
What we’re about
This is a group for people in their 20s & early 30s 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 (giant games of street tag, 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!
• How much do events cost?
We strive to create an environment where fun is as accessible as possible, so most events tend to be free or very affordable! On occasions for really big complex events, we tend to charge more. Whatever we make goes back to investing in the group and paying Meetup fees to keep the group running. The organizers don't make any money off the group.
For events that cost money to organize, we will ask all attendees to pay in advance to confirm their spot and help us plan. We will always try our best to keep costs reasonable.
Please see our Payment Policy for more information:
https://www.meetup.com/Offbeat-Fun/about/
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Are there certain events you want to see? Vote for them or add them here:
http://wishlist.offbeat.fun/
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.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- 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.
- Play Jeopardy trivia - also test durability of new buzzer hardwareSomewhere in Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA
Join us for an exciting quiz/trivia event based on the long-running TV game show Jeopardy.
On April 19th 2025 only, we will be testing the durability of three new types of buzzer hardware. The game will be exactly the same but played with different buzzers. Other Jeopardy events use the rugged metal buzzers which have been in use successfully since 2018.
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, both are open-source and published on GitHub!
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 - Learn to Juggle!Rengstorff Park, Mountain View, CA$2.00
Ever wanted to learn how to juggle? Come to this event and I will teach you how! With a bit of practice, you can start juggling within 30 min to 1 hr. You will go home from this event with your own juggling beans bag to practice at home.
About Me - My name is Scott, I've been juggling on and off for the past 20 years. In high school I taught myself how to juggle 5 balls while on a balance board. I can do a fair amount of juggling 3 balls with my eyes closed.
Cost to attend: $2. I have Venmo ( @Scott-Henderson-8) or Paypal (@scotthenderson2). This will cover the cost of bean bags for you to take home. Please put "Offbeat Juggling" in the description so I know which charges are what. Once I have your confirmation, I can move you from the waitlist to attending. If I haven't gotten your payment & RSVP within 24 hrs of your RSVP, I will move you to the No-Going list. I need the payment ahead of time to confirm attendance. Please don't send money until you have signed up.
Please have your Venmo or Paypal name be the same on Meetup. Please don't select the "paying for goods and services" as that will add a surcharge.
Limit: 7 (including me) people for now - If I can get more people who know how to juggle, I can let more people come to the event. If you are interested, sign up the waitlist and there may be a future event :)
Waitlist:
Location: Rengstorff Park. We will meet by the picnic tables.
Wishlist - If you can, please bring folding/beer pong table. This will make it easier to practice and catch your bean bags when they fall to the ground. If not, no worries, we will make do.
Questions - If you have questions, shoot me a message on meetup.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Join our Offbeat Fun Discord server: https://discord.gg/E9sauzUGYK
Like what we do? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/offbeatfun - Play Taskmaster games (silly British humor in low-stakes competition)Somewhere in Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA
What is Taskmaster?
Taskmaster is a British comedy panel* game show where comedians play silly made-up games in a low-stakes competition. It first aired in 2015 and there are now eighteen seasons of the British one and twelve international versions!
You can watch full episodes of seasons 1 through 18 for fee on Youtube!!!! https://www.youtube.com/@Taskmaster/playlists
Here are the tasks from the first episode:
- Eat as much watermelon as possible.
- Paint the best picture of a horse while riding a horse
- Completely empty a bathtub without removing the plug or tipping or damaging the bath.
- Assemble a tent, enter the tent, put on a onesie in the tent, then emerge from the tent wearing the onesie.
Click here to watch season 1 episode 1 on Youtube.
*wtf is a panel show? In this context, panel means "a group of people gathered to participate for something." Panel shows are uncommon in the US but very popular in England.
What will this event be?
We will play some games from the TV show and/or the official book ("220 Extraordinary Tasks for Ordinary People" by Alex Horne).
Most games will call upon your skills of persuasion, strategy, art, language, and/or dexterity. At least one game is random chance just to mix it up a little. Some will be played with/against your teammates and some with/against the Taskmaster.
Here are some examples of the tasks we might play at the event:
- Sit down, then stand up after exactly 60 seconds.
- Instruct your teammates to draw the specified thing using only the words "circle", "square", "line", "up", "down", "big", "small", etc.
- Have the longest conversation with your teammates consisting of only questions.
- Toss a coin and get as many heads in a row as possible.
- Make the longest continuous noise from your body.
- Take unique pictures of three things with the biggest total size.
- Mouth a ten-word sentence to the Taskmaster.
- Hide a sheet of paper somewhere visible on a flat surface in the room.
We can keep score but there will not be any prizes - the point is to play funny games.
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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