Everybody thinks they can make an amazing cocktail, right? It seems easy: a dash of vodka, a shiny cocktail shaker, some finely chopped herbs.
But it doesn’t take much for it to go sour. After all, you can’t fish the triple sec out of a margarita if you go too far. That’s why professional bartenders are in such high demand, and we clocked a 120% increase in spirits-focused events last year.
At Eventbrite, we support innovative event organizers worldwide to plan and run cocktail parties that guests never want to leave. You have a unique chance to connect thirsty partygoers with those master mixologists — and we want to help you create the ultimate cocktail bash.
In this guide, we’ll explain why organizing a cocktail party is a great business move and share some winning ideas to create one-of-a-kind party entertainment.
Cocktail party ideas
Ideas to streamline your cocktail party setup
Cocktail party themes your guests will love
Cocktail party entertainment ideas to get guests up and moving
Ideas to streamline your cocktail party setup
If you’re going to create a cocktail party that truly wows, you’ve got to put a lot of thought into the basics.
To help you get started, we’ve rounded up a few top tips that will get your party bubbling.
1. Build your cocktails menu around your event theme
Create cocktails around an event theme to offer guests drinks they won’t find anywhere else.
That’s what Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse did for their Cocktails for Santa: A Cookie-Themed Cocktail Class! Event. This festive mixology event centered its cocktail menu around original Christmas drinks, including “The Grinch Cookie.” What’s not to love?
2. Create a pairing menu that unites drinks with snacks
Work closely with your catering team to pair dishes or snacks with your cocktails. This gives you a chance to collaborate with local chefs and create an unworldly menu.
For lessons in best practice, just look at creator Smoke & Barrel Inc and their recent Cocktail Pairing Dinner.
3. Use event marketing tools to target the right people
Cocktail events aren’t everybody’s cup of tea. With the right marketing tools, you can ensure you promote your party to the right people, increasing your chances of selling tickets.
For example, with Eventbrite Marketing Tools, you can target people on social based on their interests, demographics, and browsing behavior and show them personalized ads to boost ticket sales.
Ready to start promoting your cocktail party?
4. Design your event format and layout to get people mingling
To create a smooth experience for your party guests, you’ve got to design your event layout the right way.
Using a platform like Eventbrite, you can create custom table arrangements. These arrangements make the venue look more inviting to guests, creating a comfortable atmosphere and nudging them to talk to each other.
5. Plan your staff and supplies carefully
For your cocktail party to go right, you need to work your way through your event planning checklist so you don’t forget the important stuff.
That means providing enough clean glasses and cocktail napkins, ordering the alcohol supplies (and cocktail flourishes), and briefing your staff so they know what they’re doing!
One way to ensure you and your staff scale your operations correctly is to use a ticketing partner. With Eventbrite, you’ve always got accurate, real-time sales and check-in numbers, so you can adapt your supplies and staffing accordingly.
6. Include fun cocktail party activities
Engage your guests with interactive activities that complement your cocktail theme.
A mixology contest or a cocktail-making workshop. These activities not only add an element of entertainment but also encourage guests to mingle and enjoy the unique spirit of your event. It’s a great way to make your cocktail party memorable and talked about long after the last glass is clinked.
Cocktail party themes your guests will love
Themes are a great way to set apart your event, but we know it can be tricky to come up with a fun theme. That’s why we’ve handpicked our favorites to inspire you:
7. Mixology masterclass
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Hosting a mixology masterclass is a great way to get your guests interacting and teach them something new.
You can even align your masterclass with a seasonal theme like event creator ELEVATE did for their Holiday Cocktail Class.
💡Pro tip: People love supporting local vendors, so partner with local distilleries for a masterclass on local spirits and fresh ingredients. You can also provide discounts or handouts for purchasing these ingredients.
8. Sip and paint party
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“Sip and paint” parties are a fantastic way to let guests exercise a bit of creativity while enjoying some world-class drinks.
You could even kick your art session up a notch with a live DJ like The Black Canvas planned for their Paint Party and Cocktails event. This is also a great opportunity to team up with area artists to strengthen your community ties.
💡Pro tip: Make sure you tag participating artists’ profiles to maximize your reach and build a sense of excitement around your event.
9. Black-tie elegant cocktail party
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The black-tie dress code is perfect for an elegant cocktail party of any size. You can accompany your cocktail menu with fancy hors d’oeuvres — and the missing ingredient is musical entertainment.
That’s exactly what ClassCaterers by Patorah did for their Annual Black Chic cocktail party. With a live band and DJs on tap, this is how you do a black-tie party properly.
💡Pro tip: Want to make your cocktail guests feel like VIPs? Create reserved seating using Eventbrite. You can then build your catering service around your seating arrangements to provide table service.
10. Yoga and cocktails party
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This is a fun and quirky cocktail party that your guests will be talking about for years to come.
Just look at event creator Yahhila and her recent YOGA CLASS & COCKTAILS session. Three-and-a-half hours of rejuvenating yoga, delicious appetizers, and craft cocktails? Sign us up.
💡Pro tip: If you’re planning something unusual like a cocktail yoga party, post behind-the-scenes content on social media ahead of time to give followers a taste of what to expect.
11. Singles cocktail party
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Cocktails are the perfect way to get singles mingling — and you can double your singles cocktail party with a seasonal theme.
That’s what creator Catharine Blake did for her recent Holiday Cocktail Party for Singles. Create a festive drink list, set your event space up with lots of intimate spaces, and watch sparks fly.
💡Pro tip: Cocktails loosen people up, but entertainment and interactive party games can really help to break the ice. If you’re looking for some interactive ideas for cocktail parties, we’ve got you covered.
12. Interactive cocktail experience
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Want to do something decidedly different at your cocktail party? Create an interactive experience like ShawshankD has planned for their upcoming ShawshankD Interactive Cocktail Show series.
The 90-minute show places party guests directly at the center of a 1940s jailbreak — and it’s definitely the top note for an unforgettable cocktail party.
💡Pro tip: Utilize a ticketing partner like Eventbrite, which you can integrate with your Mailchimp account to create slick, automated emails to your guests.
13. Roaring Twenties speakeasy
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Transport your party guests back to the Roaring Twenties- and get the drinks flowing as the Boston Young Professionals Association has done for their upcoming NYE 2024: Prohibition Party.
This themed cocktail party is ideal for rustic or heritage venues, and it’s easy to pair with a live band for added flair.
💡Pro tip: To create a fully immersive experience, craft a cocktail experience that matches your 1920s theme. Think old fashioneds, G&Ts, and lots of bourbon.
14. Charity gala cocktail event
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Cocktail parties are a brilliant way to get people to support a good cause.
That’s exactly what RCM Alternatives did for their recent Miami Beach Charity & Cocktails event. You could even use your charity cocktail event to piggyback existing holiday themes or seasonal events.
💡Pro tip: Planning a charity gala? Focus on having quality event staff. Ensure you have enough team members to run the show and everybody on your event team is well-trained.
15. Tropical cocktail party
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Some of the most popular cocktails center on tropical flavors, so why not plan your whole event around tropical cocktails?
This theme is ideal for outdoor venues and cool summer party nights.
You could combine the tropical theme with a mixology masterclass like Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap did for their Havana 151 Cocktail Class.
💡Pro tip: A tropical drink menu is a must for this theme, but don’t forget some quirky entertainment to create ambiance. Think limbo or hula contest, fire eaters, and steel drums.
16. Cocktails and drag
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You can’t go wrong with a bit of drag when planning a cocktail party.
For best practice, check out Sticky Fingers Diner and their recent Cooking’s a Drag! event. This includes a stellar comfort food line-up, holiday cocktails, and entertainment from a true drag star.
💡Pro tip: Even if you don’t have a stage, create a performance area in your venue so your drag artists are centrally placed. You can plot your tables and drinks service around them for all eyes on the main act.
17. Cocktail championships
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Give your guests a chance to have their voices heard by hosting a signature cocktail competition like Tipsy Putt did for their Trophy Club – East Bay’s Cocktail Competition.
Invite area mixologists to create their own signature drink, then let guests vote for their favorite option for the ultimate tasting experience.
💡Pro tip: Don’t want to litter your venue with ballot papers and pens? Use a freemium app like SurveyMonkey so your guests can vote for the most delicious drinks using smartphones.
Cocktail party entertainment ideas to get guests up and moving
Themes are a brilliant way to engage with your cocktail party guests. But there are also other worthwhile tactics to inject festive spirit into your cocktail party.
Here are a few of our favorites.
18. Hire a big band
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A big band is the perfect accompaniment for a formal cocktail party. For example, look at the West Texas Jazz Society’s Big Band Holiday Ball.
With a huge brass band, festive tunes, and plenty of cocktails, this is the perfect way to get guests on the dance floor.
💡Pro tip: A dedicated entertainment agency takes the pain out of hiring professional entertainment for an event. A good agency will be experienced in supplying entertainment for all kinds of events and can be a trusted adviser throughout your event planning process.
19. Use actors to create an immersive experience
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By collaborating with a theater troupe, you can build a play around your event and even involve guests in the entertainment.
Take your immersive experience to the next level by pairing it with a holiday like Haunted Tavern did for their recent Haunted Christmas Cocktail Experience.
💡Pro tip: Try contacting a local or regional talent agency as a first port of call. They’ll pair you with suitable entertainers to save you time and energy.
20. Serve drinks using an ice bar
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An ice bar is the perfect centerpiece for any cocktail party. It’s unusual, entertaining, and a visually stunning centerpiece.
Take a page out of The Grafton Inn’s playbook by taking your ice bar outside and pairing it with local food trucks as they’ve done for their 2024 Grafton Inn Ice Bar.
💡Pro tip: Build your cocktail menu around the ice bar theme so your mixed drinks naturally complement your showstopper. Spoiler: everything will end up “on the rocks.”
21. Pair your cocktails with sidesplitting comedians
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If you’re looking for a great way to loosen up party guests, rope in a few comedians to do a stand-up performance during your cocktail event.
That’s exactly what the Actors Theatre of Indiana has on the bill for their Cocktails, Comedy & Costumes event.
Handcrafted cocktails, a nice sit-down meal, and a full-blown comedy show all in one night?
Sign us up.
💡Pro tip: A comedy cocktail event is a perfect opportunity for your bar staff to create some whacky signature cocktails to fit in with your fun theme and get people laughing. Top them off with pun-tastic names, and don’t forget to have alcohol-free alternatives!
22. Collaborate with a local club to create a fusion event
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Want to create a cocktail party with a difference? Collaborate with a local interest or community group to organize a unique fusion event.
That’s what Las Vegas-Clark County Library District has done for its Tales and Cocktails Book Club. With creative cocktails, a raffle, and lots of tasty cakes, this is definitely not your ordinary book club meeting.
💡Pro tip: Want to link up with local groups to talk about potential collaborative parties? Connect with event creators by searching on Eventbrite. You can find all types of events, find out how to contact them, or even attend their events to see if your vibes match.
Shake up your cocktail party ideas
Cocktail parties are in high demand right now, and there are loads of unique event ideas for you to create a memorable night for your guests (at least the ones who drink responsibly).
To make your cocktail party planning smooth and sell more tickets, team up with a partner like Eventbrite that can help you market your event to the right people, manage your ticketing, and integrate with a range of apps to engage with potential attendees.
