When residents know their neighbors, their rental unit starts to feel less like a temporary place to live. Positive neighborly relations can increase satisfaction, create a safer living environment, and increase lease renewals.
The only problem? Homeowners are much more likely to befriend their neighbors than renters. As a property manager, you can change that.
The right community amenities can bring people together. Enticing community events can bring more residents together at the same time to share in a joyous occasion.
This winter, give the gift of community. Read on for apartment resident event ideas for December 2023.
Gingerbread House Decorating
December is the perfect time to indulge in baked goods and whimsy. Nothing brings those two things together like gingerbread houses and there are plenty of affordable kits you can purchase for your residents.
Building and decorating a gingerbread house is a fun activity for all ages. Encourage residents to break up into teams so they can become better acquainted with their neighbors.
You can even provide prizes, like gift cards to local restaurants or goodie bags, for the most creative gingerbread houses. Consider creating different categories, like “most colorful” or “sturdiest structure,” so that every team has the chance to win a prize.
Holiday Trivia Night
When you’re planning December activities, it’s important to remember that not everyone celebrates Christmas. In fact, just over 70% of Americans celebrate Christmas today. There are other holidays, like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, that also deserve recognition in December, and you can reflect them all with a holiday trivia night.
Ask questions like:
- How many reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh? (nine)
- How many candles can a Menorah hold? (nine)
- What colors symbolize Kwanzaa? (red, green, and black)
- What song gets the most plays around Christmas? (“All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey)
Make sure to set up clear rules before trivia begins. For example, you can give each team a bell to ring and call on the team who rings their bell first to keep things orderly.
Holiday Movie Night
December is another month known for its movies, so break out your projector and screen and pick a mild evening to host a holiday movie night. Don’t forget to encourage residents to bring blankets and offer warming treats like hot chocolate.
To be respectful of your residents’ differing beliefs, stick with secular movies for your movie night. Popular classics include:
- Elf
- Home Alone
- Nightmare Before Christmas
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
These family-friendly flicks offer so much nostalgia that even the adults will love coming together to enjoy them.
Winter Card Making
Sending holiday and Christmas cards in December is an old tradition that many people have forgotten. Still, nothing beats receiving a card from a friend or loved one around the holidays, especially when that card is homemade.
Gather your residents in your office space or recreation room for some good old-fashioned card making. Decorate with twinkle lights, play festive music, and provide a variety of refreshments.
All sorts of materials can be used to make a creative holiday card, from magazine clippings to crepe paper to glitter glue. Consider going with recycled paper goods to share eco-friendly habits with your residents.
Santa Meet and Greet
If your apartment building is home to a large number of children, one fun event idea is to give them a chance to meet Santa (while giving parents a break from those long lines at the mall).
Santa meet and greets can be easy to pull off with the right costume and the right person to play Santa. It’s helpful to add decorations like small trees and fake snow, since families may want to get pictures.
It’s customary to have something small to give out at a Santa meet and greet, so keep candy canes or small toys on hand.
Ice Skating
If you’re willing to trek outside of the confines of your residential property, consider booking a morning or afternoon at your local ice skating rink. Ice skating rinks are great places to embrace the chilly season and can typically accommodate several dozen people at once.
If you can’t foot the bill for everyone in attendance, consider paying a portion of the fee to give residents a discounted rate. Alternatively, you can provide things like vouchers for the concession stand or cover the cost of your resident’s skates. Ask the rink manager for permission to bring outside food and beverages so you can share inclusive snacks (like gluten-free or dairy-free options) with your residents.
Don’t forget to remind residents to bring layers to the rink. Find out in advance if the rink offers any other attractions, like a small arcade or jungle gym, for anyone who wants to attend but doesn’t feel comfortable skating.
Snowman Building
If you have any desirable amenities that are outdoors, like playgrounds or pet areas, take to the outdoors on a snowy day for a building-wide snowman competition.
Make sure to provide any of the necessary extras like large buttons or pieces of coal for eyes and carrots for noses. Invite residents to bring their own accessories like scarves, hats, and even jewelry to give their snowman a unique touch.
If you live somewhere that doesn’t get much snow, there are some crafty alternatives to choose from. For children, use paint, markers, or foam cutouts to build snowmen on paper. For your older residents, provide slightly more challenging materials to work with like paper cups, modeling clay, or plastic bottles.
Create Community with Apartment Resident Event Ideas for December 2023
When you’re looking for ways to improve the tenant experience in your apartment building, it’s important to consider ways to build a sense of community. These apartment resident ideas for December 2023 are just a few ways to get creative and celebrate the holiday season in your apartment building.
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