How to Celebrate International Women’s Day the Right Way

In the words of Beyonce, “who run the world? Girls!”

As an event creator, it’s your opportunity to make every woman feel like the world is at their feet on International Women’s Day every March 8.  

2024’s focus is all about inspiring inclusion to forge a better world for women, and we have some exciting event ideas so you can bring your A-game. 

Why trust us on this? 

Eventbrite is the world’s largest online marketplace for event ticketing, and in 2022, we had more than 90 million ticket buyers using our platform to find fun things to do in their local areas. 

In this article, we’ll show you everything we know about creating the coolest, flyest, and most unforgettable event ideas that’ll take honoring women to a whole new level. 

Table of Contents 

1. Let’s give it up for the girls (comedy night) 
   
2. Skills of the sisterhood (economic empowerment workshop)
   
3. Whispers in the dark (dance party with a twist) 
   
4. Chicks in the flicks (film screening) 
   
5. Girl, your dress is insane (fashion show) 

How to create a meaningful event that isn’t boring 

While some women love sipping on champagne and getting their nails done, others would rather get hot and sweaty at an all-night rave like Midnight Kandi’s ‘hard tech trance’ event The Night Kids — for others, doing both would make the perfect day.  

Women are complex and multifaceted individuals, and International Women’s Day (IWD) is a celebratory time. It’s an excellent opportunity to create a fun, vibrant event that reflects women’s diversity — your event doesn’t have to be overly serious! 

International Women’s Day, on March 8, is all about recognizing the accomplishments of incredible women worldwide and the hardships that women still face in our modern-day society. For example, 259 million fewer women have access to the internet than men around the globe. 

This day sparks discussion about the state of gender equality and how women are treated in every part of the world, not just the United States. It’s a reminder that even though society has come a long way, there’s still much to be done. For example, in the workforce, where the gender pay gap is only 68.4% closed. 

However, it’s also about celebrating what makes women so special — so don’t forget to make your event fun and engaging. 

For example, WithLoveDC is hosting a ‘Womxn of the Wild’ weekend event that combines nature with allowing women to ‘connect deeper with their true selves.’ The event perfectly combines educational and impactful messaging about women’s often underestimated strengths and abilities. They achieve this through workshops and open marketplaces while adding a hint of fun with activities like crown-making and group yoga. 

How to identify and connect with your female audience 

The best way to connect with your female attendees is to offer them an experience that aligns with what they love about themselves and your brand. 

Understanding your target audience on a deeper level is paramount to connecting with them. One way to do so is to search for insights into who your audience is and where your page viewership is coming from, such as Google, Facebook, or Instagram. 

With Eventbrite’s real-time data feature and audience reporting, you can filter your audience based on age, location, and gender to discover your community’s demographics. Additionally, we can point out which of your past events have sold the most and least tickets, helping you decide what kind of event will land for IWD. 

You can break audiences into three main types: core, custom, and lookalike. 

With Eventbrite, you can create lookalike audiences based on different sources, such as Facebook page likes, email subscribers, or website traffic, to target new audiences with the same interests and values as your target audience. 

Knowing your audience is key to creating a successful event that resonates with women. By using Eventbrite to analyze custom data from previous events, you can appeal to your audience’s preferences and increase the chances they’ll be interested in your next event.

1. Let’s give it up for the girls (comedy night)

If there’s one thing we know about women, it’s that they’re funny as hell.  

However, even with some of the best female comedians in the business, like Ali Wong and Sarah Silverman, live comedy is still often associated with men. 

Luckily, you can create a live comedy night so outrageously fun that it completely shatters the misconception that women aren’t as funny as men (once and for all).   

Here’s what you do: 

• Set up your event as a showcase of the best female up-and-comers in comedy within your local area by reaching out to local comedy clubs 
• Organize a 30-minute open mic session and invite female audience members to participate in comedy for the night 

💡Pro Tip: Take the fun one step further by creating a wacky IWD-themed drink. For example, Sam Adams Downtown Boston Taproom is using their killer IWD event, a female-only twist on their classic ‘Comedy on Draft Show,’ to release their new brew ‘The Future is FemAle.’ Try creating a cocktail that mixes fun with flavor, such as ‘Rosie’ — a gin and raspberry liqueur homage to the iconic Rosie the Riveter. You can also offer the first 10 women attendees one for free! 

2. Skills of the sisterhood (economic empowerment workshop)

The theme for IWD 2024 is to “collectively forge a more inclusive world for women” and “inspire inclusion.”

So the idea here is to organize one or several workshops to help women improve their finances and, with that, their independence. Put a spin on your event by using a funky venue, like a rooftop bar or a mini golf course, for an unconventional female-only space. Alternatively, give the workshop a more intimate feel by hosting it at a local restaurant or coffee shop. 

Either way, make it an interactive experience by providing worksheets and booklets for your attendees to fill in throughout the event, so they leave feeling ready to tackle their finances head-on and make informed decisions. 

Here’s how you set it up: 

• Partner with ‘finfluencers’ on social media and invite them to come to your event as guest speakers 
• Give each attendee a personalized gift upon arrival, such as a money-tracking workbook or budget spreadsheet 

💡Pro Tip: Grace Women’s Organization Inc hosts interactive workshops like ‘You Are Worthy’ that help women realize their importance and potential through having meaningful conversations with like-minded women and learning from their experiences. Use this idea in your economic empowerment workshop by including a skill-sharing activity where women can teach fellow attendees their unique approach to investing and saving.

3. Whispers in the dark (dance party with a twist)

How do you combine fun, mystery, and a strong message into one amazing, unforgettable night? 

Here’s one idea: good drinks, candles, and dance. 

Create a party, rave, or nightclubbing event (with a twist). Have dark strobing lights lead the way to a ticketed ‘truth room.’ Make the room pitch black so no one can see their neighbor or who’s speaking. Encourage participants to reveal a deep secret about themselves, such as a ‘forbidden’ desire, a challenge they face, or troubles they have with society. 

The ‘truth room’ is a symbolic representation of women who have been silenced in the past and those who remain voiceless due to factors like domestic abuse, cultural beliefs, or confidence issues. 

Take a leaf out of Beetle House’s book and go ‘full spooky.’ Deck out your venue with fake black blood, pink spiders, and red lipstick marks to make it look like a witch’s haven, and ask your attendees to come dressed like they’re ‘hiding a secret.’ 

@ghoulplease_ Beetle Juice… Beetle Juice…Beetle Juice! #beetlehouse #beetlehousenyc #everydayishalloween #halloweenNYC #halloween2023 #halloweenrestaurant #timburtonrestaurant #timburton #beetlejuicetiktok #beetlejuice ♬ Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) – Harry Belafonte

Here’s how you set it up: 

• Create a DIY truth room by hanging up black sheets and creating a massive teepee on the floor — section this off with ‘danger’ tape to add to the vibe of the event
• Set up a donation stand so that attendees can donate and learn more about movements like the National Organization For Women, which fight for women’s rights  

💡Pro Tip: Behind the bar, have a collection of beverages that fit the theme, such as ‘truth potions’ that have ‘magical powers’ to add to the immersive experience.

4. Chicks in the flicks (film screening)

There’s no better feeling than grabbing your best girlfriends, making a big batch of popcorn, and snuggling in front of the TV just like you used to at sleepovers in middle school. 

So, this IWD, why not bring back the good ol’ slumber party days? 

Choose a niche, cozy venue (preferably with a bar), set up bean bags or mattresses on the floor, and hire a projector. 

Instead of screening one film, create a reel of the best scenes featuring women in the film industry. Include a diverse range of films and genres, from classic movies like ‘Some Like it Hot’ to recent releases like ‘Barbie’. 

By creating a montage of influential women who have shaped the entertainment industry, you can celebrate the achievements of women throughout the ages while sparking a sense of nostalgia and inspiration among attendees. 

Here’s how you set it up: 

• Set up your film screening in an unconventional cinema, such as an outdoor ice rink or rooftop terrace
• Hire local food trucks to provide delicious snacks and drinks — you can even have a campfire next to the stand selling marshmallows and hot cocoa 

💡Pro Tip: To really stand out and support local female filmmakers, dedicate 30 minutes before the film to showcasing the five best local short films made by (and starring) women. You could even include a Q&A with the directors and actors after the film screening is over. 

5. Girl, your dress is insane (fashion show)

If your audience has a passion for fashion, we’ve got the perfect event idea for you. 

Host a fashion show that celebrates women of all shapes and sizes, highlighting that there is no ‘perfect’ woman. 

Choose a fun and inclusive theme with a tongue-in-cheek name that undermines outdated stereotypes that try to define women based on their appearance. How about ‘Yeah, Your Mistake’ or ‘I’m Not Just a Pretty Face Runway’? 

Here’s how you set it up: 

• Set up the fashion show as a charity fundraiser and have paid seating arrangements 
• Have the ‘fashion designers’ in the show be ‘regular women’ who donate to a women’s organization as a participation fee 

💡Pro Tip: Set up the event so it’s based on a weird and crazy theme, such as ‘made of chocolate,’ where all of the clothing featured must have a chocolate concept (think colors or fancy dress). This will add a fun theme which you can build your event around. Even better if you can connect it with aspects of your brand!

How to really celebrate International Women’s Day 

IWD is a chance for imaginative event creators to host days/activities that combine meaning with fun.

To do this effectively, break away from the mold and create a celebration that truly honors the power, beauty, and resilience of women (and allows them to have fun while doing it). 

Want to empower as many women as possible through your event? Consider using Eventbrite to promote your International Women’s Day event to thousands of females across the country actively looking for unique events on March 8. Eventbrite can help you connect with attendees, new and old, and strengthen your community.