Did you know that 64% of 21 to 31-year-olds would pay more to go to an event with zero and low-alcohol drink options?

Healthy hedonism is one of the key trends we’ve identified in our TRNDS 2024 report, Eventbrite’s annual trend forecasting guide — and younger eventgoers are leading the way.

In fact, low- and no-alcohol events grew globally by 73% on the Eventbrite platform between January and September 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, and the sober-curious trend shows no sign of slowing down.

We spoke to event organizers running successful events to get their top tips on embracing the sober-curious trends — and winning over this growing community.

Any event can be sober-curious

From raves to corporate gatherings, even if you choose to serve alcohol, you can still make your event appealing to attendees who won’t be drinking. You might be surprised at how many guests will appreciate a variety of non-alcoholic options as the sober-curious movement continues to grow.

“I think 2024 Dry January will be the biggest yet,” says Elizabeth Gascoigne, who runs Absence of Proof’s alcohol-free pop-up events in cities across the US. “I’m excited to see more mainstream venues, bars, and restaurants carrying non-alcoholic options throughout the rest of the year.”

You don’t have to operate exclusively in the sober space to dabble in no- and low-alcohol options, but considering the needs of this growing community will help future-proof your events by making them more accessible.

“The biggest aspect that no/low beverages bring to an event is inclusivity,” says Gascoigne. “I’ve talked with countless people who have told me that they don’t even want to be drinking at events, but there are no non-alcoholic options.”

Dry party ideas for everyone

Whether you’re planning a completely sober event or just want to create an inclusive environment for everyone, these ideas will help you host a memorable event that everyone can enjoy. To guide your planning, we’ve added a three-part rating system.

Each idea is rated by:

Complexity 🧩: Ranges from 🧩 to 🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩, where one means you can implement the idea quickly with minimal effort, and five indicates it may take weeks of planning.

Engagement Potential 🎉: Measures how interactive and exciting the idea is, from 🎉 (low engagement) to 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 (high engagement).

Appeal to Audience ⭐: Rates the overall attractiveness of the idea to your attendees, from ⭐ (niche appeal) to ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (broad appeal).

1. Drinks for non-drinkers and how to diversify your beverage options

Complexity: 🧩
Engagement Potential: 🎉🎉🎉
Appeal to Audience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

For mainstream venues keen to experiment with healthy hedonism, promoting alcohol-free menu options year-round can be just as effective as hosting AF nights or one-off events. 

“We have learned to specifically and consistently highlight our spirit-free cocktails and notate on our website and menus that non-alcoholic drinks can be devised by our talented team to fit any palate, just as a spirit-filled cocktail request off-menu can be,” says Whitney LaMora, creative director at Dorothy, a lesbian cocktail lounge in Chicago. 

LaMora believes in making AF cocktails as gorgeous and delicious as everything else on the Dorothy menu since it “makes a more streamlined transition for folks who are interested in adjusting the alcohol element to their time out, but not necessarily the environment or the community.”

Mainstream venues are exploring the possibility of no- or low-alcohol events, and we saw 73% more of those events on Eventbrite in 2023 than in 2022.

But if you aren’t sure how to provide zero-proof drinks that feel as fun as their boozy alternatives, think about serving some delicious options like:

No idea where to start? Consider partnering with a no/low-alcohol drinks brand that could provide drinks for you as a part of a food and drinks partnership. 

Two people playing Jenga
Do The Bay / Avocadocon / San Francisco, CA

2. Rotate your non-drinking activities

Complexity: 🧩🧩
Engagement Potential: 🎉🎉🎉
Appeal to Audience: ⭐⭐⭐

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to sober-curious events. There’s usually a variety of options available that cater to different groups and interests: sober crafting and cocktail-making, sober dancing and raving, and queer sober social gatherings. 

Consider events that feature everything from burlesque to pottery painting. Your event can be creative, active, and social without alcohol. With a variety of entertainment for your attendees, people of many different backgrounds and interests will have a great time.

Fun activities can also help replace the icebreaker role that alcohol can play at events. For example, Gascoigne centers her AF-free pop-ups around a sober activity, which can help defuse social anxiety: “Having various activities at events helps facilitate organic conversation. If you’re all playing a card game for instance, it’s easier to introduce yourself and avoid the awkwardness that can come with an event where you don’t know anyone,” she says.

To execute this to perfection, make a “run of show” or run sheet that will help you schedule each activity in a planned, staggered way. Some activities may have limited supplies or equipment, so you could have some people playing cornhole while others paint pottery, for example. Provide a few activities your attendees can choose between at any given time.

Regardless of which activities you incorporate, use plenty of interactive event ideas to make sure your attendees are fully engaged throughout.

A person dancing on a crowded beach
Flash Bob Miami / Bob’s Dance Shop / Miami, FL

3. Beyond the bar: alternative venues for sober party ideas

Complexity: 🧩🧩
Engagement Potential: 🎉🎉
Appeal to Audience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

For those who don’t feel comfortable in a bar-like environment, no problem. Sober-friendly events can happen anywhere: local gyms, boutiques, eateries, wellness spaces, and more. 

With all of that freedom, consider how you can introduce your attendees to new spaces, or help them create new relationships with spaces they’re already familiar with. 

For example, Sober Socialites runs sound baths in yoga studios, herbal tea tastings at tea rooms, and explores nearby parks that attendees may never have been to before. But they also take over bars and wine shops with sober events to reacquaint attendees with those same spaces in a different context.

Drawing a blank (space)? Get creative with your venue ideas and search Eventbrite for interesting places that sober event organizers already use. 

4. Create a community

Complexity: 🧩🧩
Engagement Potential: 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Appeal to Audience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The sober events growing trend is fostering inclusive spaces for people who may have complicated relationships with alcohol, as well as those who drink occasionally but are interested in healthier habits. 

These events are designed to create environments where attendees can enjoy themselves, form connections, and focus on their well-being without the pressure of alcohol consumption.

One example of a sober community event organizer is the Sober Black Girls Club. They organize events to bring together individuals who share a common interest in sobriety and self-improvement. 

These gatherings typically involve mindful activities, like creative writing, and socializing with like-minded individuals. Attendees also enjoy alcohol-free drinks, like tea and coffee, offering a fun and relaxed atmosphere that promotes sobriety.

In addition to in-person events, the organizers provide ongoing support through a private Facebook group and a dedicated mentorship program. This digital space allows participants to stay connected, receive encouragement, and maintain accountability between events. 

By following this model, you may find that your community members find some of their closest friends through your events.

People doing a cooking class
Cooking + Comedy / Get in the Kitchen! / Chicago, IL

5. Run a cooking or baking challenge

Complexity: 🧩🧩🧩🧩
Engagement Potential: 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Appeal to Audience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hosting a cooking or baking challenge can be a fantastic sober party idea because it helps people connect and shift the focus away from drinks. 

To create a dynamic event, consider offering a variety of cooking and baking-themed activities. For instance, you can organize a baking class similar to those hosted by Forge Baking Company, where participants are invited to learn a new skill and make something delicious at the same time.

Alternatively, a cooking challenge could include teams creating dishes based on surprise ingredients or themed around a particular cuisine. These types of activities not only provide entertainment but also give people something to talk about, laugh over, and remember, creating lasting connections. 

Want to spread the word about your next event?

Let everyone know with Eventbrite’s marketing tools!
people sitting on picnic rugs

7. Drag gala for good

Complexity: 🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩
Engagement Potential: 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Appeal to Audience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hosting a drag gala is a fun and exciting way to create a formal event that builds anticipation and gives guests something extra to look forward to. Attendees get the chance to dress up to the nines, socialize, and enjoy a fabulous evening — all while supporting a good cause. 

Prominently incorporating non-alcoholic drinks ensures everyone can feel welcome, whether they drink alcohol or not. And why not offer a non-alcoholic beer tasting to add a unique twist to the event? 

Another option is to combine ideas from these two great creators: First, CMA Dallas organizes impactful events that blend entertainment with support for recovering addicts. Second, Make Change Productions offers dry drag shows that are totally alcohol- and substance-free. You could throw an event like theirs with a dazzling drag show with dancing, live performances, and an inclusive atmosphere. 

Proceeds from the event can go to a local charity or cause, such as one that helps people suffering from alcohol addiction, adding a philanthropic aspect that makes the night even more meaningful. With a lively combination of drag performances, dancing, and non-alcoholic beverages, guests are sure to have a memorable night that celebrates creativity, inclusivity, and fun.

A person making a terrarium
Terrarium Workshop / Succulence / San Francisco, CA

7. Get crafty

Complexity: 🧩🧩🧩
Engagement Potential: 🎉🎉🎉
Appeal to Audience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Not every party has to have dancing! Crafting activities provide an ideal opportunity for party guests to engage with one another while expressing their creativity. Plus, it can give an alternative to people less comfortable with small talk and dancing.

When thinking of your crafty sober party ideas, take inspiration from creators like Jenn Moselen, who hosts Maryland Craft Parties with seasonal and themed projects to match local holidays or sporting events. 

You can create a similar experience by setting up crafting stations with all the supplies needed for different projects. Each station could offer a different craft, allowing guests to explore various activities throughout the event. You could even host a follow-up event to sell what everyone made or donate the products to a local charity.

Some of the crafts you could include are: 

Creating a comfortable, well-stocked environment will encourage participants to engage fully in the experience. Crafting not only allows guests to leave with something tangible but also with a sense of connection and accomplishment, all without alcohol taking center stage.

8. Keep everyone laughing

Complexity: 🧩🧩🧩
Engagement Potential: 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Appeal to Audience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A comedy night is a great sober party idea to entertain guests while fostering a relaxed and inclusive environment. Laughter is a natural way for people to connect, and comedy events can help everyone unwind and have fun. Here are a few ideas you can use:

Hosting a comedy night that incorporates audience participation, like through crowd work, can take the experience to the next level, as guests work together to create spontaneous humor. 

Stand-up shows like those organized by Clarissa Smith, highlight how sober comedy events can bring people together and create memorable, laughter-filled moments. Whether it’s through live performances or interactive games, a comedy night guarantees fun without the need for alcohol, as the focus remains on enjoying the shared experience.

9. Throw a silent, dry dance party

Complexity: 🧩🧩🧩🧩
Engagement Potential: 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Appeal to Audience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Silent dance parties, like Daybreaker organizes, have revolutionized sober events by creating an electrifying, inclusive atmosphere without alcohol. Daybreaker’s events, which have garnered national reach and major sponsorships, focus on early morning dance sessions filled with high-energy music and a community-driven vibe. 

One key to their success is their ability to create a space for connection where attendees feel empowered to express themselves freely while enjoying a joyful, alcohol-free environment. 

That comes from a combination of the community they’ve created and their unique scheduling: Unlike most dance parties, Daybreaker’s events happen in the morning. Attendees wake up with a combination of yoga, dancing, and great music.

So, make a silent disco the highlight of your event. Guests can wear wireless headphones and switch between multiple music channels, offering different genres to suit everyone’s taste. This creates a more intimate yet exciting experience, as participants dance to their own rhythm while being in sync with the energy around them. 

For larger events, you can set up different decor and lighting in separate rooms to match different music genres, with a playlist for each room.

To amplify the fun, consider adding elements like themed costumes, glow sticks, or light-up accessories. These extras elevate the atmosphere and give attendees a sense of participation and playfulness. Following Daybreaker’s example, you can create a dance event that feels just as vibrant as any other party without the need for alcohol.

10. Make it a game night

Complexity: 🧩
Engagement Potential: 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Appeal to Audience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Game nights are a perfect way to encourage bonding and interaction among attendees. It helps to have one larger space where people can wander around, admire others’ games, and try out a game they’ve never seen before. 

Here are just some of the spaces that could work:

An inspiring example is Vitality Vibe Society’s sober game nights. They offer everything from classic board games to group video gaming tournaments. Events like these promote camaraderie and create memorable experiences. Plus, game nights are flexible and easy to organize, and you can tailor them to suit your crowd.

People doing yoga and dancing outdoors
Spring Equinox Yoga + Dance Celebration / Outdoor Yoga SF / SF, CA

11. Include yoga and meditation

Complexity: 🧩
Engagement Potential: 🎉🎉🎉
Appeal to Audience: ⭐⭐⭐

Incorporating yoga and meditation into your sober party ideas can provide a calming and grounding experience for attendees, allowing them to focus, connect more deeply with themselves, and open up to others. 

As mentioned earlier, Daybreaker kicks off events with energizing yoga sessions to wake everyone up, get their adrenaline pumping, and loosen them up for some serious dance moves. These sessions blend physical movement with mindfulness, helping participants shake off tension, feel fully present, and get ready to dive into the excitement ahead.

You could also wrap the party up by bringing everyone a sense of peace with guided meditation. Or, bring up the “party” vibe by incorporating ecstatic dance after the yoga session, giving participants a chance to express themselves freely through movement. 

Alternatively, consider hosting an outdoor yoga session to connect with nature, as Outdoor Yoga SF has done. Events like these, in scenic outdoor settings, allow participants to blend their practice with the beauty of the natural world, creating a more profound connection with themselves and their surroundings.

Take your sober party ideas to the next level

Whether you’re finding great vendors, attracting attendees, or processing all the tickets you’ll sell, sober events require plenty of prep.

Eventbrite can help with every step of your event planning process.

A great way to get started is by building your own event page here, on the most popular events-specific search engine. It’s a one-stop source of information and signups where interested people in your area can find your event and register right away.