40 Fun Community Event Ideas to Make a Positive Impact on Your Community

Planning a community event is one of the best ways to bring people together, whether you’re raising awareness, collecting donations, or just creating a space to connect.

It’s amazing what can happen when you combine your efforts with others - it’s all about building something bigger together.

Whatever your goals are, this article will explore 40 virtual (and hybrid) community event ideas to inspire your next event!

What Is a Community Event?

A community event is when a gathering of people who share common interests and goals comes together. The aim is to build a strong community by fostering a sense of belonging, nurturing relationships, and addressing the concerns of individuals to make a positive change.

Community events take various forms such as festivals, fairs, street parties, workshops, and more.

Most are typically open to the public - often free or with a small fee - so they are accessible to everyone who wants to get involved.

Types of Community Events

Here are some of the most common types of community events to consider:

Fundraising events

Perfect for supporting a cause, these events help rally your community to raise money or collect resources.

Attendee engagement events

These events focus on bringing people together in interactive and meaningful ways. They keep the energy high and connections flowing.

Volunteer recruitment and retention events

Looking to grow your volunteer base or show appreciation for those already helping? Host these events to inspire and retain dedicated supporters.

Driving positive change events

For communities passionate about making a difference, these events tackle important issues like environmental sustainability, social justice, or mental health awareness.

Seasonal events

Seasonal events create opportunities to celebrate together. They’re festive, fun, and a great way to foster a sense of belonging in your community.

Networking and professional growth events

These events focus on building connections and sharing knowledge. They’re ideal for professionals, entrepreneurs, and fellow community members looking to collaborate, find mentorship opportunities, or expand their horizons.

Health and wellness events

Promote well-being with fitness challenges, yoga classes, wellness fairs, or even healthy cooking demonstrations. These events encourage healthy habits while fostering community support.

Sometimes, the best way to build community is through simple, casual get-togethers. Host a potluck, a coffee morning, or a street party to encourage neighbors to mingle and connect.

40 Community Event Ideas

Most of the following community event examples are virtual, but some can also be hosted as hybrid events.

Fundraising community event ideas

Here are some fundraising event ideas designed to raise money for a specific cause.

The events listed below will help you inspire people to contribute and make donations by creating a meaningful attendee experience.

1. Galas and auctions

Host a glamorous virtual gala or hybrid auction to bring your community together for a good cause. Pair the event with live-streamed entertainment, inspiring speeches, and auction items donated by local vendors or local businesses.

Auctions can be standard or silent, and they work wonderfully online using platforms that allow attendees to bid in real-time. You can even combine the two for a full evening of fundraising!

2. Online crowdfunding campaigns

Pair your crowdfunding campaign with a virtual launch event to share your mission and connect with donors.

Use storytelling, photos, or videos to highlight the impact of donations. You can even offer incentives, like exclusive content or shoutouts, to donors at different tiers.

By using social media and email marketing, you can reach a global audience.

3. Virtual runs

Let participants choose the location where they run. Create a registration page where participants pay a fee to join and provide digital badges or certificates to everyone who completes the challenge.

Include a leaderboard to foster friendly competition and host a live-streamed kickoff or closing ceremony to celebrate achievements.

4. Charity concert

Bring local musicians and performers together for a virtual or hybrid concert. Live-stream performances and sell tickets, with proceeds going to your cause.

Partner with local restaurants or vendors to provide meal packages or exclusive deals for attendees and create a multi-sensory experience.

5. Educational Webinars

Organize a webinar series featuring industry experts or thought leaders discussing topics aligned with your cause. Charge an entry fee and use the proceeds to fund your initiative.

To make it interactive, include live Q&A sessions or breakout rooms for deeper discussions.

6. Cultural food festival

Showcase the diversity in your community by hosting a virtual cultural food festival. Partner with local restaurants and food vendors to offer special menus.

Include live cooking demos, recipe-sharing sessions, or food trivia to make it interactive. A portion of sales or entry fees can be donated to a chosen cause.

7. Game nights or trivia contests

Host a virtual trivia night with community-specific questions, or set up online game tournaments. Charge an entry fee and offer prizes sponsored by local organizations. Use the event to highlight your cause and encourage donations.

Community engagement event ideas

These events prioritize interaction and connection to foster a stronger community spirit:

8. Community discussion panels and town halls

Facilitate open dialogue by hosting virtual or hybrid discussion panels or town halls. Invite community leaders, local experts, and residents to share their thoughts on relevant topics.

Use polls and Q&A features to make the sessions more interactive. These events are great for building trust and inclusivity.

9. Volunteer appreciation nights

Host a virtual appreciation event to celebrate the hard work of your volunteers. Include virtual awards, a highlight reel of their accomplishments, and heartfelt speeches. You could also involve local vendors to sponsor small gifts or giveaways for your volunteers.

10. Cultural celebrations

Celebrate cultural heritage through virtual festivals that highlight music, dance, art, and stories from different communities. For added engagement, create interactive sessions like craft-making workshops or cooking demos where participants can follow along at home.

11. Online workshops

Offer interactive sessions where attendees can learn new skills like photography, crafting, leadership, and personal development. Unlike webinars, workshops are hands-on and encourage active participation, which helps attendees feel more connected.

12. Book or Film club discussions

Choose a book or film that reflects a topic your community cares about, and host a virtual discussion. Include guest speakers, like authors or local experts, to add depth to the conversation.

13. Hackathons

Engage tech-savvy community members by hosting a virtual hackathon. Teams can work together to solve real-world challenges or develop tools that address community needs. Share progress and results in live-streamed updates to keep participants and viewers engaged.

Volunteer recruitment and retention community event ideas

The events listed below will help you recruit and retain volunteers by highlighting the benefits of your mission and the impact that people could make.

14. Volunteer fairs

Set up a virtual volunteer fair where nonprofits and community groups host booths to share their missions. Attendees can browse opportunities, ask questions, and sign up for roles that interest them. Add a networking session to help participants connect.

15. Skills-based matchmaking

Think of it as speed dating for volunteers!

Nonprofits present their needs, while potential volunteers share their skills. Virtual breakout rooms allow matched pairs to discuss further. This is a fun and effective way to connect the right people with the right opportunities.

16. Volunteer training sessions

Host training workshops to equip potential volunteers with the skills they need to contribute effectively. Highlight how these skills can benefit their personal or professional development.

17. Volunteer success stories night

Spotlight inspiring volunteer stories at a virtual storytelling event. Volunteers can share their experiences, milestones, and impact. These stories can inspire others to get involved.

18. Community service projects

Plan virtual service activities like neighborhood cleanups or tree-planting drives. Use an app or platform where participants can log their contributions and share progress photos.

Awareness and advocacy community event ideas

These creative community event ideas are for raising awareness for important causes and inspiring action in your community:

19. Speaker series

Invite experts and thought leaders to share their knowledge on critical issues. Promote the series through social media and include live polls or Q&A sessions to engage attendees.

20. Pitch competitions

Host a “Dragon’s Den” style event where community members pitch creative solutions to community challenges. Include a judging panel and audience voting to select winners.

21. Sustainable Living Expo

Organize a virtual expo featuring booths, videos, and presentations that teach community members about eco-friendly practices. Offer downloadable guides and resources.

22. Youth empowerment conferences

Give young people a platform to share ideas, present projects, and discuss community improvement. Include workshops and networking sessions tailored to their interests.

Seasonal and holiday-themed community event ideas

These events are great for bringing people together for fun and festive celebrations:

23. Halloween costume contest

Encourage participants to submit photos or videos of their costumes. Host a live-streamed event to showcase entries and let community members vote for their favorites.

24. Seasonal marketplace

Partner with local businesses to create a virtual marketplace featuring holiday-themed products. Include live demonstrations or flash sales to boost engagement.

25. Virtual toy drive

Set up an online platform for attendees to donate money or gifts to children in need. Partner with local charities to distribute the donations.

Networking and professional growth community event ideas

These events help community members connect, learn, and grow professionally:

26. Speed networking sessions

Organize virtual speed networking where community members are matched in short one-on-one video chats. Use prompts or icebreakers to help participants start conversations. This is ideal for local entrepreneurs, professionals, or hobbyists to connect and collaborate.

27. Career fairs

Host a virtual career fair where companies or organizations set up digital booths to showcase job openings. Include resume review sessions or panel discussions about job-hunting tips. This helps attendees gain insights while connecting with potential employers.

28. Mentorship programs

Launch a mentorship program through a virtual event where experienced professionals are paired with individuals seeking guidance in their career or personal growth. Use breakout rooms for initial introductions and icebreaker activities.

Family and kids’ community event ideas

These are creative community event ideas that engage families and younger audiences:

29. Outdoor scavenger hunts with a virtual twist

Create a digital scavenger hunt where families explore their neighborhood or local parks to find specific landmarks or items. Use an app to share clues, and let participants upload photos to complete tasks.

30. Virtual puppet show or storytime

Partner with local performers to host an engaging puppet show or story-reading session for kids. The event objective is to make it interactive by encouraging children to ask questions or share their favorite parts.

31. Kids’ talent show

Invite children to record videos of their talents, whether it’s singing, dancing, or art. Stream the submissions live, and include voting or awards to make it extra special.

Celebrations and festivals

These events highlight culture and community spirit:

32. Heritage celebration

Celebrate your local community’s diversity by organizing a virtual heritage festival. Include performances, storytelling, and virtual booths where attendees can learn about different cultures.

33. Art and music festival

Invite local artists and musicians to a hybrid or virtual festival. Include virtual gallery tours, live-streamed performances, and opportunities to purchase art or music online.

34. Community talent showcase

Create a virtual event where participants from different age groups and backgrounds share their talents. This could include poetry readings, musical performances, or stand-up comedy.

Health and wellness community event ideas

These events encourage physical and mental well-being in your community:

35. Virtual yoga classes

Hire a certified yoga instructor to lead live-streamed sessions. Include different levels of difficulty so participants of all abilities can join in.

36. Healthy cooking classes

Collaborate with local chefs or nutritionists to host virtual cooking classes focusing on healthy, affordable meals. Share ingredient lists in advance so attendees can cook along.

37. Wellness retreat

Offer a virtual wellness retreat featuring mindfulness exercises, guided meditations, and workshops on stress management. Include breakout sessions for group discussions.

General community bonding event ideas

These events bring people together for connection and fun:

38. Neighborhood history night

Organize a virtual event where local historians or long-time residents share stories about the neighborhood’s history. Include old photos or maps for a nostalgic touch.

39. Potluck recipe exchange

Host a virtual potluck where attendees share recipes and showcase their dishes on video calls. Compile all the recipes into a digital cookbook that participants can keep.

40. Virtual escape room

Create a community-themed escape room event online. Teams can solve puzzles and work together to “escape.”

How to Host a Community Event

After coming up with the perfect community event idea, it's time to actually host your event:

1. Define your purpose and goals

Before anything else, clarify what you want to achieve.

Are you raising funds for a cause, spreading awareness, recruiting volunteers, or building a stronger sense of community?

For example, success could mean hitting a fundraising target, engaging a specific number of attendees, or boosting volunteer sign-ups.

Tip: Event reporting and analytics tools are essential for understanding the impact of your event. With detailed insights into attendance, engagement, and outcomes, you can refine your approach for future community events.

2. Know your audience

Understanding who you’re trying to reach is key to planning a community event that resonates.

Is your audience primarily families, professionals, young adults, or retirees? Consider their interests and needs. For example, families might prefer kid-friendly activities like outdoor movie nights, while professionals might gravitate toward networking mixers or workshops.

Pro Tip: An event landing page is a great way to connect with your audience. Use it to share all the key details, highlight the value of attending, and include clear call-to-action buttons (e.g., “Register Now” or “Volunteer Today”). HeySummit's drag-and-drop editor lets you do all this without any coding skills required!

3. Choose the right format and venue

The type of event you host should align with your goals and audience. Some popular formats include:

Workshops for teaching new skills.
Festivals or fairs for celebrating culture and community.
Volunteer events for driving social impact.

For in-person events, choose a venue that’s accessible, has enough space, and fits your budget. For virtual or hybrid events, use platforms with tools to support audience interaction and speaker management.

Tip: If your event involves guest speakers, a speaker management dashboard can streamline communication and scheduling. Speakers can upload their content, update their profiles, and receive automated reminders for a seamless process.

4. Plan your budget

Once you’ve nailed down your event idea, it’s time to create a budget. Account for costs like venue rental, permits, marketing, catering, entertainment, and materials. Don’t forget to include a buffer for unexpected expenses.

Tip: For paid events, a ticketing system allows you to create ticket tiers, offer early bird discounts, and manage online payments. It also helps you track attendance numbers so you can better allocate resources.

5. Market your event effectively

No matter how amazing your event is, people need to know about it!

Start marketing early using a mix of strategies:

Social media: Create shareable posts and use event hashtags to reach a wider audience.
Email campaigns: Send updates and reminders to your attendee list.
Local outreach: Use community boards, flyers, and local partnerships to spread the word.

You can further maximize your reach with marketing tools. Here's how:

Pre-registration pages can gauge interest and help with planning.
Email sequences keep your audience engaged and informed.
Swipe copy makes it easy for attendees, speakers, and sponsors to promote your event.
Giveaways and affiliate programs can generate buzz and drive registrations.

For more tips, check out this guide on event marketing for community events.

6. Engage volunteers and partners

No event is a one-person job. Volunteers can help with everything from setup to clean-up, and local businesses or organizations can provide sponsorships, donations, or even event space.

Tip: Use event analytics to share detailed reports with your sponsors. Highlight their impact on the event to nurture long-term relationships and secure support for future events.

7. Plan the details

Create a detailed timeline for your event, covering everything from setup to teardown. Assign clear roles to your team and plan for contingencies, like bad weather for outdoor events or tech issues for virtual ones.

Tip: Use a ticketing system to simplify the check-in process and ensure you’re prepared for the number of attendees.

8. Make it interactive

The more interactive your event, the more memorable it will be. Add activities like live demonstrations, Q&A sessions, games, or workshops to keep community members engaged.

For example:

At a festival, include hands-on craft stations or food-tasting booths.
At a volunteer event, offer prizes for the most creative or impactful contributions.

9. Gather feedback

Feedback is invaluable for improving future events. Ask attendees what they loved and what could be better. You can use surveys, comment cards, or online feedback forms.

Tip: Listen to your team. Volunteers and partners often have insights into what worked behind the scenes and where things could improve.

10. Follow up

Keep the connections alive after your event. Send thank-you emails to attendees, volunteers, and sponsors. Share highlights, photos, or videos from the event on social media.

Tip: Use the attendee emails you collected during registration to send follow-up communications, like event recap updates or invitations to your next event.

Making Every Event Count for Your Community!

Planning a community event may feel overwhelming at first, but with the right ideas, tools, and preparation, you can create something truly memorable.

Use one of our community event ideas to bring people together and build stronger connections.

And lastly, all successful events depend on the planning process. Plan thoroughly and take into account any tools or resources that you could use to your advantage.

If you're unsure where to start, try HeySummit!

Our event management platform lets you host all kinds of virtual and hybrid events without needing technical expertise.

From setting up event landing pages to managing speakers and tracking analytics, HeySummit makes it easy to create professional, engaging events that leave a lasting impact.

Get started today with a free 14-day trial and see how HeySummit can help your community events bring people together!