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How Experiential is Taking Over the Singles Scene

Millennials and Gen Z are collectively over endless swiping on dating apps. Ghosting, superficial connections and the pressure to spark a connection through carefully curated bios have led to a new form of burnout — dating app fatigue. Seventeen years after Zoosk, the first dating app, launched alongside the iPhone, singles today crave real, in-person interactions. And experiential dating events are stepping up to the challenge. Now, it's all about showing up as your real self and embracing authentic, in-the-moment connections. Heading into 2025, experiential dating events are becoming the antidote to swipe culture After years of playing the dating app game, in-person events offer a refreshing way for people to meet and connect — no algorithms required. Cassidy Davis, XLISTER and creator of Chaotic Singles Party sees this shift firsthand. “People crave in-person connection as they look for their romantic meet-cute moment. We’ve seen a huge surge in in-person dating events this year, which will only continue into 2025,” she says. Cassidy, an actor and producer in LA, accidentally started Chaotic Singles Party in 2022 after hosting a Valentine's event where friends brought dating app matches for a fun, spontaneous meet-up at her house. Following viral TikToks and widespread demand, she expanded the...