Many people are anticipating another roaring 20s once the pandemic is over and it becomes possible to meet up, party, have fun, and do everything that’s been impossible during the pandemic.
In fact, it’s for this reason that we’ve decided to have a roaring 20s party this year at Thriver. It will be a great way to spread the holiday cheer with our employees – and it’s something you can do, too.
Whereas we hope the world will be back to some kind of normal soon, COVID-19 is still here. That means it’s necessary to take precautions for your holiday party – at the same time as having as much fun as possible.
To help you out, we have some roaring 20s holiday office party ideas that are suitable for in-person, virtual, and hybrid teams.
Party Invitations
Put guests in the mood for a roaring 20s-themed party starting with the invitations. Instead of sending out a generic message that specifies the date, time, and location or how guests can attend, create stylized invitations.
Use a black and gold color palette with an art deco font.
You could even include a secret password that you’ll ask guests to provide to join the event – just like in a real speakeasy. If you’re holding an in-person party, you could also find a way to make a concealed entrance.
What to Wear to a Roaring 20s Party
Make sure everyone attends wearing a 1920s party outfit by specifying a dress code on the invitation. If you want to go fancy, you could ask guests to stick to Great Gatsby-theme outfits. Alternatively, guests could use whatever they have already to create some kind of 1920s party dress, such as a gangster costume or flapper dress.
Decorations
If you’re having an in-person or hybrid party, you’ll need to decorate the space.
At Thriver, we’ll be using these roaring 20s party decorations for our in-office party – you may like to use the same.
Whatever you choose, your theme should continue the black and gold color palette, although you can introduce some white and red as accent colours.
If your party will be virtual, attendees can decorate their backdrops. Provide employees with some roaring 20s decoration ideas that will put them in the mood for a party – but won’t mean they need to spend much. Team members should be able to use many things they already have. For instance, fairy lights and candles are great for lighting up the space. They can even place candles in martini glasses or mason jars to add to the ambience.
Draping strings of pearls, pinning peacock feathers, and printing out a roaring 20s-theme banner are also top ideas.
Speakeasy Food
No holiday party is complete without food. The question is what exactly to serve. Appetizers – 1920s style, of course – are perfect, as attendees will be able to try a variety of bites. Plus, it means you can have the party at any time of day.
These roaring 20s party food ideas are perfect for serving yourself at an in-person party and for delivering to your remote employees:
- Finger sandwiches
- Oysters Rockefeller
- Deviled eggs
- Icebox cake
- State Fair cream puffs
- A cheese platter
- Stuffed olives
- A charcuterie board
- Hummus
- Pineapple upside-down cake
If you’re holding an in-person party, make sure to comply with the latest government regulations to ensure you adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols.
Find the best local catering services for all your party food needs on the Thriver marketplace.
Drinks
In addition to food, you’ll need some cocktails. To keep things authentic, prepare some of the following.
French 75
Named after a field gun from World War I, the French 75 cocktail was particularly popular in Paris in the 1920s. It’s easy to make, but it’s worth using high-quality ingredients for the best results. All you’ll need is 2 ounces of dry gin, 4 ounces of champagne, 1 teaspoon of simple syrup, and one tablespoon of lemon juice.
Gin Rickey
Another simple cocktail that was popular in the 20s is the gin rickey. It’s a highball drink that came into existence at the turn of the century, but it likely used whiskey or bourbon originally. Gin became a more suitable choice during Prohibition because it was simple, fast, and cheap to produce. The cocktail is made from 2 ounces of gin, 4 ounces of club soda, two tablespoons of lime juice (which is about one lime), and a lime wedge for garnish.
Bee’s Knees
One more way to use gin is in the bee’s knees. As bootleg gin often had a strong flavor, the bee’s knees cocktail was a favorite because it adds sweet and tart qualities. The cocktail uses 2 ounces of gin (it’s best to use a dry gin that has floral notes), two teaspoons of honey, and one tablespoon of lemon juice.
Sidecar
For a completely different cocktail, opt for the sidecar. Every bartender in Prohibition times knew how to prepare one of these. It’s made from 2 ounces of brandy, 1 ounce of Cointreau, and one tablespoon of lemon juice. The cocktail is deliciously sour, but you can add some sweetness by sugar rimming the glass. Finally, garnish with either a twist of lemon or orange.
Mary Pickford
Finally, if you want to include a rum cocktail in your mix, serve a Mary Pickford. The cocktail is named for the silent movie actress, who was supposedly served the drink when she was in Havana with Charlie Chaplin. It’s made with 2 ounces of light rum, 2 ounces of pineapple juice, 1 teaspoon of grenadine, and a maraschino cherry for garnish.
Entertainment
Complete your event with some roaring 20s party activities. There are many options to make your event memorable that fit with the theme.
Themed Photo Booth
Bring a professional photographer to take photos of your team dressed up in 1920s gear.
This is what we’ll be doing at Thriver!
Setting up a booth will make the photos look even more authentic and enable you to provide props for guests that want to add some extra flair to their outfits. When you use a professional photographer, the quality of your pictures will be much higher. All your employees will end up with a memento they’ll definitely want to keep after the event.
1920s Party Contest Ideas
The great thing about contests is they work even for hybrid and virtual parties. One possibility is a 20s dance contest. Dancing is a great choice because it’s typical of a real 1920s party – it was common to head to speakeasies and dance halls for an evening. Whereas the best-known style from the period is the Charleston, other popular choices include the foxtrot, shimmy, and samba.
Set up a playlist in advance with just music from the era, with artists like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ethel Waters, and Fred Astaire. Let your team know in advance that there will be a dance competition, as they’ll need to prepare.
Another option is a song contest. You can find karaoke versions of songs and compete to see which team member can do the best rendition.
Finally, since everyone will be dressing up for the party anyway, you may as well have a costume contest. Some healthy competition will encourage employees to be as creative as possible with their outfits.
Make sure you have a prize for the winners of your contests – perhaps a bottle of gin or a tea tin in art deco style.
Roaring 20s Party Games
The kinds of games you could have for your party will depend on whether you’re all in the same physical space.
Casino
Playing card games is extra fitting because this was a particularly popular activity in the 1920s. An idea that works for both virtual and in-person parties is a hosted casino night. You’ll have a live dealer and your team will be able to choose between six games. Although the tables, chips, and cards are all real, the money is not. This gives you a real but risk-free experience.
Murder Mystery
Murder mysteries are always fun. Plus, they help attendees feel part of the theme. You can search for a murder mystery specifically for the 1920s or take one that’s suitable for any time period and adapt it.
We hope these ideas will help you throw an unforgettable roaring 1920s-themed party for your team!
Browse our marketplace to find more activities and catering options for your celebration.