11 Creative Anything But A Cup Party Ideas (2025)

One of the latest and lasting trends in party throwing is having everybody ditch their red solo cups and find something creative to drink out of. Are you planning an “anything but a cup” party or been invited to one? We have 11 creative anything but a cup party ideas that will be sure to inspire some admiration (and laughs) from your friends.

We’ve also sprinkled in some Peerspace listings in case you want to try leveling up your party by hosting it at an awesome venue! Peerspace is the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals and makes it easy to discover and book unique event spaces near you. You’ll see what we mean ahead alongside our anything but a cup party ideas!

1. Reuse some old Halloween decorations and create a spooky beverage

Before you put away your Halloween decorations, keep a plastic pumpkin or candy bowl out and use it to drink your favorite spooky beverage. Just like anything we’ll be mentioning on this list, you’ll want to make sure you’ve thoroughly cleaned it before you go drinking out of it. As a fun and affordable alternative, fill these mini pumpkins from Amazon with your favorite booze and hand them out to your guests as a fun way to get your “anything but a cup” party started!

2. Make it a beach party by booking an awesome Peerspace waterside retreat

The only thing that could make a day at the beach better is by having your favorite adult beverage in hand. There are some really fun anything but a cup party ideas that you can mix up when you take it down by the water! Sip through a coconut using this coconut opener tool set from Amazon, or remove the juicy innards of a pineapple and use it as your cup. The best part about this is that you can set aside the pineapple and/or coconut juice to make tasty island-inspired cocktails!

If you need a private beach for your party, look no further than Peerspace. The platform gives you access to beachfront properties all over the country. For instance, check out this gorgeous waterfront property with a dock and beach in Bonneau, SC. You and your friends will have room to stretch out and worry less about spilling your drinks indoors. Search Peerspace to discover what kind of beachfront locations you can find in your area.

3. Get in touch with your wild side (and the pet store)

Have you ever watched your dog drink out of its water bowl and thought to yourself: “That looks like a great idea”? Then you might want to give bringing a pet dish to the party a try! Rodent owners will be familiar with the types of water bottles their pets drink out of which also make for a solid choice. Just make sure you aren’t using a dish or bottle your pet has actually drank out of. We recommend buying a new pet dish or water bottle for this wild anything but a cup challenge.

Check out these white lies party ideas to bring back the one-of-a-kind party trend!

4. Use an invite to get your guests prepped

The last thing you want to do is put together a bunch of anything but a cup party ideas and then not get the theme across to your guests. You’ll be met with confused faces while everyone asks where your cups are!

Try sending out these editable invitations from MaconDigital’s Etsy store instead. It has some adorable illustrations on the front that will give your guests an idea of where to start and a fun memento to remember the occasion.

5. Find ways to spray your drink using a classic squirt gun

Who hasn’t looked at a water gun and thought about filling it with something to drink? You can finally live out that fantasy at this fun type of party! From the simple water gun to the household sprayer, there are plenty of options for you to fill up with your drink – just make sure they’re new or properly cleaned.

You’re also going to need plenty of space to run around with this idea, preferably by booking an outdoor party venue. With Peerspace, you can access spots like this spacious backyard oasis in Grand Prairie, TX. You’ll have all the space in the world to spray your drink without having to worry about all the indoor cleanup that might entail.

6. Raise eyebrows by using an IV blood bag

Are you one of those people who loves to freak your friends out every chance you get? We’ve got anything but a cup party ideas that will surely get a couple of funny looks. You’ll want to load up a blood bag with your favorite red drink and pretend you’re drinking some blood! We suggest buying these IV blood bags from Amazon that are created to be drunk out of and include a funnel.

7. Pump up your party and drink from a soap dispenser

Another household item that can easily be repurposed for this party is a soap dispenser. Holding up one to your mouth and pumping in each sip is sure to be a fun challenge and get some laughs going. These empty dispensers from Amazon are a good place to start and are useful long after the party is over.

8. Add a touch of glamour by hosting a posh garden party

Looking for some themes that are a little classier? A posh garden party is a clever way to make a boring-sounding party exciting! There are so many different objects around the garden you could repurpose into cups and have fun with. Peerspace can give you access to outdoor gardens all over the country, like this charming one in Encino, CA. We love these terracotta flower pot drinking cups that look tailor-made for anything but a cup party ideas that take place in a garden!

Our lovely garden party ideas help you make the most of this fun suggestion!

9. Hollow out a fruit or vegetable to serve as your drinking vessel

Like we mentioned before with the coconuts and pineapples, fruits and vegetables can make for a great makeshift cup. The sturdier outer skin or shell the better, so something like a bell pepper or a watermelon would be a solid option. Pick something you like though because unless you line it with plastic, your drink is likely going to taste at least a little like its vessel.

10. Show some love to your favorite sport by way of your makeshift cup

There are tons of different kinds of sports equipment you can repurpose into a cup for your party. Deflate a football, basketball, or soccer ball and stick a straw inside. Or, hollow out one of these plastic baseball bats from Amazon and take some really long gulps!

11. Wear your cup for style, practicality, and fun!

If you’re worried about carrying around some kind of unwieldy drink container all night, you might want to try some kind of wearable drinking apparatus. Hydration backpacks are a clean and effective way to do some worry-free drinking. There is also the classic beer helmet if you want to pay homage to the original.

Anything but a cup party ideas: conclusion

We appreciate your creative spirit and hope these anything but a cup party ideas have inspired your next themed event! As you can see, throwing a party like this just takes a few clever ideas and the perfect setting. And for that last part, we must recommend Peerspace! Use our simple platform to discover and connect with incredibly stylish and well-equipped party pads that make throwing a themed gathering not only easier, but a total blast!

Find unique party venues on Peerspace