Looking for apartment complex event ideas in New England? Kaleidoscope is New England’s largest artistic entertainment company with artists in CT, MA, RI, NH, and additionally serving VT and ME.

We’ve compiled our Top 12 most creative apartment complex event ideas for both kids AND adults in this guide full of quick tips and at-a-glance stats to help you quickly plan an amazing apartment complex party. These are all products and entertainment services that we provide, and if you’re interested in booking some apartment event entertainment in New England, we’d love to work with you!

12 Apartment Complex Event Ideas for New England:

1. Paint Parties

Age Range: Teens and Adults

At-a-Glance: Residents sit down with one of our professional artists and create a painting (which you, the event planner, chose) as a group. Think: Bob Ross meets Paint and Sip parties.

Seasonal Event Ideas: Paint parties are perfect for when it’s cold outside and you’re looking for cozy indoor programming. This is by far our most popular apartment complex event idea from November – March every year!

Number of residents entertained: 20-200 per painting.

Logistical Considerations: If you have groups over 80, we will need audiovisual equipment, so most of our apartment complex clients opt to host paint parties as a reoccuring monthly event in their clubhouse for smaller groups.

You’ll also need to provide a chair and table for every resident, plus tablecloths. Paint parties aren’t very messy, but please consult your maintenance team for any rules your campus might have.

If your apartment complex is largely families, please note to guests that this is an activity for adults to enjoy themselves without children and not a family event or babysitting service.

We love it for: Evening programming alternatives to alcohol or cannabis; cold-weather activities; and calm adults-only programming.

Not recommended for: outdoors (the wind makes them hard) or family-centric apartment complex event ideas.

Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement: If your apartment complex is able to provide catering or a bar, we’ve seen plenty of amazing apartments host paint parties with snacks and drinks.

Read more about paint parties here.

2. Face Painting & Balloon Twisting

Age Range: Kids & Families

At-a-Glance: Kids (and adults!) line up for some fun face painting or silly balloon twisting.

Seasonal Event Ideas: bring balloons for pool parties, face painting for family movie nights, or both for fall carnivals!

Number of residents entertained: 10-12 per hour (regular size) or 15-20 per hour (“speedy” selection).

Considerations: Face painters need 2 chairs and some table space; balloon twisters need 1 chair and some table space. In the heat, both will need to be placed under shade for residents’ heat safety. In the cold, both should be placed indoors.

We love it for: circus-themed events; family-centric events; and anything sports-related.

Not recommended for: formal events.

Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:

Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do, which your staff can organize to take balloon twisting and face painting to the next level:

• Use face painting for themed holiday events that typically involve costumes–like Mardi Gras, Purim, Halloween, Day of the Dead–and let our artists create something amazing in-theme!
• If you love hosting sports watching events, have our face painters or balloon twisters create Game Day sports faces or wearable balloon designs in team colors to add some team spirit (and friendly rivalries).

Read more about face painting here and balloon twisting here.

3. Temporary Tattoos

Age Range: Kids, Teens, and Adults

At-a-Glance: Set up a station where residents can get their own henna, glitter, flash, or aibrush tattoos done.

Seasonal Event Ideas: Summer block parties, large winter holiday parties, or 3 day weekends when you expect extra attendance at your event.

Number of residents entertained: Anywhere from 10-12 guests per hour (henna) to 25 guests per hour (airbrush) per artist with up to 10 artists available per tattoo. We love these for large-scale events where you want to get a ton of residents something fun in a short amount of time–especially with apartmenxt complexes that expect 100+ residents at an event.

Considerations: Temporary tattoo artists require 2 chairs and some table space per artist, and for outdoor events must be placed in the shade (over 75*F) or in a heated area (under 55*F). Airbrush tattoos require electricity.

We love it for: events over 100+ guests.

Not recommended for: Small intimate events where you want guests to linger at an entertainment station (tattoos are generally very quick to apply).

Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:

Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your temporary tattoo entertainment to the next level:

• Add all 4 types of tattoo stations throughout a spread-out event across a large apartment campus. Have guests go on a scavenger hunt and collect all 4 for a prize.
• Because airbrush tattoos specifically are fast, the cost per guest is significantly less than some higher-end entertainment types. Use airbrush tattoos to add some budget entertainment so you can also offer guests more expensive niche experiences without breaking your budget.

Read more about temporary tattoo options here.

4. Foam Parties

Age Range: Kids, Teens, and Adults*

At-a-Glance: Guests are invited to dance in waist-high foam and bubbles.

Seasonal Event Ideas: Summer alternative to a pool day; fall back to school block party; or Memorial Day / Labor day pool opening or closing parties**.

Number of residents entertained: Up to 50 at a time (2 cannons). Can be done in lined waves (like an amusement park line) or organically (typically guests are done after about 10-15min in the foam).

Considerations: Foam must be done outdoors and requires a large flat area (such as blacktop or a grass lawn) with no obtrusive objects (sprinklers, sewers, rocks, holes, landscaping). Additionally, foam needs to be no more than 100′ from a grounded power outlet on its own circuit and 100′ from an outdoor water spigot. Residents will get wet, but that’s part of the fun!

*We suggest having separate family parties and separate 18+ parties.

**PLEASE NOTE, foam cannot be sprayed near or in pools as it is a drowning risk if lifeguards cannot see a person in need of help under the foam.

We love it for: high energy outdoor events; nighttime parties with lighting rentals and a DJ; or kids’ summer programming.

Not recommended for: indoor events; low-energy events.

Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:

Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your foam party to the next level:

• Use foam cannons as “checkpoints” every 1k for a 5k race or at intervals throughout walking/running fundraisers on a track.
• Use foam to let guests cool down at an outdoor event like a BBQ or outdoor fundraiser
• Throw a foam party for a wellness week to encourage movement or to bust stress.

Read more about foam parties here.

5. Glitter Looks Makeup Artists

Age Range: Tweens, Teens, and Adults

At-a-Glance: Our professional makeup artists and face painters will create over-the-top glitter looks for your guests.

Seasonal Event Ideas: winter holiday events; June Pride events; 4th of July BBQs.

Number of residents entertained: 12-15 per hour per artist.

Considerations: Glitter look artists need 2 chairs and some table space each. Recommended over tile floors or outdoors as glitter can be messy.

We love it for: events where you want just a touch of entertainment or something special.

Not recommended for: carpeted areas (glitter will stay in those carpets for years).

Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:

Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your glitter looks entertainment to the next level:

• Combine a face painting station for kids with a glitter looks station for teens and adults so everyone can get something they’re excited about!
• Using glitter looks at Purim to help adult guests feel “dressed up” or at Chanukah to add some sparkle to the festival of lights!

Read more about glitter looks here.

6. UV-Reactive Face & Body Painting

Age Range: Kids, Teens, and Adults*

At-a-Glance: We provide both the light rental and the artists to create glowing UV looks.

Seasonal Event Ideas: winter indoor events or outdoors at night with heated tents.

Number of residents entertained: 10-12 per hour per artist

Considerations: The area should be dark with only limited color lights (such as uplights or LED strips) as well as UV. (Ask our office about lighting packages with our DJ services.)

*We recommend separate kids & families parties from 21+ parties

We love it for: events that are stuck inside or want to embrace New England’s dark nights.

Not recommended for: outdoor day light events; indoor spaces where lights cannot be shut out by shutters, blinds, or curtains.

Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:

Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your UV-reactive entertainment to the next level:

• Ask families to bring consoles to project party games like Mario Cart or Super Smash onto the walls for a glowing game night tournament.
• Pre-movie night entertainment.
• Create a kids’ nightclub-inspired event by combining UV face and body painting with DJ services.

Read more about black lightface and body paint here.

7. Tarot and Palm Reading

Age Range: 16+*

At-a-Glance: Your residents will bring a question or problem to our tarot and palm readers, who in turn will use the “grammar” of palmistry and tarot to discuss the questions the guests have. (Palm and tarot do not use any religious themes or witchcraft.).

Seasonal Event Ideas: This is our #1 favorite idea for Hallween parties, but are also popular year-round at evening adult events!

Number of residents entertained: 6-8 guests per hour per reader.

Considerations: Each reader needs a table and 2 chairs far away from the “action” of the event (DJs, food lines, other stations) for a cozy and private chat.

*Children under 16 cannot understand the difference between facts and metaphors, so they may not understand the entertainment or feel scared by sentences like “change is coming”. To keep all of our entertainment age-appropriate, we don’t do tarot card readings for children or tweens.

We love it for: Halloween or fall events; cozy indoor events; apartment complex event ideas themed around chill, relaxation, or zen.

Not recommended for: Loud and large events (these readings feel intimate and quiet).

Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:

Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your psychic entertainment to the next level:

• Create a “psychic” area at your upcoming fall event.
• Hire massage therapists or yoga instructors for a wellness day, and add some lighthearted fun with tarot or palm readers.
• For a cozy event, pair psychic services with “craft bars” where residents can build terrariums or succulent gardens for their apartments.

Read more about psychic packages here.

8. Strolling Mentalism and Magic

Age Range: Kids, Teens, and Adults (great for mixed-age groups)

At-a-Glance: One of our magicians or mind readers will walk throughout your event and invite guests to participate in some up-close magic. (Please note, this is not a stage show.).

Seasonal Event Ideas: strolling magic is perfect year-round, indoor or outdoor. It’s one of our most flexible entertainment types!

Number of residents entertained: Up to 40 per hour. (Ideal for large-scale events.)

Considerations: Strolling mentalism and magic is extremely flexible and require nothing from the planner except a place to stash personal belongings like a coat, water bottle, and extra props.

We love it for: Halloween or fall events; summer BBQs; carnival-themed events; and any events of over 100+ residents of mixed ages.

Not recommended for: Small events under 50 people; events looking for a sit-down show; events where this is the only entertainment.

Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:

Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment buildsing do which your staff can organize to take your magical entertainment to the next level:

• Add a strolling magician to a formal seated event, like a dinner or holiday party, for some strolling entertainment and a fun touch to a classy event.
• Throw an outdoor event inspired by vintage carnivals with carnival rides, games, tarot/palm readers, stilt walkers, and strolling magicians.

Read more about our magicians here.

9. Tie-Dye Spray Station

Age Range: Kids, Teens, and Adults (great for mixed-aged groups)

At-a-Glance: Residents drop by a craft station where, with the help of one of our professional tie-dye artists, they twist, wrap, and spray their creations. They can instantly bag and take their creations with them.

Seasonal Event Ideas:

Number of residents entertained: 15-25 residents per hour per tie-dye artist.

Considerations: Spray dye is lower mess than traditional dip-dye, but should still be done over tile floors or outdoors to facilitate clean up. All apparel must be 100% cotton and can be provided by your brand (including logo-branded apparel) or by Kaleidoscope.

We love it for: outdoor events; drop-by BBQ activities; events with a large array of mixed ages.

Not recommended for: events where residents’ clothing cannot get dirty. (Dye is washable until heat set, but residents who are afraid of dye on their clothes won’t participate.)

Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:

Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your tie-dye station to the next level:

• Include tie-dye in an event series with decades-themed days for the 60’s or 70’s and include a DIY hemp jewelry station.
• Create an “Adult Summer Camp” event where residents can live the nostalgia of childhood summes with tie-dye, a foam party, and classic camp crafts that ignite their inner children.
• Prepare 100% cotton apparel with your brand or complex logo and have our tie-dye artists bring only colors that reflect your brand. (Just let our office know at the time of booking.)

Read more about tie-dye stations here.

10. Karaoke Parties

Age Range: Kids, Teens, and Adults

At-a-Glance: Our professional DJ will set up a karaoke station for residents including all music, monitors with lyrics, microphones, and optional add-ons like photo booths or lighting.

Seasonal Event Ideas:

Number of residents entertained: Up to 14 songs per hour (up to 4 mics available for 4 guests to sing together).

Considerations: Our DJ should be kept either inside or under shade outdoors to stop equipment from overheating and will need access to grounded power outlets on their own circuits.

We love it for: evening programming with food and a bar (if your luxury apartment complex can provide catering); single mingle nights; or months without obvious themes where you’re looking for something original indoors (January-March are perfect).

Not recommended for: outdoor events after 8pm (the local area may have sound ordinances that don’t allow loud music to be played outdoors after a certain time); events where you want to encourage dancing and have regular DJ services.

Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:

Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment complexes do which your staff can organize to take your karaoke party to the next level:

• Host Karaoke Brackets, where the bravest residents can bring their fans (or friends) and compete in a bracket-style competition where the audience gets to vote. Think Reality Show meets March Madness!
• Have a fun spin on a Halloween costume contest where residents are invited to come in costume, but then judged not on the costume itself but their character’s ability to pull off a fantastic karaoke number. (For instance: a guest in a Barbie costume singing the 90’s pop hit Barbie Girl; or a group dressed up as the characters of Grease singing Grease Lightning.)
• For events that are alternatives to alcohol and cannabis use, hire a DJ for an event series to host a series of activities that are reminiscent of the social parts of a bar–such as karaoke, trivia, music Bingo, board game night, or a cornhole tournament–but swap the alcohol to snack bars. We’ve seen sundae bars, cereal bars, taco bars, and brunch bars be huge hits with all ages!

Read more about DJ services here.

11. Caricature Artists

Age Range: Kids, Teens, and Adults (great for mixed-age groups)

At-a-Glance: Guests line up to be drawn as cartoons by one of our professional artists.

Seasonal Event Ideas: Caricatures are hugely popular for summer events reminiscent of boardwalks or theme parks, like BBQs, pool parties, or community sporting events.

Number of residents entertained: Up to 10 faces per hour per artist.

We love it for: lighthearted events; carnival-inspired events; outdoor picnics; department-wide events; events looking to use entertainment as a marketing hook to draw in large numbers of residents.

Not recommended for: formal or serious events; family events events geared towards entertaining young children. (Caricatures are appropriate for younger children, but often kids under 10 get bored siting still and staring at an adult.)

Considerations: Each caricature artist will need 1 table and 3 chairs. This should be indoors or, for outdoor events, in the shade for days over 75*F or with heat for days under 50*F.

Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:

Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other luxury apartment buildings do which your staff can organize to take your caricature entertainment to the next level:

• Use caricatures as a fun alternative to photo booths and help guests get a break from screens and cameras.
• Create a “beach day” with a foam party, caricatures, a DIY sand art craft station, airbrush tattoos, ice cream trucks, and other entertainment reminiscent of boardwalks and summer sand.

Read more about caricatures here.

12. Mascot Visits

Age Range: Kids & Families

At-a-Glance: A cartoon character will visit your event for a theme park-style meet and greet.

Seasonal Event Ideas: Bring the Easter Bunny for a spring time visit (with photos), or a popular cartoon character any time of year!

Number of residents entertained: Up to 60 kids an hour.

Considerations: Being in a mascot is serious physical work, and we take our talented actors’ safety very seriously!

Mascot characters need a 15min break for every 45min of work in an area where they cannot be seen by party guests and can take off their stilts or costumes. Every mascot entertainer MUST have an event volunteer organized by the Client to be the mascot’s assistant or “handler”. For corporate or nonprofit events, this should be a staff member or volunteer. For weather over 70°F, all entertainers must be placed in the shade. Over 85°F, the entertainers may request to be moved to an indoor space with AC if they begin to feel symptoms of heat sickness.

We love it for: Kids and family style programming, especially if you want to move a lot of children through a line of entertainment very quickly.

Not recommended for: events looking to mascots as an activity for kids to participate in. (We classify mascots as “atmospheric entertainment,” which add to the overall vibe of your event, but are not a specific activity.) Events in high summer outdoors where mascot actors may be heat sick (there are no fans or AC units in their costumes).

Bonus apartment complex event ideas for your staff to implement:

Here are a few budget-friendly ideas we’ve seen other apartment complex do which your staff can organize to take your use of mascots to the next level:

• Station your mascot in front of a large banner branded with your logo so parents can take photos they’ll keep forever.
• Use mascot visits as community events to increase brand awareness and advertise these events to the public who may be your future residents. (A themepark styled meet and greet is one of our fastest entertainment types, so the cost per guest is relatively low.)

Read more about mascots here.

New England’s Largest Apartment Complex Entertainment Ideas Agency

We are incredibly proud of our track record with our corporate clients. Some of our past and returning corporate clients include:

• EDENS (200 properties in 22 states)
• Beacon Communities LLC (150 properties in 11 states)
• Bozzuto (100,000 residences in 20 states)
• Nordbloom Properties ($2B in residential and commercial nationally)
• Devonwood Luxury Housing, Farmington CT
• Villa del Rio Luxury Apartments, Warwick RI
• Leonard Florence Center for Living, Chelsea MA (long-term memory care center)
• Village at Park River, Hartford CT (community housing)
• And dozens more!

The types of apartment complex event ideas we have previously worked on include:

• Weekly summer pool party series
• Annual holiday events (Christmas and winter holidays, Easter, Halloween and fall, patriotic holidays, and more)
• HOA-sponsored events
• 55+ community events
• Senior community housing events (including memory care facilities)