Welcome back, IRL! If 2022 was anything, it was the year of bringing back tentpole events and leveling up the experiential elements and techy touchpoints. Don't believe us? Take it from the awe-inspiring activations, wow-worthy experiences, and other innovative moments that populated BizBash's Instagram feed and had our followers saving and double tapping away.
1. Scroll-stopping photos took center stage (and provided some much-loved inspiration) on Instagram and on BizBash.com.

Read the full story: 8 Steal-Worthy Event Ideas BizBash Spotted on Instagram
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of Tiffany & Co.
2. We highlighted the pre- and after-parties that were just as glitzy and glamorous as the 74th annual Primetime Emmys.

Read the full story: Emmys 2022: Inside Parties From Netflix, Disney, Paramount, and More
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Tiffany Rose
3. We got a head start on holiday shopping at Netflix at The Grove, the streaming service's multi-title retail experience.

Read the full story: Shop Merch From Your Favorite Shows at Netflix's First Multi-Title Immersive Experience
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
4. Barbie became an immersive experience 60-plus years after being an astronaut, a pilot, a firefighter, a journalist, and an entrepreneur.

Read the full story: All Dolled Up: Get a Peek Inside the World of Barbie
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of Kilburn Live
5. Coachella's long-awaited return stole the spotlight (it was also our highest-performing story) with activations courtesy of Absolut, Spotify, American Express, HP, and so many more.

Read the full story: Coachella 2022: Peek Inside the Festival's Buzziest Parties & Brand Activations
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Lex Gallegos
6. From chairs suspended 20 feet in the air to airplane seats in the middle of a breakout room, we rounded up clever uses of event seating that you may just want to sit down to read.

Photo: Courtesy of MAS
7. We talked to Veuve Clicquot CEO Jean-Marc Gallot on the Champagne house's LA experience, plus reflected on the brand's 250-year history.

Read the full story: Veuve Cliquot Celebrates 25 Years by Honoring Its Audacious Namesake
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of Veuve Clicquot
8. We also got the inside scoop on a host of events, activations, and pop-ups (including this celebration courtesy of Ketel One) that were blooming with floral inspiration.

Read the full story: Get Some Over-the-Top Floral Inspiration From This Ketel One Botanical Launch Party
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Claire Hoffman/BizBash
9. Brands like Aperol Spritz, St-Germain, and Bacardi—alongside celebs like Guy Fieri, Anne Burrell, and Kate Hudson—toasted to the 21st annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF).

Read the full story: Cheers to 21 Years: How SOBEWFF Celebrated With Boozy Bashes, Fieri's Fiesta, and Innovative Activations
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: World Red Eye Productions, taken at Trade Day & Grand Tasting Tents at the 2022 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One
10. Event professionals weighed in on the rap- and hip-hop-heavy 2022 Super Bowl halftime show.

Read the full story: Super Bowl LVI: Event Producers Give the Nostalgia-Inducing Halftime Show an A-
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Gregory Shamus for Getty Images
11. We brought some color to your feed with eye-catching events that boasted dramatic palettes.

Read the full story: 13 Over-the-Top Uses of Color and Pattern We're Loving Right Now
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of MKG
12. We got an early look at the Universal Hip-Hop Museum in NYC (slated to open in 2024)—and so we gave it to you too.

Read the full story: This Pop-Up Exhibit Offers a Sneak Peek of NYC's New Hip-Hop Museum
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Ari Espay
13. Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny invited 80,000 fans into his mind with an inflatable slide sculpted into the shape of his head.

Read the full story: How Bad Bunny Upgraded Fans' Concert Experience With a Pre-Show Experiential Museum
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of Cool Shit
14. Art Basel Miami Beach and Miami Art Week 2022 made the cut thanks to a variety of visual hits.

Read the full story: Art Basel Miami Beach 2022: Top Activations From the Event's 20th Year
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Getty Images for Meta
15. Philly's largest and longest-running horticultural event showed off the healing power of nature.

Read the full story: How the Philadelphia Flower Show Bloomed Bigger and Better in 2022
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
16. We rounded up the brands that tapped into nostalgia with motel-themed spaces.

Read the full story: Trend Spotted: This Unexpected Theme Has Eventgoers 'Checking (Back) In' to the '80s
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Marissa Joy Photography
17. Step aside, Pinterest! BizBash brought its readers even more event inspiration—not to mention double-tap-worthy photos.

Read the full story: 15 Cool Event Ideas You May Have Missed From Daily Harvest, Peacock, Tennis Channel, and More
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Courtesy of Too Faced
18. We tapped industry vets for their hopes and predictions for 2022. (Let's look back now and see if they were right!)

Read the full story: 2022 Forecast: What's Next in Experiential Marketing?
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Scott Clark Studios
19. We rounded up the hottest happenings at this year's South by Southwest.

Read the full story: SXSW 2022: How Brands Drew Attention at the Festival's Big Return IRL
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Lisa Hause Photography
20. We get it, you're busy... so we pulled together top to-dos from big brands to ensure you didn't miss a thing.

Read the full story: 14 Cool Event Ideas You May Have Missed From Spotify, Delta, TikTok, and More
And see the post on Instagram.
And see the post on Instagram.
Photo: Spotify/Happy Monday