How To Host The Ultimate Virtual Happy Hour

Happy Hour ideas for remote teams

A Guide To Hosting A Great Virtual Happy Hour

This article will feature 10+ ideas for hosting a great virtual happy hour including classes, games, themes and icebreakers to help your teams have fun.

Virtual happy hours are an opportunity to connect with colleagues and friends and to unwind from the day-to-day work agenda. Happy hours are interactive team-building events, that offer a fun and engaging experience from the comfort of your own home. So, whether you plan a casual get-together, a themed, or a holiday celebration, we are here to help you plan the ultimate happy hour.

To begin planning your virtual happy hour, check off these three of your list first!

1. Reach out to your team and gauge interest in the happy hour. You will be able to pick the perfect date and time and ensure it does not interfere with any upcoming deadlines or events. You can create a beautiful digital invitation and send a reminder to your team.

2. Next, you need to build out your event. What kind of vibe are you looking for in terms of this event - a laid-back beer-tasting class or a hands-on cocktail-making experience? Figuring out your menu, as well as mocktails/non-alcoholic alternatives will help determine the feel for your event.

3. Lastly, decide on the ‘fun’ elements of your happy hour. Send out a survey or create a Slack channel for your teams to vote on their favorite theme, suggest songs for a playlist, and even share some fun Zoom backgrounds for their virtual party.

step 1. Choose Your Session

1. Mixology Class: Invite your team to a unique hands-on experience where they get to become the bartender! A professional mixologist will show your team how to assemble and enjoy three delicious and refreshing cocktails and give you all their best tips and tricks. KraftyLab will send your team a mocktail-making kit featuring all the tools and equipment, and your team is welcome to bring alcohol to make these into tasty cocktails. This class will teach your team a new and impressive skill that they can then go on and show off to their friends and family! 

Virtual Happy Hour Ideas.

2. Beer Tasting: This immersive session kicks off with a tour of a real Denver brewery from a craft beer expert. Then, your team will unbox their craft beer kit and get to enjoy a tasty selection of beer alongside some snacks like popcorn, nuts, or cookies. This experience is incredibly engaging through live audience polling and interactive trivia (beer and otherwise) that will keep your teams playing and laughing. 

3. Wine Tasting: For a real luxury experience, treat your team to virtual wine tasting! With the help of a professional sommelier, your employees will get to enjoy a wine tasting featuring some small-batch, hand-crafted wine from Napa Valley and have their very own wine party. Our expert will share wine facts and trivia and provide your team with VinNotes, specific wine notes about the wines in their tasting. To spice up this experience, choose from a ‘Wine Pairing’ session or learn how to make your own ‘Wine Cocktails.’ 

4. Mead Tasting: Mead, or honey wine, is an ancient beverage made from fermented honey water and is becoming increasingly popular again. In partnership with Groennfell & Havoc, one of the largest meaderies in the US, we bring you a fully interactive mead tasting that will help teams connect and bond. You can build your own four or 6-pack Mead Kit, including the classic mead, fruity flavors, and different hops while learning all about mead’s history, fun facts, and trivia. 

step 2. Choose Your Add-Ons:

1. Craft Party: Turn your happy hour into a craft party with an all-inclusive craft kit. Invite your team to build a terrarium, make a homemade candle or soap bar, or learn the art of Japanese marbling while sipping on a delicious cocktail or wine. Getting crafty allows you to tap into your inner child and creativity, and boost morale for your team as they enjoy an activity together. 

2. Play A Game: To elevate the engagement of your happy hour session, bring along a professional MC or host to fun a lively, and energizing virtual game. You can quiz your team’s general and pop culture knowledge with a fun game of Team Trivia, or test your team’s musical knowledge with a fun session of Music Bingo, led by a professional DJ. If your team is up for it, you can even invite a stand-up comic to host a game of Blurt, which combines all our favorite party games like Draw It Out, Act It Out, Hum It Out, and more! 

3. Send A Gift: To show your appreciation, you can include a small gift to celebrate your happy hour. You can choose an edible gift like this gourmet snack basket, a sweet and salty gift box, or a seasonal gift like this Summer snacking gift basket. You can also send your team a customized gift like a wine tumbler, cocktail shaker, or coaster. 

step 3. Queue Some Icebreakers

If you are going to be hosting a happy hour, icebreakers can help ease conversation and break down the ‘work talk’. Check out some quick and easy get to know you questions, this or that questions, and trivia questions to help your teams relax and have fun. 

Fun Icebreaker Questions For Happy Hour

1. Who was your childhood celebrity crush?

2. Do you like reality TV? If so, what is your favorite show?

3. What is your favorite recent meme or viral video?

4. What is the most embarrassing fashion choice from your youth?

5. Have you ever performed at a talent show? If so, what was your talent?

6. What is the best concert you have ever been to?

7. What was your best Halloween costume?

8. Who is your favorite cartoon character?

9. What is the most gimmicky home or kitchen gadget you own?

10. What is your favorite cocktail or mocktail?

Fun This Or That Questions For Happy Hour

1. Run out of creamer for your coffee or only have decaf coffee available?

2. Lose your phone or lose your keys?

3. Have a pet snake or have a pet tarantula?

4. Be a shape shifter or have the ability to read minds?

5. Wear an itchy sweater or have a blister?

6. Have a runny nose or sore throat?

7. Eat fries with no salt or eat over-salted fries?

8. Get an ugly haircut or have uneven eyebrows?

9. Pay far too much for groceries or for gas?

10. Be underdressed or overdressed for a work event?

Fun Trivia Questions For Happy Hour 

1. What was the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final?

• Argentina vs Brazil

• Argentina vs France

• Argentina vs Croatia

2. Who is the most followed person on Instagram?

• Kylie Jenner

• Taylor Swift

• Cristiano Ronaldo

3. Where was The Lord Of The Rings movie trilogy filmed?

• Ireland

• New Zealand

• Greenland

4. What is the highest-grossing film of all time?

• Avatar

• Avengers: Endgame

• Star Wars: The Force Awakens

5. What was Justin Bieber’s first single?

• One Time

• Baby

• Somebody To Love

If you are ready to book your next happy hour experience, get in touch with a KraftyLab event planner today, and we will help you plan the perfect event for your team. You can schedule a call, send an inquiry, or call us directly at 551-430-5384 and a sales agent will be happy to help you out!

About KraftyLab

KraftyLab is a leading team building event company providing virtual team building activities across the US & Canada. We help remote teams connect through fun and engaging activities, games, and large corporate events.

follow us on social media @THEKRAFTYLAB