26 Cool Event Ideas You May Have Missed From Peacock, MGM Resorts, 'Variety,' and More

The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas is ushering in the Year of the Snake with a vibrant holiday display, on view through March 1. Brought to life by designer Ed Libby, in collaboration with the Bellagio Horticulture team, the exhibit immerses visitors in festive traditions, symbolic animals, and a rich color palette, all intended to celebrate and honor Asian culture. In the East Bed section, for example, pandas Bao and Mei—representing the concepts of yin and yang—play beneath money trees adorned with 88 gold I-Ching coins. The bed pays homage to the lucky envelope tradition in which monetary gifts are given during the Lunar New Year to offer blessings and good luck to loved ones.

In the South Bed, cherry blossom trees with pink and white blooms are complemented by intricate blue-and-white “qinghua” porcelain sculptures. A 33-foot-tall blue-and-white porcelain pagoda hosts The Garden Table, an intimate, bookable dining experience where guests can enjoy a dim sum lunch or dinner feast curated by Bellagio’s Pan-Asian restaurant, Noodles.

In the North Bed, a 28-foot floral serpent honors the Year of the Snake. Red and gold silk lanterns hang above, while a koi fish fountain spouts water into a tranquil pond.

At NRF 2025—the National Retail Federation’s annual trade show, held in New York in mid-January—global financial tech platform Adyen reimagined its presence with a multilocation experience that engaged attendees throughout Manhattan. A sleek booth at the Javits Center served as the brand’s hub, and the space, fabricated by 3D Exhibits, was designed with a juxtaposition of traditional storefront architecture on the exterior and a modern aesthetic on the interior.

Inside, interactive demo stations highlighting Adyen merchants ON, Le Creuset, and Estée Lauder featured Adyen’s unified commerce solutions, showcasing how the platform bridges the gap between online and offline retail.

Adyen’s presence also extended beyond the Javits Center, with customer-focused networking events, eye-catching billboards, and vehicle advertisements throughout the city. The experience culminated in a serene executive event at Chelsea Industrial, which was designed and led by Factory360 and aimed to provide attendees with a moment of calm amid the hustle of NRF.

The executive event’s greenhouse-inspired cafe featured global cuisine that reflected Adyen’s international reach.

The event was also centered around a fireside chat with Roelant Prins, Adyen’s chief commercial officer, and Angela Ahrendts, former senior vice president of retail at Apple; their discussion delved into the transformative impact of unified commerce, the role of AI, and the influence of evolving consumer expectations in reshaping modern retail.

"Our vision was to create a unified brand journey that extended beyond the traditional show floor and immersed attendees in Adyen’s innovative solutions throughout Manhattan," said Katarina Nordin, Adyen’s global head of marketing. "By collaborating with Factory360 and 3D Exhibits, we brought our brand identity to life across multiple touchpoints, offering attendees both a retreat from the hustle of the Javits Center and an opportunity to connect with the dynamic energy of NRF."

Before Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour came to an end at BC Place in Vancouver last month, the Sodexo Live! team hosted a special themed dinner at the Vancouver Convention Centre for VIP guests.

Sodexo Live! chef Nandakishore Rangan and his team created a multicourse menu to celebrate Vancouver's version of the Eras Tour. It featured dishes like Marjorie's mascarpone mousse, a Lover land and sea course with Nova Scotia lobster and Canadian beef, an Enchanted BC foraged mushrooms vegetarian choice, and more.

Another highlight? An edible friendship bracelet as part of the dessert course.

Personalized friendship bracelets also served as place settings—and as a fun, Swiftie-appropriate touch of swag, of course.

“As always, we approached Sodexo Live! with a clear vision of the experience and ambiance we wanted to share with our guests. From menu ideation typing into a very specific theme and plating to the flawless execution of the meal, they proved to be a true partner," said Brian Oliver, director of business development at the Vancouver Convention Centre. "They went above and beyond to create an incredibly memorable experience for everyone involved. The process was seamless, allowing us to confidently entrust them with the success of the meal.”

The 2024 Variety Hitmakers Brunch was held at nya West in Los Angeles last month. This year's Hitmaker was Charli XCX, and the overall event design was stark white with jewel tones and pops of the artist's famous "brat" green shade. The stage design was inspired by the artist James Turrell.

Event producer Stoelt Productions used lighting to change the look throughout the program.

Signage on the walls highlighted the top 25 songs of 2024. The event honored rising stars like Shaboozey, Benson Boone, Doechii, Daniel Nigro, and Amy Allen, along with veteran producer Jack Antonoff, who was named producer of the decade.

The arrivals had brat-green carpeting and a blue-to-green ombre step-and-repeat, while the prefunction space was created within the main space, using brat-green sheer panels to separate it from the main area.

Last month, Peacock took relaxation to a whole new level with its "Crime and Unwind" spa pop-up at Remedy Place in New York's SoHo neighborhood. The unique activation offered a fun twist on wellness—perfect for true crime fans looking to crack the case on ultimate relaxation. The idea came from research showing that 56% of true crime fans find the genre “relaxing," with a majority claiming their stress relief comes from following complex investigations.

Inspired by these stats, Peacock created an immersive experience that combined the thrill of mystery with a variety of wellness treatments. Activations had clever names like "The Airtight Alibi" (a hyperbaric oxygen chamber), "Hot Pursuit" (an infrared sauna), and "Cold Case Plunge" (an ice bath and breathwork session. There was also the "Knot Guilty" massage area.

Each treatment was cleverly designed to help guests unwind while channeling their inner sleuth, and lounge areas featured Peacock’s extensive true crime collection, including Dateline and Based on a True Story.

There was also a true crime-inspired photo op. Peacock collaborated with experiential agency Jack Morton on the activation.

Fintech company Revolut is enhancing its partnership with the NBA through a promotional campaign centered on basketball culture. The campaign, created by U.K.-based marketing agency Seed, launched on Jan. 22 at the NBA House at the Carreau du Temple in Paris, where fans could enjoy exclusive activities and merchandise. The activities continued at the Accor Arena Jan. 23-25 during the NBA tournament in Paris.

The central activation, called "Change Your Game," encouraged fans to shoot their best shot to unlock NBA-themed prizes. Taking place in the concourse during pregame and halftime sessions, fans got 15 seconds on the clock (with an extra five seconds for Revolut members!), in which each person was challenged to sink three hoops. The more consecutive hoops they sank, the bigger the prize.

Additional attractions included a "game"-ball machine that dispensed special rewards like NBA game tickets and opportunities for on-court photos with NBA legends—exclusively for Revolut members. The design of the activations integrated Revolut’s sleek aesthetic into a basketball-themed setting, offering a polished arcade experience with a monochromatic color scheme.

The 57th annual Peach Bowl took place on Jan. 1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the Texas Longhorns defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils. Title sponsor Chick-fil-A celebrated its 28-year partnership with the first-ever 12-team playoff, bringing in clever highlights like a giant replica of the trophy for fans to pose with, along with numerous digital activations on the Halo Board.

In an extra-fun touch, Chick-fil-A had a cow rappel onto the field to deliver the game ball.

For the second year in a row, Sanrio’s Hello Kitty Cafe Truck rolled into CityPlace Doral’s Fountain Plaza on Jan. 18. The all-pink cafe on wheels sold sweets including cookies, madeleines, macarons, and giant chef cookies. Floridians could also shop limited-edition merch celebrating the beloved brand's 50th anniversary, including mugs, thermal bottles, cold cup ornaments, T-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, enamel pins, and more. With any food purchase of $35 or more, shoppers received a free Hello Kitty Cafe mini tote.