Showstopper Pitcher Drinks for Your Labor Day Party

Enjoy a variety of flavors to bring to, or serve at your Labor Day party, from sangrias to special twists on classic cocktails, and nonalcoholic options too.

By
Elana Lepkowski
Elana Lepowski
Elana Lepkowski
Elana Lepkowski has an extensive background in the gourmet and celebrity food industries. She has been writing for for various media outlets since 2006.
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Published July 29, 2021
Elana Lepowski
10 Showstopping Pitcher Drinks to Bring to Your Labor Day Party

Simply Recipes

For many of us, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. For me, it also marks the end of no set schedules, no zoom meetings, no alarm clocks, and the jarring realization that I’ll be slammed with busy weekends of soccer practice and ballet recitals before heading straight into the holiday season.

So, I ideally don’t want to celebrate this holiday by giving myself extra work (by making cocktails all day long). Pitcher drinks provide an easy, casual way of entertaining, so everyone wins. With pitcher drinks, pre-made cocktails are readily available the moment your guests fancy one.

With big, batched cocktails, measuring out ingredients is also simpler, using big measuring cups instead of small jiggers, and mixing in bulk rather than dealing with individually shaken drinks. Guests are allowed and encouraged to help themselves.

Below you’ll find a variety of flavors to bring to, or serve at, your Labor Day party this year, from sangrias to margaritas to special twists on classic cocktails, with nonalcoholic options as well.

  • Sparkling Strawberry Sangria

    Sangria with Strawberries and Sparkling Wine
    Sally Vargas

    A fresh, fruity sangria with an herbaceous twist, this Sparkling Strawberry Sangria can be made either boozy or nonalcoholic with just a few tweaks.

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  • Frozen Cucumber Margaritas

    Side view of a tray of refreshing frozen cucumber margaritas on a tray.
    Elana Lepkowski

    Looking to be cool as a cucumber this summer? Try this refreshing cucumber margarita and wow all of your friends and family with this vegetal take on this classic summertime favorite.

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  • Pineapple Jalapeño Pitcher Margaritas

    Margaritas with Pineapple and Jalapeno
    Leela Cyd Ross

    Who doesn’t love a spicy marg? This tropical take infuses sweet, juicy pineapple with muddled jalapeño peppers for a perfectly balanced sweet and spicy cocktail, big batch style!

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  • Virgin-Pomegranate Citrus Sangria

    Virgin Sangria with Pomegranat
    Sally Vargas

    The secret to flavorful Sangria minus the booze? Two kinds of tea! For a nonalcoholic option at your party, serve this pomegranate and citrus sans-gria with whatever seasonal fruit you have on hand.

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    Continue to 5 of 12 below.

  • Cucumber Lime Mint Agua Fresca

    Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca
    Elise Bauer

    Not all summer drinks have fruit, and this cucumber based agua fresca will keep you cool as a… (well, you know!). Fresh mint, tart lime juice, and sugar are combined with cucumber juice for a refreshing nonalcoholic pitcher drink. Although, it does also pair well with gin if you’d like to take it in that direction.

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  • Frozen Strawberry Margaritas

    Two blender margaritas in wide glasses garnished with strawberries.
    Elana Lepkowski

    Cold, bold, and beautiful. Strawberry lovers this is the margarita for you. This recipe makes enough to serve a crowd so invite some friends and break out your blender!

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  • Easy Red Wine Sangria

    Best Fruity Sangria Recipe - orange slices in a pitcher of sangria on a silver tray with two poured glasses of sangria
    Alison Bickle

    Take it easy on Labor Day with a simple Red Wine Sangria. Minimal prep and maximum flavors equal a complex cocktail that is sweet, spicy, citrusy, and boozy. Now close your eyes and transport yourself to Spain.

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  • Watermelon Pitcher Margaritas

    Watermelon margaritas for a crowd
    Leela Cyd Ross

    As if you needed an excuse to buy a whole watermelon this summer, this classic margarita is batched up big and blended with fresh chunks of watermelon. It’s the drink you need in hand if your afternoon consists of floating around in a pool.

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    Continue to 9 of 12 below.

  • Frozen Siesta Cocktail

    Frozen siesta cocktail made in the blender and poured into a salt rimmed glass
    Alison Bickel

    Tequila, Campari, simple syrup, and citrus blend up into this boozy slushie that is tart, slightly bitter, and has hints of citrus.

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  • Blueberry Pitcher Margaritas

    Margarita Recipe with Blueberries serve
    Elise Bauer

    Fresh, or frozen, blueberries take this margarita in a bold new direction. And if you’re a berry lover, try mixing in some blackberries for a sweet-tart variation on this classic cocktail, pitcher style!

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  • Spicy Bloody Maria Cocktail

    Spicy Bloody Maria Cocktail closeup of drink ice and radish carrot tops
    Alison Bickel

    Looking for a pitcher cocktail to serve that is more on the savory side? Try this spicy tequila riff on a Bloody Mary. Keep it in the pitcher and lay out a garnish bar for guests with cilantro, skewered cocktail onions, pickled carrots, radishes, tomatillos, lemon wedges, orange wedges, additional hot sauce, and beer.

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  • Pitcher Frozen Margaritas

    Easy frozen margarita recipe in two blue rimmed glasses with straws.
    Elana Lepkowski

    Sweet, tart and utterly refreshing. Frozen margaritas are easy to make at home and a great way to beat the heat! Premix the liquids and have a couple of batches ready to go when friends stop by.

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