Back in February, I wrote about an opportunity that sort of fell in my lap – the chance to work with Eventbrite as one of three bloggers embarking on a “blogger tour” of Chicago. The premise was simple: we each agreed to attend at least ten events over a two-month period and share out experiences along the way. I saw it as the perfect chance to rediscover my adopted hometown of Chicago while forcing myself to step out of my comfort zone and attend some events on my own that I normally would not.
Prior to partnering with Eventbrite, I had used their website on numerous occasions, usually to register for events I learned about elsewhere: Meet, Plan, Go! events, CRAVE Chicago events, various fundraisers, etc.
I never thought to use Eventbrite to actually look for things to do.
Boy, was I missing out.
Throughout February and March, I attended a variety of events – most of which I likely would never had heard about otherwise. I entered the techie world at 1871 when I checked out Ignite Chicago and then I explored my nerdy side at a “Nerds at Heart” Valentine’s Day event. I enjoyed a singles brunch and a few travel meetups. I learned about Chicago’s jazz and rock music histories and learned how to make the yummiest sweet potato dish on earth. I admit, I didn’t write about every event I attended because, well, not every one really merited a write-up; there were definitely some hits and misses along the way.
The best thing about Eventbrite is that it really isn’t just for locals – it is full of great options for those visiting from out of town as well. And it isn’t only in Chicago – Eventbrite is nationwide, in cities like Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, Philadelphia, Phoenix and more!
Whether you’re looking for something to do in your hometown or in a town you’re visiting, here’s how to get started:
1. Go to www.eventbrite.com.
2. Click on “Find Events.”
3. Enter either your current location or your destination.
4. To fine tune your search, scroll down and look at the left-hand side. You can narrow your search by date (i.e., this week, next week, next month), by price (including free!) and category. Options range from conferences to classes to festivals to sporting events.
5. Find a cool event and sign up!
6. Bonus: Download the Eventbrite app for your smartphone and store all of your event tickets right on your phone!
Even though my official partnership with Eventbrite has ended, I am sure I’ll still look to their website to sign up for events and find new things to do. Indeed, I signed up for two more events this week!
This post is part of an ongoing partnership with Eventbrite Chicago. Eventbrite enables people all over the world to plan, promote, and sell out any event. It’s also a destination for people to discover awesome events going on in their cities! Whatever your desires, hobbies, or interests – from photography workshops and wine classes to food festival and industry conferences, there’s an event on Eventbrite for you to attend! Keep up on what’s Brite in Chicago by following BriteChicago on Twitter, liking them on Facebook, or signing up for their weekly newsletter! Planning an event? Go ahead and create an account to get started.
