Out of Game Events and Gatherings

I've been helping out and was recently put in charge of the LAN area at a local gaming convention (won't say which, yet, in case we don't end up doing this). It went pretty well this year, and next year some of us were thinking about having some sort of in-and-out-of-game gathering/event for Eve at this convention as well. We aren't sure what we want to do or what we should do, though.

Anyone have any advice?