Resident event ideas for apartment buildings that people actually show up to

Resident events are supposed to help with renewals, but a lot of them get the same five people and a tray of cookies. Here's what tends to help turnout, plus ideas you can use across the year.

What gets people to come

• Timing: weeknights from 6 to 8, or a weekend morning. Avoid holiday weekends, when half the building is away.
• Something to take home: people are much more likely to come down if they leave with something.
• A clear start and end time, so it doesn't feel like a commitment.
• Promotion in more than one place: two weeks ahead in the resident app or email, a flyer in the elevator and mailroom, and a reminder the day of.
• Sign-ups, even for free events. People who sign up are more likely to show up, and you'll know how much to plan for.

Ideas by season

• Fall: a coffee and pastry morning in the lobby, or a local food tasting.
• Winter: a hot chocolate bar, a cookie swap, or a hands-on holiday workshop.
• Spring: a plant swap, or a spring cleaning donation drive.
• Summer: a roof deck movie night if you have the space, or an ice cream social.
• Anytime: trivia, a meetup for the building's dog owners, or a local restaurant pop-up in the lounge.

How to tell if it worked

Count sign-ups against turnout, and send a one-question survey the next day. Keep an eye on who comes back event after event. Residents who feel like part of the building tend to be the ones who renew.

A flower workshop for residents

I run Resident Night in your lounge or party room: 2 hours, 15 to 30 residents, and everyone builds an arrangement to take home. It's $165 per resident with a 15-resident minimum ($2,475). It includes an arrangement for your lobby that week, so even residents who don't come see something new. I'll send you a flyer to post, and I bring everything and clean up after.

Book at least three weeks ahead.