an invitation to connect or join a follow-up networking session.

6. Coffee and Curiosity Pop-Up

A Coffee and Curiosity Pop-Up is a spontaneous, informal networking event designed to spark conversation and connection over fresh coffee and thought-provoking prompts. Hosted in a common area like a lobby, terrace, or coworking space, you’ll set up a morning networking café with rotating “conversation stations.” Attendees pick a table that sparks their curiosity and meet others drawn to similar topics. Every 15 to 20 minutes, prompt guests to switch. This encourages movement and connection across different interests.

The pop-up invites people to take a break from their routines and engage with others in short, meaningful interactions. With no formal agenda, the event creates a relaxed atmosphere that encourages attendees to follow their curiosity—whether by asking creative conversation questions, exploring mini interactive displays, or just chatting with someone new.

  • Fresh coffee, tea, and light snacks help attract foot traffic and create a welcoming vibe.
  • Conversation starter cards, “question jars,” or whiteboards with thought-provoking quotes at each table inspire easy dialogue.
  • The pop-up can rotate locations weekly, monthly, or quarterly to engage different groups.
  • Great for encouraging cross-departmental mingling or introducing new hires.

7. Murder Mystery Games

Watson Adventures Murder Mayhem Anywhere

If you’re looking for a crowd-pleaser that also encourages problem-solving and communication, a murder mystery game may be the perfect choice. DIY the experience with a theme, assigned roles, and simple props, or partner with an event host like Watson Adventures to guide your group’s experience with minimal prep work.

With many team building murder mystery games to choose from, your event can be tailored to any group size or location. There might be a serial killer on the loose… Or is it a madman intent on poisoning you? Or a murder that might imperil the whole world? Our games feature all of these scenarios and more. Groups of any size break up into teams and compete through different mixes of challenges, trivia, puzzles, and more to solve whatever perplexing murder mystery you choose.

Our murder mystery offerings include:

8. Volunteer Days

Consider coordinating volunteer opportunities where your group can give back to the community together. Activities might include building homes with Habitat for Humanity. Alternatively, you could work together on an outdoor volunteer project, such as park clean-up, tree planting, or building picnic tables. Groups might compete to complete tasks efficiently while making a positive impact. It fosters teamwork while giving back to the community, and working side by side helps break down professional networking awkwardness.

To sweeten the deal beyond the advantages of networking with new people and feeling good about yourselves, your event can end with a catered lunch or dinner in a restaurant’s private space afterward, or at a later date for all participants.

9. Networking Happy Hour

Hosting a networking happy hour can be a valuable opportunity for participants to connect with other professionals in their field, build relationships, and gain insights into the industry. And as with other ideas on this list, you can make this event in-person, hybrid, or fully virtual. With a little planning and creativity, you can make it an interactive and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Some tips for hosting a networking happy hour:

  • Choose a welcoming venue with enough space and noise control to encourage conversation.
  • Provide name tags and a casual check-in activity to help guests mingle easily.
  • Offer a mix of seating and standing areas to suit different comfort levels.
  • Include light snacks and a signature drink to create a memorable experience.
  • Have a few friendly hosts or connectors to introduce guests and promote conversation, either in person or in virtual breakout rooms.
  • For hybrid and virtual events, aim for 45 minutes to an hour to keep the energy high and avoid virtual fatigue.

10. Museum Scavenger Hunts

museum team building game

You can’t go wrong with a trip to a world-class museum. Discover fascinating stories and surprising secrets of art, science, history, and more. As with the neighborhood scavenger hunts, our museum scavenger hunts offer a unique way for participants to team up with new people and collaborate in a fun way.

Some of our most popular museum scavenger hunts include:

11. “Unconference” Networking

If you’re not familiar, an “unconference” is simply a participant-driven meeting or event. Instead of preset panels or speakers, the idea is that attendees propose topics and then explore those that spark interest. This creates buy-in, energy, and ensures relevance for everyone involved.

Consider these tips for planning an “unconference” networking event:

  • Invite participants to submit and vote on session topics in advance to ensure the agenda reflects their real interests.
  • Design flexible spaces that encourage spontaneous breakout conversations and peer-to-peer learning.
  • Assign facilitators to guide discussions without dominating them, keeping the focus on collaborative exchange.
  • Leave ample unstructured time for organic networking and follow-up chats after sessions.

12. Outdoor Networking Picnic & Games

Organize a casual picnic in a local park or on a rooftop. Food, refreshments, and even the theme can range from chic fare or a classic barbecue with burgers, hot dogs, and vegetarian options. Set up picnic tables with checkered tablecloths, or provide (or invite attendees to bring) blankets and chairs. To mix things up, you can encourage colleagues to bring their own favorite (or homemade) sauces, or go more potluck for sides and desserts.

To encourage mingling, include light games like cornhole, frisbee, or team trivia, along with designated conversation zones or ice breaker activities. Consider inviting a guest speaker for a short talk or adding on another brief networking activity to keep the meetup purposeful and engaging.

13. Unique Group Trivia Games

Watson Adventures host during a team building trivia / game show

Far more than your typical pub-trivia game, Watson Adventures Trivia Slam Games will tease your brain, and they can be played by in-person, remote, or hybrid groups of any size.

With audio and visual components, pop-culture mashups, music rounds, surprising twists, and creative photo challenges, as well as many different themes, these aren’t run-of-the-mill pub-trivia games anyone could throw together. Carefully constructed questions often provide context clues to help team members work their way toward the answers together. And for an additional fee, we can create a custom round of trivia for your group in any of our trivia games.

Just a few of our many varied trivia games include:

14. Professional Story Slam

For a professional story slam, you’ll be hosting an open event where attendees share short stories from their careers. Choose a compelling theme that encourages participants to share meaningful, work-related experiences—such as lessons learned, career pivots, or defining challenges. Other themes could include “My Biggest Lesson,” “A Risk That Paid Off,” or “The Day I Almost Quit.”

The environment should be warm and inviting, with clear guidelines for storytelling to ensure everyone stays on topic and within a time limit. To maximize engagement, you might curate a lineup of storytellers in advance while leaving room for spontaneous open-mic participation. Pair the storytelling portion with structured networking breaks and refreshments so attendees can connect over shared insights and continue conversations sparked by the stories.

15. First Job Flashback Mixer

For a less-structured but still engaging storytelling event, throw a First Job Flashback mixer. Invite professionals to share stories and laughs about their earliest work experiences, creating instant new connections across industries and generations. You’ll add humor and humanity to networking, and pairs well with a nostalgic theme or retro snacks.

A few more tips for planning a First Job Flashback mixer:

  • Create name tags with first job titles instead of current roles to level the playing field and encourage curiosity.
  • Invite guests to bring a photo or memento from their first job to use as a conversation starter.
  • Prompt discussions with ice breaker questions like “What lesson from your first job still sticks with you?”
  • Set up themed stations like a “Worst Uniform Contest” or “First Paycheck Memory Wall” to spark storytelling.

16. Minute to Win It Extravaganza

Minute to Win It games are fun, fast-paced challenges that encourage collaboration and creativity while providing laughter and friendly competition in a high-energy environment. Perfect for large groups broken up into smaller teams, the games require relatively few resources and easy set-up.

Depending on your group, some possible games include:

  • Stack Attack: Teams race to stack a set of plastic cups into a pyramid and then take them down, all within 8 minutes.
  • Penny Tower: Players must stack as many pennies as possible using only one hand in 8 minutes.
  • Paper Dragon: Teams create the longest paper chain they can using only a roll of toilet paper within 8 minutes.
  • Cup Blow: Teams race to blow plastic cups off a table using only a straw.
  • Defying Gravity: Players keep three balloons in the air for 8 minutes using only their hands.
  • Junk in the Trunk: One person wears a tissue box tied to their waist, and they must shake out all the ping pong balls inside by jumping.
  • Cookie Face: A cookie is placed on the forehead, and players must get it into their mouths without using their hands.
  • Spoon Frog: Teams launch spoons from the edge of a table into a cup, aiming for as many successful throws as possible within 8 minutes.

17. Lost in the Office Scavenger Hunt

When you want fun team building activities for but you also want to stay in the office or a conference space, the Lost in the Office Scavenger Hunt is the game you’re looking for. You’ll rely on wits, imagination, and teamwork to sculpt, write, leap, eat, and act your way to victory.

In teams, your group will put their heads together and use their imaginations to complete entertaining tasks. You’ll be challenged to compose unusual and amusing team photos, collect or creative specific things (like in a classic scavenger hunt), crack a mysterious code, and more.

18. Plus-One Networking Event

A “Bring a Plus-One from a Different Industry” networking event encourages attendees to expand their professional circles beyond their usual sector. By inviting a guest from a different field, participants gain access to diverse perspectives, new opportunities, and unexpected collaborations.

This format fosters more dynamic conversations and can lead to innovative cross-industry partnerships. It also helps attendees practice explaining their work to unfamiliar audiences—an underrated but valuable networking skill. And what’s more, the variety of perspectives exposes everyone to unexpected connections and makes for rich conversations.

19. Mystery Match Networking Game

A Mystery Match networking game adds a playful twist to professional mingling by pairing attendees with a secret match they must find during the event using only a few cryptic clues. This game encourages participants to engage more deeply with one another and makes networking feel like a fun challenge rather than a formal obligation. As attendees decode hints and interact to identify their match, it breaks the ice naturally and sparks authentic conversations.

Some tips to run a successful Mystery Match networking game:

  • Curate personalized clues based on shared interests, job roles, or fun facts submitted beforehand to make matches more meaningful.
  • Distribute clues strategically, like in name tags, welcome cards, or during a group activity to seamlessly kick off the search.
  • Set a time limit for the game to keep the energy high and ensure people stay engaged throughout the event.
  • Offer a small prize for those who find their match to encourage participation and add a light competitive element.

20. Book Club Mixer

A book club mixer offers a casual yet intellectually engaging environment for networking, where attendees can bond over shared literary interests. By centering conversation around a specific work or creator, you naturally spark thoughtful discussions that help break the ice. To make it inclusive, select a widely accessible book and provide conversation prompts or themed icebreaker cards. Pairing the discussion with light refreshments and cozy seating areas encourages mingling and helps foster deeper, more relaxed connections.

Want to mix things up even more? Invite guests to break discussions out into small rotating groups. And instead of a book, you might consider discussing an essay, a TED Talk, or an episode of a podcast that discusses a topic relevant to your industry.

Start Planning Your Networking Event

Watson Adventures has been organizing fun, funny, and challenging games for corporate groups for more than 25 years. From our classic scavenger hunts to murder mystery team building, hosted trivia, and even food tours, there’s something for everyone. Contact us to learn more and start planning your summer team building activities or virtual game today.