What we’re about
This is a group for young professionals looking to bond with cool new friends over quirky, fun activities. We're less about the happy hours and meeting over drinks (though they're bound to happen informally) and more about the strange, fun things you've always wanted to try doing (Mario Kart in real life, anyone?).
Activities can range from the casual (hikes, game nights, karaoke nights, etc.) to the more offbeat (puzzle hunts, obstacle courses, murder mysteries, real life games, etc.). If this sounds right up your alley, come join us for some random fun!
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Like what we do?
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/offbeatfun
Send one-off donations to @michelleth on Venmo or PayPal (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/michelleth)
Join our Offbeat Fun Discord server: https://discord.gg/E9sauzUGYK
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FAQ (If you have other questions, contact the organizers)
• How often are there events?
There are events whenever an organizer has an event to host. So it varies and depends on our organizers' schedules. Most of our events are "offbeat" in nature, so they also tend to take more planning (and therefore might not occur that often). Generally, we try to have on average at least one event each week. Most events fall on the weekends and sometimes on weeknights.
You can see a list of all of our upcoming events on our calendar:
https://www.meetup.com/Offbeat-Fun/events/calendar/
We update the list rather sporadically, so we encourage members to check our calendar weekly for fun things to do! We also try to announce events 1-2 weeks in advance, so also look out for email notifications about those.
If you'd like to see more events, consider hosting some! Contact Michelle and/or Peter about hosting events. We're happy to help you get started!
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Have ideas for events? Want to host events and make fun happen?
Consider becoming an organizer! (Or if you want to just create one-off events, click on the "Suggest a New Meetup" button.) New ideas are always encouraged! As long as it's fun, we'll do it.
If you're interested in becoming an organizer, contact Michelle and/or Peter about hosting events. We're happy to help you get started!
Let's build a community of people who take action and make interesting things happen!
Location:
Most activities will center around the Peninsula and South Bay to bring more fun to the area. Occasionally, we may expand our reach as fit.
A weekend of secrets and splendor awaits...
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Untethered: Enigma
— Dare to let go? —
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Detach with Untethered, Offbeat Fun's premier immersive event series, where the everyday fades and the extraordinary begins.
Enigma, our inaugural adventure, unfolds across a lavish 3-day weekend of intrigue and revelry within the majestic walls of Château Énigme, a grand estate nestled amidst the distinguished wineries of Saratoga, offering a stunning and unique backdrop for your adventure.
Prepare to step into a world of decadence and mystery as each evening from Friday, August 29 to Sunday, August 31, unveils a brand-new, unforgettable experience. Follow the threads of Enigma throughout the entire weekend, or select the events that captivate you.
Experience the unforgettable and secure your tickets to Enigma below!
— Your Royal Weekend Itinerary —
Want to experience the ultimate indulgence and unravel the full lore of the Enigma? Secure The Imperial Pass for discounted access to the full weekend itinerary and perhaps a few royal surprises. Limited tickets available.
🍷 Wined, Dined, & Died (A Murder Mystery Exclusive) — Friday, August 29, 2025
Get Details and Individual Event Tickets
A decade past, Château Énigme defied fate with a vintage that resurrected its dying vines, a miracle whispered to be touched by magic. Now, as the esteemed guests gather to celebrate this legendary success, the secrets behind the “special sauce” threaten to spill over with fatal consequences. Beneath the celebratory toasts and veiled inquiries into Château Énigme’s arcane craft, a subtle unease takes root. Not all will survive to witness the final toast. Can you decipher the Chateau's enigma and survive to the last drop?
A delectable 4-course dinner will be included.
🎭 The Enchanted Masked Revelry (Magic Show + Masquerade Ball) — Saturday, August 30, 2025
Get Details and Individual Event Tickets
Indulge in a night of decadent delights within the elegance of Château Énigme. The evening unfolds with an intimate magic show, filling the air with wonder and illusion in the Château's refined setting. Following the show, savor a delicious 5-course dinner while enjoying a stunning backdrop of the sunset over the vines. As twilight deepens, the grand Masquerade Ball will ignite, transforming the estate into a vibrant realm of music, dancing, and curated festivities. Don your most captivating mask and attire, and lose yourself in the thrilling allure of hidden identities and decadence.
Please note: The 5-course dinner is an exclusive offering reserved for guests attending the Intimate Illusions Magic Show and precedes the Grand Masquerade Ball. Tickets for this enchanting engagement are limited.
♟️ The Shadow Games (Immersive Adventure in the Dark) — Sunday, August 31, 2025
Get Details and Individual Event Tickets
As the long weekend draws to a close, prepare for a thrilling descent into darkness. Dare to embrace the shadows at Château Énigme for an unforgettable night of adventure. Assemble your fellowship and navigate the darkened realm to complete clandestine missions and achieve victory. Will you move like a whisper through the shadows, achieving your objectives unseen? Or will you turn hunter, strategically tracking your foes to sabotage their plans? Prepare for a thrilling test of stealth, cunning, and bravery as the atmospheric grounds of the Château become your nocturnal playground. This late-night adventure promises a unique rush unlike any other.
Please be aware: This event unfolds in complete darkness across the Château's expansive grounds. Comfortable footwear and a spirit for exploration are essential.
— Location & Shuttle Service —
All activities for this enchanting weekend will be held within a private château in Saratoga. For ease of access, we will be operating a complimentary shuttle service to and from Château Énigme. Please meet us at the designated rendezvous point (details will be sent to your ticket purchase confirmation email a few days prior to the event).
— Important Notes —
Must be 21+ to attend. Tickets are strictly limited and must be purchased in advance to guarantee your spot. RSVPing on Meetup alone will not grant entry. All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.
— Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability —
By purchasing your ticket(s) and attending any event, you acknowledge and accept full responsibility for your own actions and any resulting consequences. The organizers, hosts, and members associated with this event assume no liability for any personal injury, property damage, or legal issues that may arise during your participation. Your attendance signifies your agreement to these terms, and you may be required to provide verbal confirmation and/or sign a waiver upon arrival.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Water Guns FORT FIGHT!!Somewhere in San Jose, San Jose, CA$10.00
I have a lot of boxes again! That means it's time for another FORT FIGHT!!
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What we'll do:
- Split into teams.
- With your teammates, you'll build a glorious fort out of cardboard boxes.
- Fight it out using water guns! Rules for the various missions will be explained at the event.
Everything will be provided. Just show up and prepare to get wet!
What will be provided:
- Water guns (all teams will be equalized with the same set of guns)
- Cardboard boxes
- Tape
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What you should bring:
- Dress athletically and prepare to get wet
- Drinking water
- More cardboard boxes (optional--but please help us out by bringing more boxes, ideally 2-3/person)
Cost: $10 per person
When you RSVP, be sure to send $10 through Venmo @michelleth or PayPal http://paypal.me/michelleth/10/
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Like what we do?
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/offbeatfun
Send one-off donations to @michelleth on Venmo or PayPal (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/michelleth)
Join our Offbeat Fun Discord server: https://discord.gg/E9sauzUGYKDisclaimer:
All participants accept sole responsibility for their actions and any consequences that may result. The organizer(s), event host(s), and other members of this group are not liable for any injuries you may sustain, damage you may cause, or criminal charges incurred otherwise while participating in this event. By attending this event, you agree to these terms. You will be required to provide a verbal confirmation accepting this agreement and/or a signed waiver before being allowed to participate when we meet for this event. - Film discussion club: "Gone Girl" (2014)Somewhere in Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA
About the event
Inspired by the Lessons From The Screenplay and Beyond The Screenplay, I have selected films I want to watch and talk about.
We will watch the movie then discuss it. We can discuss things like themes, characters, screenwriting, filmmaking technique, etc. For especially weird movies we can take some time to figure out what actually happened and what it means.
No potluck, but you may bring food & non-alcoholic beverages if you want.
The movie will be played on Blu-ray (which has noticeably better quality than streaming) to a 60-inch LCD TV (from 2010) and an actually good 5.1 surround-sound system with a 12-inch subwoofer.
About the movie
Synopsis: The husband of a missing woman becomes the chief suspect in her disappearance.
Length: 2 hours 29 minutes
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2267998/
Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gone_girl
Metacritic: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/gone-girl/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_Girl_(film)Footer
Please only attend if you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Please keep your RSVP updated! If you no longer plan to attend, change your RSVP to “not going” or remove yourself from the waitlist. We’ll assign a strike if you remove your RSVP at the last minute (< 48 hours) or if you no-show. For events with a waitlist, we'll assign two strikes for no-shows. See our RSVP policy here: https://www.meetup.com/Offbeat-Fun/about/
Join our Offbeat Fun Discord server: https://discord.gg/E9sauzUGYK
Like what we do? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/offbeatfun
- Play Jeopardy trivia!Somewhere in Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA
Join us for an exciting quiz/trivia event based on the long-running TV game show Jeopardy.
Your knowledge, lateral thinking skills, and sometimes reaction speed will be tested using questions from the real TV show (via J-Archive.com). Don't worry, the guessing penalty has been halved to make the game easier for us mortals!! You do not need to have seen the TV show, I will show everyone how to play.
Players form teams, usually 2-4 teams of 2-4 people each. Then questions are shown on a big TV, teams buzz in using sturdy metal buzzers, and you have five seconds to say the answer out loud.
One person controls the game software and judges whether the answers people say are close enough to the official answer.
The software and hardware for this have been developed specifically for the Offbeat Fun Jeopardy event series since 2018!
Please only attend if you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Please keep your RSVP updated! If you no longer plan to attend, change your RSVP to “not going” or remove yourself from the waitlist. We’ll assign a strike if you remove your RSVP at the last minute (< 48 hours) or if you no-show. For events with a waitlist, we'll assign two strikes for no-shows. See our RSVP policy here: https://www.meetup.com/Offbeat-Fun/about/
Like what we do?
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/offbeatfun
Join our Offbeat Fun Discord server: https://discord.gg/E9sauzUGYK - Fly kites at Shoreline Park in Mountain View (combat kites not allowed)Shoreline Park Kite Flying Field, Mountain View, CA
Leave the ground behind and take to the sky at this relaxing get-together.
We'll meet at the dedicated kite flying lot at Shoreline Park in Mountain View. I will bring six kites to share, and you can bring any kites you have. Combat/fighter kites are not allowed at the Kite Lot. You do not need to bring a kite to attend, you can come to just watch and hang out.
Meet the kite experts
Jose and Merl* have been flying kites for decades and even build their own kites. They will both be at the Kite Lot to help everyone assemble, fly, and troubleshoot our kites! Please thank them for sharing their passion and knowledge with us.
*short for MerlinWind & sun
Jose says: winds have been excellent and this is the best time of year to fly a kite. Flying in the midday sun can be harsh. So wear sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, long sleeves, etc. Bring water and mosquitos repellent spray.
Barb-shaped foxtail seeds
Jose says: as it warms up, the grass field at the Kite Lot dries up and there will be millions of foxtail plants. See photo of their barb-shaped seeds uploaded to this event. This is more than a nuisance - foxtails will lodge themselves into the mesh part of shoes and are very difficult to pull out. Jose's suggestions:
- Wear leather boots that foxtails can't penetrate, or
- wear crocs or flipflops that aren't made of fabric, or
- stay on the mowed lawn or gravel road only.
Parking
Please do not try to park at the kite lot because there will not be enough room for everyone. Several parking lots for Shoreline Amphitheater will (probably) be open - I will check the day of the event and post a comment.
How you get into the Amphitheater parking lots:
- Parking lot A: enter from N Shoreline Blvd.
- Parking lot B: enter from Crittenden Ln.
- Parking lot C & D: enter from Bill Graham Pkwy.
- Parking lot E: authorized vehicles only, do not go here.Where to buy a kite
You can probably find small inexpensive kites in stores. They probably say the material is "poly" or "plastic"; if you want a more durable kite, look for one made of nylon. I recommend a parafoil kite such as the X-Kites SkyFoil because they do not need assembly, roll up small, and are easy to fly.
If you get a dual-line sport kite: consider one which does not have any fiberglass rods because they may break or come out and get lost when you crash (which WILL happen). If you want to get really into the hobby, get a frameless dual-line kite which has several advantages: no rods to break or loose; no assembly or disassembly; it can be shoved into a tiny bag. REI has one in stores (Prism Synapse) however it costs SIXTY (60) (six zero) dollars. I uploaded a picture to this event showing how small the bag is. Also if you buy a dual-line kite, be sure to get one with wrist straps instead of plastic handles.
Costco kites
Costco has good kites for $18.54 each ($16.99 plus 9.125% sales tax). I uploaded a picture of the options and one of what the in-store display looks like.
A Costco membership is needed to buy stuff at Costco so I'm offering to get these kites for people. If you want one please send me a direct-message on Meetup, do DOT post a comment because it will be impossible to keep track of. You can pay me back using Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle. I'll bring them to this event or you can pick them up earlier from my house in Santa Clara.
The six available designs are:
- Jet fighter 3D kite (60 inch wingspan)
- Butterfly 3D kite (64 inch wingspan)
- Sea turtle 2D kite (66 inch wingspan)
- DC Sport dual-line sport kite (70 inch wingspan)
- Dragon 3D kite (78 inch wingspan)
- Macaw 3D (78 inch wingspan)
Note about the DC Sport dual-line kite: it has fiberglass rods which may break or come out and get lost when you crash, see above for why a frameless kite is better. Also it has plastic handles instead of wrist straps.
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