16 Cool Event Ideas You May Have Missed From Spotify, Mercedes-Benz, Variety, and More

Variety’s invitation-only Hitmakers Brunch was held on Dec. 3 at City Market Social House in Los Angeles, drawing a who’s-who of the music industry including Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, Jack Harlow, and more. Stoelt Productions designed and fabricated the custom stage and DJ booth, along with the event's overall look and feel, which producer Matt Stoelt described as "a chic, sustainable look using mostly all-natural materials and earth tones that played into the late fall timing of the event. All of the tables, bars, and high boys were solid hardwood, and the stage design/backdrop and custom DJ booth were 100 percent real maple wood," he said.

"Integral to the design was the amazing floral design provided by Michelle at 19 Stems and the inclusion of real wood, laser-cut table numbers, and wooden lanterns," continued Stoelt, adding: "We brought in 40-plus eight-foot palm trees of various species spread throughout the space and four different decor vendors to achieve a seamless, natural look throughout the entire experience."

Decor vendors included Found Rental Co., Designer8 Furniture Rental, Bright Event Rentals, Theoni Collection, and Jackson Shrub. AV vendors were Launch AV and Vox Productions.

Place settings tied into the music theme by evoking gold records. 24 Carrots Catering handled food, while DJ Andrés Javier Uribe provided entertainment.

At the Dec. 12 premiere of James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water, Mercedes-Benz USA previewed its ground-breaking VISION AVTR concept on the blue carpet. The futuristic, drivable concept car was inspired by the world of Avatar (the name stands for “advanced vehicle transformation”); it was conceived as an extension of the movie’s Pandora world.

“Avatar is one of the most successful film franchises in the world, with a message that is also central to the Mercedes ethos and the targets set out in our Ambition 2039 [campaign]," said Ola Källenius, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, in a press release. "We share the belief that we need a more respectful approach to nature and that we must conserve its resources. This co-promotion with Avatar: The Way of Water is part of our journey as a company, and we salute the narrative of the Avatarstory on the need to strike a balance between environmental, economic, and social interests."

Additionally, on the blue carpet, Mercedes-Benz had its EQS SUV on display in front of a digital LED wall, where attendees could watch a projected journey through the waters of the world.

Engine Shop helmed the activation, with support from Merkley + Partners and OSK.

To celebrate the new Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody, an immersive pop-up was held at Studio 525 in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood on Dec. 11. The multi-sensory experience, produced by BMF, allowed guests to take photos in recreations of milestone moments, like the late singer’s 1991 Super Bowl performance.

Various other areas were inspired by the music videos for "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and "I Will Always Love You."

There were also costumes from the film on display at the one-day experience.

On Dec. 1 in Los Angeles, Spotify hosted its 2022 Wrapped Playground event to celebrate its annual year-end reveal of users’ most-listed music and podcasts. This year, the brand wanted to evoke themes of self-expression and play–which it did through a carnival-themed experience complete with custom rides, interactive games, and special content moments that highlighted insights from this year’s Wrapped.

Fans were treated to rides on a Ferris wheel, funnel cake and corn dog bites, a photo booth, and custom airbrush trucker hats. Circus-like acts such as jugglers and stilt walkers performed throughout the event.

The MKG-produced event also featured a special performance from pop star Charli XCX, along with a DJ set from Paris Hilton.

Lufthansa Airlines' hosted its New Ways to Travel pop-up in New York from Dec. 1-3. Produced by experiential agency DPEM, the event aimed to excite travelers about the possibilities of international locales while introducing Lufthansa's Boeing 787-9 Dreamline, which has new routes out of New York. Flight attendants were on hand, inviting people to enjoy branded treats, relax, and learn about various cities the airline travels to.

Inside, the space featured a variety of areas inspired by different global cities the airline travels to, including a New Delhi spice market, a sidewalk cafe in Florence, and a Munich Christkindlmarkt sweets shop.

In addition to the consumer experience, the space also hosted a media event and an industry cocktail hour to unveil the plane's features and the airline's expanded routes.

On Dec. 16, ESSENCE expanded on its Black Women in Sports franchise with the return of the Black Women in Sports Awards Brunch during this year’s Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. In partnership with Coca-Cola, the brunch honored women in the sports industry—both professional and collegiate—who serve as a catalyst for change and are creating opportunities for future talent. The event, held at the Westside Cultural Center, featured panels moderated by the likes of ESPN anchor Elle Duncan (pictured), plus a vibrant, flower-and-candle-filled photo op.

In New York on Dec. 13, actress AnnaSophia Robb and St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur hosted an intimate holiday soirée to ring in the season and celebrate the launch of the brand’s Royale Dash cocktail fountain. Held at New York's Nine Orchard Hotel on Dec. 13, the stylish gathering showcased the new cocktail fountain—a new home decor piece that dispenses two glasses of St-Germian elderflower liqueur with one gentle press—in a glamourous, flower-filled environment. The intimate dinner wrapped up with Robb’s surprise custom birthday cake, created by Cakes by Klein, which featured hand-sculpted fresh elderflowers and a St-Germain bottle made from sugar.