[UPDATED] Best Chicago Trade Show Entertainment Ideas & Games For 2025

Written By Guest User

Last Update: July 15, 2025

Author: William Griggs
Founder @ Trade Show Labs

Bring in the most attendees for a memorable moment with fun activations and VR equipment. Use Trade Show Labs for fun and interactive Chicago trade show ideas.

How to Find the Best Trade Show Ideas

Trade Show Labs oversees trade shows across different spectrums, from sociology and psychology to game design and economics. We provide insight into Chicago trade show ideas for the best booth results. There’s almost nothing we haven't covered when it comes to gaming, virtual reality, and exciting designs. Basically, Trade Show Labs knows how to keep people entertained. Our trade show activations are all about building great memories so that everyone has fun and remembers your brand. 

These Chicago trade show ideas focus on entertainment and games -- and for a very good reason. After all, what’s not to like when it comes to the latest high-tech advancements? You can visit any place and experience whatever scenario, from being a race car driver to walking a plank 80 stories above the ground. 

Trade Show Labs offers amazing Chicago trade show ideas, allowing you to reap these benefits:

  • Drive engagement

  • Increase leads

  • Have fun

  • Build your brand

Not sure what trade show games are available at the nearest Chicago trade show? Look no further! Here’s a sneak peek of nine trade show ideas that are sure to draw the most attendees. If you want crowd-pleasers, check out these Chicago trade show games.


1. AI Photo Booth

Want to wow your trade show visitors with something that’s both high-tech and highly shareable? You should check out our AI Photo Booth—a fully branded, interactive photo experience that gives attendees instant digital portraits they can’t wait to post. Our AI Photo Booth creates custom, stylized photos using advanced artificial intelligence, so every picture is unique and instantly memorable. Whether your guests want to look like superheroes, retro icons, or futuristic avatars, our booth delivers. The sleek setup fits easily into most booth spaces and draws a crowd without overwhelming your footprint. Plus, everything is tailored to your brand—from the booth wrap to the output designs—so your message sticks long after the event is over.

2. Walk The Plank VR

Want your visitors to test out their balance without being in extreme danger all the while they have a memorable experience they love? You should host  Walk The Plank, which makes guests feel like they are at the top of a city skyscraper. Walk the Plank is immersive and fun for all types of people walking around the trade show. And the setup for this kind of atmosphere doesn’t require a lot of space either, so it should fit your booth perfectly. You can even personally brand this VR equipment to match your aesthetic and help guests remember your products or services. 

3. Batak Pro Competition

You can test flexibility and reaction time ranges with this interactive Chicago trade show entertainment. The Batak Pro Reaction Test can show booth visitors just how good their reflexes are. How? It comes with a setup that involves 12 LED targets lit up in several different ways, depending on the game mode you’re playing. For example, the light chaser game requires you to hit the lit-up LED as fast as possible before the next one lights up. Get as many hits as possible before the time runs out, and see if your friends can beat your score! You can use this Chicago trade show idea indoors or outdoors, but it does require a bit of space to play.

4. F1 VR Race Simulator

Eager to get into the seat of a Formula 1 racing car? Well, that experience may be out of your reach, but with the VR Racing Simulator, you can see what you’re really made of on the track. The race car simulator has adjustable seats, a steering wheel, and pedals. Then just pull down the goggles, and your attendees can experience the race track in a way you never thought possible. Have your guests challenge each other to see who gets the best time on the leaderboard; they might even be able to win some prizes you have to offer!

5. Beat Saber Competition

VR Beat Saber is a win-win for music lovers and virtual reality gamers alike. Not only can customers test the range of their flexibility and speed, but they can have fun doing it while listening to some great tunes. Test to see who has the best rhythm among your guests with this Chicago trade show game. They’ll want to try it again to get to the song’s end successfully, and everyone will be waiting in line for their turn. Consider adding VR Beat Saber to your next trade show to draw the crowds. Get the best Chicago trade booth games from Trade Show Labs. 

6. Are You Smarter Than An AI Bot?

One of the best ways to keep a crowd at your booth is by testing attendees’ wits against an AI. With Are You Smarter Than An AI Robot, you can challenge their knowledge and see who can answer the fastest: the human brain or artificial intelligence. Guests can use their smartphones to search for the right answers. All the questions are multiple-choice to give them a real chance against the super-smart AI. A leaderboard on display lets them know how they’re really doing against the robot overlord. It makes for a friendly competition, and you can decorate the backdrop with your logo. 

7. TopGolf Trade Show Simulator

Virtual golf is just as fun as it sounds and is a favorite of Chicago trade shows. TopGolf Simulator is a VR game that allows booth visitors to test their driving skills in any weather. Guests will never lose their ball or have to take the walk of shame through the woods. Yelling “fore” is no longer a requirement if you wack it out of the park when you go virtual. You can set up fun competitions to see who can hit a hole in one or even help avid players improve their swing. Make sure you customize the details, so the guests remember your brand. Ask Trade Show Labs about the specific equipment and options. 

8. Tablet Jeopardy Game Show

Our unique spin on Jeopardy offers a fresh take on the classic game. Perfect for trade show booths, our custom Jeopardy board lets you recreate the excitement of the show in your event space. We provide the board, individual screens for each game, and can even assist with question creation. Questions can be tailored to your products, marketing campaigns, industry, or even specific to your company.

9. Mini-Drone Racing Challenge

Our drone challenge is a unique trade show experience that is sure to captivate your guests. With the utmost concern for safety, attendees will fly a drone from outside a netted enclosure. Inside the enclosure, we can create exciting accuracy challenges, obstacle courses, and more. This event is perfect for engaging guests and generating healthy competition, which can lead to repeat visitors and increased brand recognition.

10. Social Media Vending Machine

Incorporating a social media vending machine into your event is an excellent way to generate buzz for your brand and increase interactions that contribute to your social media presence. Rather than using cash, attendees can pay for vending machine items by posting to their social accounts using a designated hashtag or filling out a contact form. The vending machine can be stocked with your company's products, discount codes, gift cards, or even trade show merchandise. The possibilities are endless!

11. Branded Claw Machines

Want to draw a crowd, create smiles, and get your brand in everyone's hands? The Custom-Branded Claw Machine brings a nostalgic arcade favorite to your booth—with a twist. This isn’t just a game. It's a fully brandable experience designed to grab attention (and swag). You fill the machine with your own prizes, and attendees get a chance to win by testing their claw-grabbing skills. From branded plushies to mini giveaways, you control what’s inside. Add your logo, colors, and messaging to the machine to create a fully immersive, on-brand activation that people can’t help but talk about.

12. VR Meditation

Trade shows can be a lot—bright lights, constant conversations, and sensory overload. Give your attendees a moment of calm with VR Meditation. This wellness activation invites guests to step into a headset and escape into a tranquil, guided experience. Whether it’s a peaceful forest, a quiet beach, or a mountaintop sunrise, each session is designed to reduce stress, refresh the mind, and leave attendees feeling recharged. It’s a unique way to show your brand cares about well-being, and it creates a memorable contrast to the typical trade show buzz. Plus, the footprint is small and easy to integrate into any booth layout.

13. SwagBot Print

Want to turn heads and give out branded swag that doesn’t get tossed in the trash? Swagbot Print combines the magic of 3D printing with the energy of live trade shows. With this booth experience, attendees can watch your swag come to life—custom-designed and printed right before their eyes. From desk toys to mini planters, each item is useful, memorable, and made to last. You can even set up a pin station where guests create their own take-home piece. Swagbot is fully brandable, compact, and managed by an expert event tech, making it a powerful traffic magnet and lead-generation tool.

14. TopGun Flight Simulator

Want to give trade show attendees a truly unforgettable experience that blends excitement with immersive tech? The VR Flight Simulator is your ticket to high-flying engagement. This activation places guests in a realistic cockpit—complete with moving seat, control wheel, and flight stick—while they soar through stunning virtual skies. They can pilot commercial planes over global cities or jump into fighter jets for thrilling aerial missions. It’s perfect for drawing in crowds, sparking conversations, and showcasing your brand as innovative and adventurous. Plus, it fits neatly into a booth and is staffed by professionals, so everything runs smoothly.

15. MLB Home Run Derby

Want to bring the crack of the bat and thrill of the ballpark right into your booth, drawing attendees in with competition and fun? The VR Baseball Simulator gives guests the chance to step up to the plate in a realistic virtual Home Run Derby. With lifelike graphics and responsive gameplay, they can test their swing, aim for the fences, and compete for top leaderboard status. It’s a draw for sports fans and casual visitors alike, making your booth feel like the ultimate stadium. Compact and fully staffed by pros, this activation is easy to add to any trade show layout—and it positions your brand as exciting, memorable, and ready for the big leagues.

 



Why Chicago?

Why Chicago Trade Shows Are Super Fun

Chicago is a top spot for trade shows, not only because it’s home to about 10 million people but because it’s also a diverse city that encompasses various interests to keep everyone happy. It’s a great city to foster competition with other businesses and wow the trade show audience to get the low down on the latest gadgets, high-tech products, and innovative services. 

The vibrant Chicago neighborhoods always have something to offer, which is an appropriate reflection of the mindset you should have when bringing your trade show to the Best Big City in the United States for the fifth year in a row. Using the VR games as your Chicago trade show ideas will create a remarkable atmosphere as unique as the city itself.

Chamber of Commerce:

Chicago Chamber of Commerce

Additional Resources:

Conclusion:

Create the Best Booth

The professional team at Trade Show Labs is ready to create a memorable scene that will spark interest in attendees and leave a lasting impression to increase your leads. Contact Trade Show Labs to ask about walking the plank, driving race cars, playing beat saber, and other entertaining Chicago trade show ideas.

 

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To Hear From You

If your company invests heavily into their trade show presence and has a strong desire to maximize their return on investment, we can help. Fill out the form below and our team will follow up with you shortly to explore if there is a fit. Regardless, we will share insights and questions to help you on your path to trade show success. We look forward to connecting soon.


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