7 Themes for Your Virtual Happy Hour

Last updated on May 14, 2020

As we’re all practicing social distancing and staying home more than usual, we’re also losing out on some much-needed time with our friends and family. Enter virtual happy hours! Following behind the birthday parade trend, these online gatherings are another creative way that the social creatures of our society have found to spend quality time with their favorite people (and adult beverages). We came up with 6 themes for your virtual happy hour with your gal pals, coworkers, family, and anyone else you like to share a glass and a laugh with.

1. Have a staycation

We’re all feeling a little bit of cabin fever, so why not take a virtual trip to the islands? Pretend you’re all on a beach vacation with a tropical drink like a Malibu Sunset from Averie Cooks. All you need is Malibu coconut rum, pineapple-orange juice, and ice!

To really set the island mood, book a steel drummer, a reggae band, or a ukulele player to perform on your virtual platform! Open your windows, light a coconut-scented candle, and go on a much-needed “vacation” with your loved ones. Don’t forget to use a tropical background on your Zoom call! You can almost smell the ocean.

2. Visit a speakeasy

Get in touch with your inner rebel and bring back the secretive side of happy hours! Take your guests back to an era when having an old-fashioned in a hidden bar was prohibited (but oh, so much fun). A favorite drink during that time was The Bee’s Knees, and with only 3 ingredients, your guests are sure to have no problem making this at home! The Spruce Eats has an easy recipe that only calls for gin, honey, and lemon juice.

Your speakeasy event isn’t complete without some 1920s era entertainment. Hire a musician like a jazz singer, jazz guitarist, or saxophone player for just the right ambiance. If your crowd loves a good show, book a burlesque dancer or circus performer to captivate your guests! Don’t forget to set the scene – these Zoom backgrounds have turned popular NYC bars into the perfect setting for your own speakeasy virtual happy hour.

3. Laugh it up

They say laughter is the best medicine, so bring the cure to your friends and family with a comedy-themed happy hour! Martinis are a must (two-drink minimum is the rule) when you’re at a comedy club. But the latest craze is a quarantini! While there’s no set way to make a quarantini, we like this recipe, made famous by Nana:

• Ice
• 2 shots vanilla vodka
• 2 shots orange vodka
• 2 shots of Chambord liqueur
• Fresh orange juice
• Shake, shake, shake!

Get the theme set with a classic brick wall Zoom background for that “comedy club” feel. Add some fabulousness by hiring a drag queen to help you and your happy hour guests make your quarantinis together! Book a comedian to poke fun at the fact that you haven’t worn real pants in two months, or a roast master to personalize some jokes if you have a special guest to celebrate. Let a comedy magician amaze and entertain everyone through the screen! The key is to take a moment to just laugh together – we could all use that right now.

4. Taco ’bout it

It’s a fact – everyone loves tacos. And what goes best with tacos? Margaritas, of course! Share your favorite taco recipes with your happy hour guests, and then break out the collective blenders. This Strawberry-Bottomed Pineapple margarita from How Sweet Eats is a tasty addition to your taco-themed happy hour! All you need is strawberries, lime juice, pineapple juice, Grand Marnier, and tequila.

Tacos and margaritas just aren’t the same without the authentic music playing in the background. First, take your group to Tijuana with this colorful Zoom background. Then book Spanish entertainment like a Latin guitarist for some subtle tunes, or a mariachi group or Latin band to really kick up the party atmosphere. Until we can gather around chips and salsa together again, a taco-themed virtual happy hour is a lively alternative!

5. Keep it classy

If you’ve been working from home in your sweats for the past 6 weeks, you might be missing classy evenings out. Even though you can’t visit your favorite wine and tapas bar, you can still gather your friends for an upscale evening at home! Time to fix your hair, put on a dressy top (hey, leave the sweat pants on – we aren’t monsters), and pick out a nice bottle of wine. And since we’re all on a budget, check out this awesome list of cheap wines from Vinepair. Whether you love Chardonnay or cabernet, they’ve found a solid choice for each – all under $20 a bottle.

Select an upscale restaurant Zoom background from OpenTable for your virtual happy hour. Then, while you’re sipping your wine and catching up with your friends, family, or colleagues, take things up a notch with some posh live entertainment from classical musicians like a harpist, violinist, or cellist. A singing pianist can cover some of your favorite low-key tunes or a classical pianist or guitarist can simply provide elegant background music. Bring a bit of class to your virtual happy hour event!

6. Let’s get mystical

The atmosphere in our society has been a bit weird lately, so why not embrace it for your virtual happy hour? Gather your friends who aren’t afraid of a little Black Magic – cocktail, that is. ElleTalk has a cool recipe for a drink featuring black vodka that will really set the mood for your event.

This is where things really take a mystical turn! Set your Zoom wallpaper to something like this one (because nothing is more mysterious than outer space). Next, book some bizarre entertainment like a tarot reader to give some interesting insights into your life or a psychic to talk about your future. A mentalist will blow your minds with their mind-reading skills and an illusionist will make you second-guess what you just saw. Tapping into your otherworldly side may take your mind off the current state.

7. Just between friends

One of the things we miss the most is just being together with our best pals. It’s time to close the distance and celebrate all the things that make your group unique! First, you’ll need a signature cocktail that you all have a hand in creating. Shape Magazine put together a handy guide for making something creative and tasty.

Let everyone choose the Zoom background that reflects them – here are a few from TechRepublic to get you started. Next, think about things that you love to talk about and book some obsession-worthy entertainment! Do you gush over favorite celebrities? Invite a look-alike or impersonator to join your virtual happy hour! Are your best memories spent at concerts? Find a tribute band or cover band to play your favorite hits. Love documenting your adventures with selfies? Hire a caricaturist to sketch you as a group and share copies with everyone. Just enjoy each other’s company and celebrate what makes your clan special!

We’ve all missed getting together with friends, family, and co-workers, but a virtual happy hour could be what your group needs right now! The vendors on GigSalad have worked hard to put together amazing virtual event experiences and booking one can help make this time a little more enjoyable.

Ready to book something awesome for your virtual happy hour? Find the best at GigSalad.