50 Virtual Graduation Party Ideas
1. Have a Facebook Celebration
Invite family and friends from afar to join in on a virtual Facebook graduation party. Encourage everyone to toast the grad!
2. Utilize Instagram’s Special Features
Instagram has special filters, custom hashtags, senior superlatives, stickers and more.
3. Get a Custom Graduation Stole
This custom stole can be photo printed. You can get it in any color, but the seller recommends white. Custom Graduation Stole, $50.00, Etsy
4. Reflect On the Places You’ll Go
On May 1, John Cenaand astronaut Scott Kellywill lead a global graduation party for the class of 2020 with the Dr. Seussclassic Oh, The Places You’ll Go. There are also decoration ideas here. Oh, The Places You’ll Go, Graduation Keepsake Edition, $17.99
5. Wrap It Up in Style
If you’ll be celebrating with Dr. Seuss, make your gift wrap cohesive with this cute bag and card.
6. Get a Drive-By Sign
These drive-by signs are customizable with photos and school colors for a drive-by celebration. Customizable Drive-By Graduation Sign, $24.30, Zazzle
7. Get a Cute Lawn Sign
Is your grad camera shy? No problem—this yard sign comes in a ton of varieties and colors (including gold and silver glitter options) to celebrate them without them feeling exposed to everyone who drives by. Graduation Class of 2020 Lawn Sign, $24.95, Etsy
8. Hang a Classy Banner
These customizable banners will be a pretty tribute to your graduate. Graduation Garden Flag, $37.99, Etsy
9. Play Graduation Mad Libs
Hop on a video call and crack each other up.
10. Give Your Graduate a Big Head
This adorable cutout sign will crack them up while also showing how proud you are of your grad. Custom Photo Graduation Big Head Cutout Yard Sign, $19.99, Oriental Trading Co.
11. Celebrate a Banner Academic Career
This cute banner lets you put in photos of your graduate through the years to show how far they’ve come (and how much they’ve stayed the same!). You can customize it with your grad’s school colors. Graduation Photo Banner, $32.50, Etsy
12. Make a Gift Basket
Fill this quarantine grad basket with your graduate’s favorite goodies. Quarantine Grad Basket, $6.99, Etsy
13. Give an Autograph That Won’t Smudge
Though your graduates may not be able to exchange yearbooks, they can still get a sweet, permanent handwritten message that isn’t a tattoo with this customized bracelet. Actual Handwriting Bracelet, $40.80, Etsy
14. Spruce Up Their Desk
This sweet figurine will liven up your graduate’s desk while they wait out quarantine. Willow Tree Here’s to You Figurine, $19.99, Hallmark
15. Remember Their Friends
Get a group of friends some matching T-shirts to commemorate their (hopefully) once in a lifetime experience. This shirt comes in a lot of colors, so you’ll likely find one in your school’s shade.
16. Fun Head Gear
This head bopper will make for cute Instas. Class of 2020 Head Bopper, $3.99, Party City
17. Prop Up Your Pics
These cute photo booth props will make your Snaps extra snazzy—and they come with a frame for prints to make your memories extra special.
18. Host a Watch Party
Have a Netflix Partyor other streaming watch party with graduation and high school-themed movies like Superbad, Booksmart, Ladybird, Edge of Seventeen, I Love You Beth Cooper, Can’t Hardly Waitand Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
19. Do Graduation Karaoke
Get on a group video chat and belt out your favorite coming-of-age tunes, like Vitamin C classic “Graduation (Friends Forever),” Boyz II Men’s “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” Eve 6’s “Here’s to the Night” and more.
20. Get Your Graduate Organized
You can customize this desk organizer to remind your graduate how much you love them every time they settle down to study in college or to work post-commencement. Personalized Black Wood Desk Organizer, $34.99, Walmart
21. Customize a Sweet Treat
Your graduate will love M&Ms in their school colors. You can also add images or messages on most colors. Personalized M&Ms, $39.99, M&Ms
22. Make a DIY Scrapbook
This scrapbook kit will keep your graduate occupied during quarantine while they reminisce on good times. You can even incorporate videos! Graduation Scrapbook Kit, $4.99, Hobby Lobby
23. Rock a Cap and Gown
They may not be able to march across their stage, but they can at least waltz through your living room.
24. Craft a Cute Cap
JoAnn Fabricshas a fun tutorial for this pretty paper flower graduation cap embellishment.
25. Make a Video Scrapbook
Have friends each record a video message to send to you (and make one yourself, too). Combine the clips and any other fun memories and photos in a video scrapbook.
26. Get It Poppin'
The Popcorn Factory has cute graduation-themed tins, and you can also customize your order with a photo. Class of 2020 Quarantined Tins With Pop, $29.99, The Popcorn Factory
27. Make a Balloon Message
These balloons are actually reusable, so if you have another future grad (or just like anagrams), you’re in luck!
28. Play Two Truths and a Lie
You’ll see just how well you really know each other!
29. Host a Virtual Bingo Night
Mail out these custom bingo cards, then have a virtual bingo night. Personalized Graduation Party Bingo Game, $7.95, Etsy
30. Give Out Some Drive-By Goodies
Just because a traditional party isn’t likely doesn’t mean you can’t have party favors. Fill these cute bags with treats or mementos. Drive-By Graduation Party Favor Bags, $20.00, Etsy
31. Make a Graduation Memory Wreath
Aside from a sweet bit of decor to make a virtual graduation party special, this is also a great craft for a rainy afternoon from DIY Beautify.
32. Make Your Guests Feel Like Your Graduate Is There With Them
Have your graduate pose with a cap and gown before the big day and share these cutouts with your virtual guests. Feeling ambitious or silly? There are full-body sized ones too! Graduation Cap Fan Faces, $14.99, Shindigz
33. Play Pictionary
Learn who should and shouldn’t go to art school in a virtual game of Pictionary. Pictionary Board Game, $13.79, Target
34. Start a Game of Scattergories
Scattergories is a virtual-friendly game you all can get a good laugh from, and Scattergories Categories adds an added challenge.
35. Host a Drive-By
Have your grad outside to get some honks, waves and adulation from pals. And don’t forget to return the favor for friends!
36. Get Grad-Themed Googly Eyes
These festive glasses are like a Snapchat filter IRL. Novelty Black Graduation Cap Glasses by Bead Landing, $6.99, Michael’s
37. Give a Custom Frame
You can engrave this with a special message for your graduate, and the spinning feature will make it a unique standout on their desk. Dare to Succeed Dare to Achieve Spinning Frame, $40.00, Things Remembered
38. Get Takeout
Support local eateries by getting local takeout and delivery. You can gift your guests Seamless cards for local treats of their choice.
39. Make a DIY Shadowbox
You can customize this shadowbox for your grad with special photos and mementos. Black Graduation 12" x 12" Shadow Box, by Studio Décor, $29.99, Michael’s
40. Give Some Help With College Life
This guide will help your graduate navigate college life once it starts.
41. Let Them Track Their Travels
This cork globe lets your graduation track their travels (when they’re able to do that again)—or mark off where they want to go! World Traveler’s Cork Globe, $80.00, Uncommon Goods
42. Clean Up With College
Whether it’s the alma mater of your new college graduate or the destination of your high school graduate, these cute college dish towels are as handy as they are festive. College Dish Towel, $21.00, Uncommon Goods
43. Make a Beautiful Backdrop They Can Keep
A sweet phtoo collage blanket of memories of family and friends can make for a heartwarming backdrop for a virtual graduation party, as well as a comforting, cozy way to remember you when they leave for school. Photo Blanket, $39.98, Collage.com
44. Help Them Get Hired
This cheeky graduation cap decal will tell the world they’re ready! Work Wanted Cap Sticker by Recollections, $4.99,Michael’s
45. Use a Virtual Background
Get a festive virtual background for a virtual graduation party. Minted has several free options!
46. Show How Little They Know
This hilarious game will keep you all laughing and learning during a virtual party. Things They Don’t Teach You In School Game, $20.00, Uncommon Goods
47. Sweet (But Healthy!) Treats
This fruit platter is as festive as it is delicious. Graduation Celebration Platter, $54.99, Edible Arrangements
48. Do a New Take on Senior Superlatives
This game lets you decide who’s most likely to do just about anything. Who’s Most Likely To Game, $16.00, Urban Outfitters
49. Get a Fun Photo Frame for Digital Pics
This digital photo frame is fully customizable and really captures the essence of the COVID-19 era with a bit of cheeky humor.
Quarantine Digital Graduation Frame, $15, Etsy
50. Help Them Write and Illustrate Their Story
This customizable photo book will help your graduate reminisce on life up to this point. My High School Story Photo Book, $29.99, Shutterfly Need more inspo for your grad? Check out inspiring quotes from graduation speeches!
