Phew! The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is behind us, and 2015 has arrived. The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to host a resident event. Why? For starters, your residents’ calendars are probably far less packed than they were during the holiday season.  Plus, I’m willing to bet at least a handful of your residents have made a New Year’s resolution to be more social this year. An event at your community is a perfect opportunity for them to do just that!

Want to host a resident event at your apartment community this winter? Here are a few ideas.

Fitness Class
According to USA.gov, “losing weight” and “getting fit” are two of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. Why not help your residents stick to their resolutions by hosting a fitness class in your community room? Yoga, kickboxing and dance classes are all options that don’t require much equipment. Hire an instructor from a local gym or fitness studio or ask around to see if there are any group fitness instructors living in your community. If the class is popular, you may even consider hosting it on a regular basis.

Healthy Cooking Demo
Another popular New Year’s resolution? Eat healthy! If you have a kitchen in your community room, host a healthy cooking demo at your community. Invite a local dietitian or nutritionist to come to your community to talk about a specific aspect of healthy eating, for example, healthy, kid-friendly snacks. Then, he or she can demonstrate how to make a few of these healthy snacks.

Healthy Potluck
Potlucks are fun for your residents and easy for you to organize. Stick with the healthy eating theme, and ask your residents to bring their favorite healthy dish. 

Winter Movie Night
Short on time? Host a movie night in your community room. The only requirement is a big screen TV. Want to take your movie night to the next level? Make it a themed event. For example, have a “Frozen” themed evening. Decorate the community room with winter-themed decorations and serve “frozen” snacks like snow cones or popsicles. Invite the kids in your community to dress up like their favorite characters.

Valentine’s Day Party
It’s hard to believe, but Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it. Do you have a lot of families living in your apartment community? If so, host a Valentine’s Day Party. Serve Valentine-themed snacks, such as pink lemonade and heart-shaped cookies decorated with red icing. Set up activity stations to keep the kids busy, for example, a Valentine craft station and a cookie decorating station.

Super Bowl Party
The big game is just around the corner. Rent a big screen TV and invite your residents to come to the community room to cheer on their favorite team. Provide some food and drinks and ask your residents to bring a snack to share, too. Add some friendly competition by asking your residents to wear their team’s colors.

Are you planning a winter resident event in your apartment community? Please share in the comments below!