There are many events. It depends on where you are. Here is SoCal, we have a bunch of beer events. There is a wine/beer shop near me that does themed tasting nights where they taste and explain beers from a particular style or region, sometimes paired with food. Many restaurants are starting to do beer pairing dinners, often themed to a brewery in which the brewer has representation there to explain the beers being poured. The BJCP guidelines are available online, and include commercial examples in the notes that you could buy, drink, and compare with the style descriptions if you want to do some stuff at home. Just a few ideas. Let us know where you live and I'm sure someone in your area can point you to some events.