How I Pulled Off a Soda Bar for 80 Teachers (on a $125 Budget!)
Guess who got assigned the soda bar for Teacher Appreciation Week? 🤣
I happily said yes because honestly, my soda game is strong. What I didn't expect was how many people would ask me how I pulled it off. So here's the full breakdown: what I bought, what I borrowed, what the teachers actually loved, and a free Canva drink menu template so you can do this yourself.
Total cost: about $125 for 80 people. Worth every penny.
The Teacher-Inspired Drink Menu
This was my favorite part. I made custom soda combinations named after the teachers. "The Smith." "The Carson." Each one a mix of soda, syrup, fruit, and creamer depending on the combo. It felt personal without being complicated.
If you want to simplify, just pick a few syrups and fruits and let people mix their own. The named drinks are a fun touch but totally optional.
What I Used
I grabbed 20 two-liter sodas on sale. Fresca, lemonade, and Dr Pepper were the favorites. Diet Coke shockingly did not win. 😅 Three bags of pebble ice in a cooler with a scoop kept everything cold without a lot of fuss.
Clear cups with lids and straws made it easy grab-and-go. For syrups I pulled from what I had at home: coconut, vanilla, and a couple fruity ones are a great base if you're buying. Cream of coconut and flavored coffee creamer were the surprise crowd favorites.
For mix-ins I cut up strawberries, limes, lemons, oranges, blackberries, cherries, and mangoes. A handheld citrus juicer was a fun touch people actually used. I grabbed small fancy-looking plastic serving bowls at the dollar store and used mini tongs I already had on hand.
Instead of borrowing ice tables, I used inflatable cooler tubs that sat right on the regular tables and kept everything cold and contained. Game changer.
The drink menu signs I made in Canva, with teacher-named combos plus lemonade and water options. Decorations came from a clearance find at My Mind's Eye plus my favorite party banners. The whole setup looked way more put-together than the effort it took.
Quick Supply Roundup
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Inflatable cooler tubs or if you want to buy the tables I borrowed
- Cream of Coconut
Grab the Free Drink Menu Template
I made the drink sign template in Canva and I want you to have it. Drop your email below and I'll send it straight to your inbox.
Can't see the form? Head to Instagram and comment SODA BAR on this post and I'll get it to you.
27 comments
Dirty Soda
Please share the Canva menu template! Thank you!
Can I please have your soda signs
Love this idea. Can you send me the recipe sheet?
Template please