Finding free and fun entertainment can be difficult. Thankfully, most apartment complexes offer a variety of options for residents to enjoy. Some of those options can be found in the amenities – pool, game room, basketball courts, volleyball courts, and even movie theaters and bowling alleys. If these options weren’t enough, many of the management companies host free social events for their residents. Often times, property managers are willing to take suggestions for social events as well. Try suggesting one of these ideas next time you’re looking for some fun, free entertainment.
Casino Night
Set up tables of Vegas’ most popular games and try your luck in winning play money. At the end of the evening hold an auction and see which of the big winners walks away with the prizes, donated by local businesses. Contact your property activities office to see if they can rent casino supplies.
Card Tournaments
Have a card tournament targeting those students who sit in the cafeteria and play cards for fun. Play Hearts, UNO, Euchre, or Rummy. Get prizes donated to entice participation.
Board Game Night
Hold a “Game Night” with a board game competition: Monopoly, trivia, Twister, etc. Also include a video game competition with PlayStation, XBox and Nintendo.
Kickball
Remember this fun game from elementary school gym class and recess? Find an open field, get a kickball, and invite a sorority to play on co-ed teams. This should not be men against women!
Sports Tournament
Post a sign-up sheet on the community board with a duration of time for residents to sign up. Once the teams are formed, create brackets for the tournament. Set a convenient time to hold the games commence the tournament. Not only will it help you meet new people, it will help get you outside and exercising.
My Tie Board Game Night
Men must supply one of their neckties. All the ties are thrown into a huge pile or box. The women are then instructed to choose a tie and wear it. Each man has to find the woman who is wearing his tie. Once the two have found each other, a match is made. They then act as a team and participate in the evening’s activities. Set up different boardgames throughout the property. Each location should have a new game and a game specific snack and alcohol-free drink.
Newlywed Game
Arrange as the game show and invite resident’s and their partners to participate. Couples can see how much they already know about each other. Just be sure to tailor the questions to fit your brand of newlyweds. Questions could be similar to the ones on the television show, but make them more specific to dating, college and the campus, etc. Participants who are not serving as one of the couples should be the audience. Members of the audience will enjoy watching and listening to the couples argue as much as those couples who are playing the actual game.
Capture the Flag
Create your own Capture the Flag course on the property. The goal is simple: Capture the opposing team’s flag. Use squirt guns filled with colored water to squirt them. Have teams of about 10-15 per side. Everyone must wear white t-shirts. The two sides get different colored water. Play a certain time, usually a pre-determined 15 minutes with four quarters. As the opposing team approaches your Headquarters (where your flag is located), you squirt them. If your colored water hits their shirt, they must return to their home base. Referees are needed to make sure the game is fair and fun.
Win, Lose or Draw
Property managers can secure a few flip chart easels, markers and plenty of white flip chart paper. Place chairs or couches around the community area, facing the easels. Select teams. Play. All you need to do is follow the same format as the TV show. A group will need to select the words or phrases that the teams will draw during the event. Consider cutting words and phrases out of campus magazines or newspapers. Campus organizations as well as the phrases and sayings particular to your campus and Greek community are good clues as well. Compete with different teams. Win prizes. This is a good warm up exercise before a dance, game or other community social event.
Equal Housing Opportunity
