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27 Best Zoom Happy Hour Ideas, Games, and Activities for Work

27 Best Zoom Happy Hour Ideas, Games, and Activities for Work

Published on 1st December 2022
Virtual events27 Best Zoom Happy Hour Ideas, Games, and Activities for Work

Except for the fact that it’s hosted virtually, Zoom Happy Hour is very similar to a traditional Friday after-work party. So if you’re wondering how to plan an awesome online happy hour for your crew, you’ve come to the right place! Thanks to our top 26 ideas, games, and activities, your employees won’t have to look for excuses to skip happy hour anymore! 

Virtual Happy Hour activities are ideal for remote teams who wish to catch up with their colleagues over a pint or delicious cocktail. However, with many employees working from homes in different locations, it can be challenging to host your usual happy hour. Luckily, with a little help from Tagvenue Virtual, your colleagues can experience the fun and camaraderie of an after-work happy hour now matter their location ! From cocktail kits to self-hosted activities, we’ve got you covered with the best happy hour ideas for your next team-building experience! So let’s get drinking…erm reading! 

Why are Zoom Happy Hour Events important for teams?

Virtual happy hours are not only for getting tipsy; they’re an effective way to keep your team connected despite the distance and lack of social interaction. It’s crucial for HR managers and directors to keep staff morale high, particularly when working remotely. According to Forbes, social interaction among remote teams not only boosts morale, it also helps foster  stronger relationships among colleagues. Zoom is often negatively associated with meeting fatigue, so you might want to change your employees’ perception of online interaction to make their home office more pleasant! By hosting a happy hour on Zoom, employees can unwind and communicate with each other in a relaxed and social setting. These happy hours can be hosted on Zoom or any other platform, such as Skype, Google Meet, or Houseparty!

Read on for some of our best ideas and tips for hosting an engaging happy hour! 

Ideas for an Engaging Zoom Happy Hour

Our ideas for a successful Zoom happy hour event, include various activities and games, from hosting aka fuss-free mixology experiences to hair-raising games that will help your employees have a blast! Of course, with a few drinks in hand, you won’t have to work too hard for that!

Hosted Zoom Happy Hour (with kits!)

Skip the legwork and let experienced and lively hosts handle your Zoom Happy Hour from scratch! Hosted virtual cocktail parties are perfect for end-of-year parties and summer parties where everyone wants to relax and join in the fun rather than plan a party from A to Z. By having a cocktail or wine kit delivered to your employees, you show your appreciation and gratitude. Moreover, many of these hosted parties offer more options than your local pub, expect everything from lively Trivias and game shows to out-of-this-world pairings! So let’s get started!

1. Bespoke Cocktail-Making Class

tagvirtual zoom happy hour bespoke cocktail masterclass
Bespoke Cocktail Masterclass
  • Pricing: starting from $55 pp
  • Group Size: 10- 500
  • Duration: 30 – 90mins

Nothing screams special quite like a tailored cocktail party! Bring your staff together for an engaging event full of laughter and fresh booze. Participants will learn how to craft three delicious cocktails, all while interacting with their peers through trivia games and music! Yes, a live DJ is available for events of 20 or more! Sounds like a team-building dream? That’s not all! Cocktail kits will be sent to all your guests so that they craft their very own signature cocktails! 

2. Apres-Ski Delights

apres ski virtual happy hour tag virtual
Apres Ski Cocktails
  • Pricing: starting from £45 pp
  • Group Size: 5-120
  • Duration: 60mins

Why go to the mountains when you can shake up four cocktails with a professional mixologist while enjoying a breathtaking view of the Alpine Village? Treat your team to an exquisite experience during the colder months with the Apres-Ski Mixology Class. Guests will compete against each other to earn drink vouchers and learn how to craft their cocktails while visiting four different bars. With the entertainment provided by the host, you won’t have to worry about a lack of communication or humor during the experience! Why go to the mountains when you can shake up four cocktails with a professional mixologist while enjoying a breathtaking view of the Alpine Village? Treat your team to an exquisite experience during the colder months with the Apres-Ski Mixology Class. Guests will compete against each other to earn drink vouchers and learn how to craft their cocktails while visiting four different bars. With the entertainment provided by the host, you won’t have to worry about a lack of communication or humor during the experience! 

3.Cocktail Gameshow

cocktail gameshow virtual happy hour tagvenue virtual
Cocktail Game Show
  • Pricing: starting from £45 pp
  • Group Size: 5-120
  • Duration: 60mins

With cocktail kits delivered to your team’s doorsteps, you can be almost certain that they won’t miss the event! But adding something extra to your virtual cocktail party can certainly uplift your team’s spirits and encourage them to participate in future events. Cocktail Gameshow is not your ordinary cocktail-making experience. As the name suggests, it includes a game show where participants will compete to win some delightful alcoholic prizes. It’s perfect for those who love a hint of competition, lighthearted fun, and tasty beverages!

4.Polish Liqueurs Appreciation 

polish liqueurs masterclass tagvenue virtual
Polish Liqueurs
  • Pricing: starting from £12.5/$17 pp
  • Group Size: 6-200
  • Duration: 120 mins

We sometimes wish there was an official Polish Liqueurs Appreciation Day, but since there is none you’ll have to host your own! The good news is that you won’t have to lift a finger to appreciate some unique Polish Liqueurs, also commonly known as ‘nalewki’ in Poland! Hosted in Spanish/Polish/French and English, this virtual liqueurs crafting and tasting event is ideal for those who appreciate the art of crafting. Although there are no kits required for this event, participants will have access to detailed liqueur recipes from the chef’s family cookbook after the event. Na Zdrowie

5.The Whiskey Connoisseur 

whiskey tasting event tagvenue virtual
The Whiskey Experience
  • Pricing: starting from $100 pp
  • Group Size: 2-50
  • Duration: 60 mins

Did you know that whiskey is directly impacted by its environment? For example, whiskey from the mountains tastes different from that produced in the islands. Interesting, right? Teams will learn all things whiskey during this hosted virtual happy hour where they will taste six different craft whiskeys from artisanal distilleries. This happy hour experience is perfect for enjoying a unique beverage  and supporting small business owners. Participants will have the opportunity to learn the secrets of whiskey making or demonstrate and impress their colleagues with their expertise!

6.Pop the Wine Bubbles 

Wine tasting virtual experience for work Tagvenue Virtual
Pop The Wine Bubbles Experience
  • Pricing: starting from £50 pp
  • Group Size: 6-100
  • Duration: 90 mins

Pop the wine bubbles or drink up! Can you tell the difference between sparkling wine bubbles and Prosecco? Well, neither could we before the Pop the Bubbles experience. Hosted by the founder of Inflorescence wines, Jacinta Maddison, this virtual happy hour will get everyone interacting  in no time. With hampers delivered to their doorsteps and a Zoom event to catch up with their colleagues and gain some fine wine insight, participants will have a great time bonding with their peers! (Trust us, they’ll never skip another team-building session ever again!)

7.Virtual Cheese and Wine Tasting 

Cheese Wine virtual tasting tagvenue virtual
Virtual Cheese and Wine Tasting
  • Pricing: starting from £70 pp
  • Group Size: 6-100
  • Duration: 90 mins

Pair your Pinot Noir with some Gruyere or your Sauvignon Blanc with delicious goat cheese bites! This virtual cheese and wine pairing session will delight your team’s taste buds. Participants will pick up some new sommelier skills while learning how to pair their favourite cheeses with the best wines! While entertaining your team, our host will also impart some useful knowledge. Set a date with your teammates, put on your finest attire, and join Zoom for some vino fun!

8. Cocktails around the World 

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Cocktails Around the World
  • Pricing: starting from £45 pp
  • Group Size: 5-120
  • Duration: 80 mins

Who needs a vacation on the other side of the world when you can hop on Zoom and go around the world in a flash? Get your crew together and visit Ibiza Sunset Bars, Puerto Rican shacks, and some of Hollywood or Singapore’s breathtaking rooftops. Hosted by entertainers and pro mixologists, your team will discover some of the most iconic spots in the world while sipping on heavenly homemade cocktails. With live entertainment, picturesque bars, and some delicious cocktails to help your remote employees relax, your team will certainly unwind and catch up with each other during the event!

Zoom Happy Hour Games for Large Groups

Okay, you’ve got the drinks and the snacks, but some employees are still disengaged during your happy hour event. So, how can you improve your virtual happy hour? It’s time to resort to some games to energise your colleagues and revive their team spirit! We’ve compiled a list of the best games for large groups and small groups that you can put to use for the most awesome happy hour ever! 

9. Around the World Holiday Edition

Virtual team game Holiday Around The World 3 1 1
Around the World Holiday Edition
  • Price: From £16/$19 per person
  • Group size: 8-500
  • Session Length: 60-minute

Do you know the history of the Kwanzaa celebration or why Diwali is called the Festival of Lights? Test out your team’s cultural knowledge with the Around the World Holiday Edition game. Ask your staff to get their favourite drinks and host a pub-quiz style event, where teams will compete and get to know each other in a friendly atmosphere. A professional host will share some knowledge about different festivities to enrich your team’s virtual experience- ideal for teams who seek some competition, knowledge, and of course, lots of fun!

10.Would You Rather

This is a  favourite team-building game with just a few simple rules. Whether you’re hosting a virtual cocktail party for new joiners or as a reward for your team, Would You Rather is easy to play and can improve team dynamics through a series of quick questions. It’s best to keep the questions light and humorous so that everyone participates and contributes to the lively atmosphere! Keep the serious stuff for later and make this happy hour one to remember for the years to come.

Here’s a template for your first Would you Rather game with your peers:

Would You Rather
Click on the image for the full-size version.

11.Trivia Night

Virtual Social Team Quest Trivia
Team Quest Trivia
  • Pricing: starting from £16/$22 pp
  • Group Size: 6-400
  • Duration: 60 mins

What’s better than happy hour? A trivia night with a happy hour experience combined altogether! Our favourite trivia game, The Team Quest is perfect for a night of fun and games with its fun mini games such as Guess the Celebrity, Pictionary, Karaoke and Emoji Riddles, and Pictionary. Your team is in for a treat! All participants have the chance to be the captain of their teams, so everyone gets to be the boss! Team Quest is excellent as an after-cocktail party game, and it will help your team bond it can also help improve employee morale at work!

12. Scattergories

Scattergories are a great team-building exercises! If you’re not familiar with Scattergories, let us quickly refresh your memory! Scattergories is simply a word game where you roll a giant die with letters on every side. Then you will fill out a list of random things with answers starting from the letters on the die! Every answer gets you a point! The online version works pretty much the same way. You can use this list to get started. All you’ll have to do is share your screen with your team.  

You can also try out this Scattergories version to host a fuss-free event. You simply need someone to share the video and click play when everyone’s ready. Participants have two minutes to find and share their answers. You get a point for every right answer (e.g., “Beyonce” for “celebrities that start with B”) However, if two people have the same answer, no one earns a point. In the end, the winner is the one with the highest number of points!

13 .Geoguesser

The rules are simple and you only have to use Google Maps street view, pick a random location and ask the opposite teams to guess the location. To make it more interesting, you could ask your teammates to pin locations from their hometowns for some storytelling. Or you could pinpoint some famous bars in your country and ask your friends to identify them! You can use this free Geoguessr with a 2D panorama view to play as much as you want with your friends! 

14.Celebrate an early Christmas

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Early Christmas Happy Hour
  • Pricing: starting from £65/$90 pp
  • Group Size: 10-500
  • Duration: 120-min

Why not? Celebrate the jolly season early this year! Make your happy hour merrier by celebrating Christmas in July or August- whatever suits your fancy! A Christmas-themed virtual cocktail party is perfect to connect your people and get them in the holiday spirit from early on. If you want to have your Christmas wish fulfilled, why not host an epic Christmas happy hour along with festive games?

After you’ve had a few drinks, it’s time for a virtual festive experience that will amuse your team with a fun-filled session of mini-games including Trivia, Fact Matching, Buzz in, and Pictionary, topped off with a humorous and holiday-themed photo booth at the end. So, put on your festive outfits and book!

15.Halloween in August (or anytime!)

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It’s time for a Halloween costume battle! Cheers to the spooky season. Some people really love Halloween and it so happens that some of them are on your team! Host Halloween at any time of the year along with your online happy hour party. Add a holiday-themed background to your Zoom meeting and get into the haunted spirit right away! You can use our list of casual icebreaker questions or our Halloween-themed free templates to make your Halloween-themed happy hour extra special! We encourage you to combine some Halloween treat delivery with your virtual cocktail party to get everyone excited for this team bonding event! For more virtual Halloween game ideas, check out our article!

Zoom Happy Hour Icebreaker Questions Tagvenue Virtual 1 1
Click on the image for the full-size version.

16. Happy Hour by the Beach

maldives

Get the drinking games started! It’s time to hit the beach and sip some cocktails! Fight the winter blues by throwing a tropical island-themed-happy hour. We’re thinking Maldives or Seychelles here! Being stuck at home, waiting for spring to come is quite tough, so why not lighten up the atmosphere by adding some dreamy beachy vibes to your cocktail party?

Here’s how you can do it: 

  • Add a tropical background to your virtual meetings
  • Create a summer playlist with everyone’s favourite tunes
  • Pick a virtual cocktail party that suits your theme such as Cocktail Gameshow or Cocktails around the World or host your own.
  • Ask everyone to dress up in their tropical attire for the event 
  • Host a summer-themed trivia or icebreaker game for the occasion.
  • Get drunk and have the time of your lives together!

Activities for a Zoom Happy Hour with a Small Team

One of the advantages of working with a small team is the intimacy and relationships built within the group. That being said, it’s sometimes tough to keep your team engaged during a virtual team building session which is why we’ve compiled a list of actvities to help you out!

17. Most Likely To

Who is most likely to have a fear of flying cockroaches? (Who wouldn’t?) The Most Likely To game is an easy-to-host activity that can be carried out during or after your happy hour experience. It’s an interactive activity that will help new joiners and former employees to discover fun facts about each other. Such exercises are great to foster relationships and friendships within the team as participants will learn many things about their peers! Looking for some inspiration?

Here are some ideas for your next event: 

  1. Most likely to get arrested for being drunk and disorderly?
  2. Most likely to lock themselves out of the house?
  3. Most likely to have used fake I.D. to buy booze?
  4. Most likely to become a TikTok star?
  5. Most likely to become a millionaire?
  6. Most likely to have the most children?
  7. Who is most likely to camp in a jungle?
  8. Who is most likely to cheat on a test?
  9. So, who is most likely to have some pizza at midnight?
  10. Who is most likely to foresee the future?

18. Virtual Casino Night 

Play roulette with your team without losing any cash! 

Games at a virtual casino are as thrilling and entertaining as their real-life counterparts. Experience the thrill of being in Las Vegas without spending a fortune or getting up from your comfy couch! Hosted by professional casino specialists, your team will learn how to play a series of casino games such as Black Jack or Three-Card Poker. Virtual casino parties are great icebreaker activities, particularly after a round of drinks! This activity is perfect for teams of 12 or more who need a real break from work!

19. Black Tie Evening

Working from home means that most of your remote employees are probably in unicorn onesies all day. By adding a dress code to your virtual hour, you not only upgrade it but also give everyone a reason to dress up and show up to the event! You may even use this opportunity to toast  your team’s success and hard work. Create your own cocktail party invitation cards with all the details and don’t forget to have the drinks and treats covered! Keep the conversations light, enjoy the night and capture some screenshots!

20. Drag Queen Bingo (Virtual) 

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Drag Queen Bingo

Bingo is probably one of the easiest and most fun games to play with your teammates! Bingo can be a lot more entertaining when hosted by your favourite drag queen, Charlie Hides, a British-American impersonator, comedian, and one of the 14 queens who competed on the 9th season of RuPaul’s drag race! With her fabulous sense of humour, your team will forget about their responsibilities in a minute! Get ready for some serious belly laughs!

21. Culture Night 

If you’re organising a self-hosted event, you can make it a night to remember by indulging in a cultural exchange. Sounds like a workshop? It doesn’t have to be! Share your favourite drink recipes from your home country if you’re working in an international team or simply ask your colleagues to share the story behind their favourite drink for a fun cultural night.

22. Not Boring Board Games 

Board games have been a huge part of people’s lives since the beginning of the pandemic. A lot of people have since made these games a part of their lives. Fortunately, you can now have some drinks and enjoy some board games with your mates no matter where they are located. (Thank you, Internet! ) Classic games such as Scrabble or Monopoly and Catan are available online for you to play with your remote teammates. So why not host a happy hour/board games night where everyone can play to their hearts’ content? 

23. Skribbl

Skribbl is nothing new to most of you but for those who’ve never played it; it’s a free drawing game that you can play with your team. The rules are simple, someone draws a picture while the others guess the word that corresponds to the drawing. A clue and a letter will be displayed to make things easier! The scores are displayed on the leaderboard at the end of the game. Skribbl is not only free but also convenient for small teams of less than 20 to play while enjoying some casual conversation. 

24. Virtual Happy Hour Movie Themes

movie themes

Online happy hours are a lot more engaging and interesting when you add a theme to the experience. Movie themes are an ideal occasion for your team to talk about their hobbies, interests and experiences. With a drink in hand, the right background, and some background music, your remote team will bond as they’re in the same room! For instance, if you’re hosting a Star Wars-themed happy hour you could break  your team into two groups, for example, the Storm Troopers and the Jedis, and have them compete in a themed trivia or icebreaker game. There are many movies that can inspire you to curate a unique experience for your team but here are some of our favourite movie themes to help you out:

  • Star Trek 
  • Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
  • Doctor Strange
  • Avengers 

You can even ask your team to dress up for the occasion or impersonate the characters! Just remember to keep it fun and engaging!

25. Home Edition Scavenger Hunt

It’s that time of the year when you have to search your house again to find Mr. Cuddles, your plushie with one eye, to win the game! Some people enjoy an old favourite when connecting with their peers which is probably why virtual scavenger hunts are always a big hit as a team-building activity. A home edition scavenger hunt is great for employees to discover some interesting facts about their co-workers, share a laugh, and spend some delightful and precious moments together. Here’s our free template for you to get playing! (Don’t forget the drinks!)

Free Home Edition Scavenger Hunt List For Work Tagvenue Virtual
Click on the image for the full-size version.

26. Guess the word 

Remember when you were kids and you would just mouth words and ask your friends to guess them? Well, this is the adult version! After a few drinks, your colleagues will surely not need much inspiration to play this one. All you have to do is split your group into smaller teams and let them compete against each other. You simply have to take turns, mouth the word, and let the other team guess the answer! It costs nothing and  everyone will enjoy themselves!

Free Movie Charades List From Tagvenue Virtual
Click on the image for the full-size version.

27. Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever eaten at McDonald’s. Guilty. Bottoms up! This is basically how the Never Have I Ever game works. We recommend hosting this activity if you work in a startup or within a close-knit team. Everyone  in the virtual room who is ‘guilty’ has to drink up. To make it work-friendly, you can keep it to a sip instead of encouraging your colleagues to drink too much. Here are some free questions for your virtual event:

Never have i ever free questions for work
Click on the image for the full-size version.

Tips for hosting a successful virtual cocktail party at work

A wise man once said there’s no partying without planning! That certainly runs true for every event but is especially applicable for virtual team experiences that are crucial for team bonding. Here’s a list of things not to miss when planning your online ha-ha-ha-happy hour: 

  • First things first, decide on the cause for celebration e.g. employee recognition, company success, yearly treat, or team bonding.
  • Pick a time and date that works for everyone irrespective of the time zone in which they’re located. 
  • Create a guest list and send out the invites. 
  • Once the event is confirmed, send a link to the virtual meeting or event to all employees.
  • Plan an activity or game to keep your guests engaged and active during the event.
  • Pick a work-appropriate activity that everyone can participate in. You may even consult all employees by conducting a survey before finalising your choice.
  • Do not talk about work or anything that’s work-related during your virtual happy hour. 
  • Keep the event entertaining and engaging at all times. 
  • Respect people’s preferences and do not force anyone to consume alcohol if it’s against their views. Instead, try providing non-alcoholic beverages for them to be part of the team bonding experience.
  • Last but not least, cover the drinks even if it’s a self-hosted event. It’s the best way to encourage people to show up for the virtual happy hour!

Final Thoughts

Zoom happy hours, or virtual happy hours as we commonly call them, are a relaxing and engaging team-building experience. These do not only facilitate team connection and interaction but also boost your team’s morale and keep them happier at work! We hope that our ideas, games, and activities will help you plan the best online happy hour for your remote team! For more inspiration, check out our blog posts on icebreaker and team-building ideas and games! Cheers to you and your team! 

FAQS: Zoom Happy Hour Ideas and Activities for Work

What is a Zoom Happy Hour?

Social gatherings known as a “virtual happy hour” or a Zoom Happy Hour take place via video conferencing services like Zoom, Webex, and Google Meet. These gatherings aim to be enjoyable while fostering relationships between participants. Ideas for a virtual happy hour include particular contests, challenges, and themes that you may use to further increase participation.

How can you increase engagement at a virtual happy hour?

Using breakout rooms is one of the best methods to boost engagement during a virtual happy hour. Breakout room capabilities, which temporarily divide groups of participants from the main event, are available on the majority of popular video meeting platforms. hese breakout rooms support small group dynamics, which is very beneficial to less talkative participants. Having video and audio enabled at all times will also help boost engagement during your remote happy hour.

How can I host a Zoom Happy Hour?

It’s super simple. First, pick a date and time for the event. Then all you have to do is create the event and invite your guests. As for people who are joining the event, they simply click on the link on open Zoom and enter the meeting ID to join the happy hour.

How can I make virtual happy hour fun at work?

We’ve listed our top 26 ideas, activities, and games to get your creative juices flowing! If that’s not enough you can take a look at some more adventurous games such as online murder mystery games and virtual escape room games. However, we recommend keeping the event on the lighter side by hosting a trivia or family feud but it’s all up to you and your gang.

What to talk about at a virtual happy hour?

Leverage light conversation starters such as where did they grow up or where they come from to get the conversation flowing. You can use icebreaker questions so that it’s easier to get the conversation started particularly among new joiners. In any case, it’s important to designate a host who will facilitate the interactions during the happy hour. 

What are virtual happy hour games?

Virtual happy hour games are anything from simple icebreaker games to more complicated games such as murder mysteries. All the games hosted using an online platform are meant to bring your team closer and help them get to know their colleagues better. Whether it’s a board game or a team trivia, anything with a little hint of competition is a virtual happy hour game. 

 

Who We Are

We do virtual events that will make your team laugh, talk, and bond!
Relax, you’re in good hands. After a short chit-chat, our Host will split your team into groups of 4-5 people. Get ready for music and fun challenges. Each team starts with zero points… Who will win?

  • √ Spare time to warm up the crowd
  • √ Groups of 4-5 people
  • √ Dedicated Host for game moderation
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