21 Beverages to Cool Off with This Labor Day

Cool, refreshing drinks are a must for a Labor Day gathering. Fruity lemonades, iced teas, peach margaritas, watermelon drinks, tropical punches, and frozen beverages offer plenty of festive options for backyard cookouts and holiday celebrations. Keep scrolling to find the perfect drink for your Labor Day crowd.

Layered Red, White, and Blue Cocktail

A glass with a layered red, white, and blue drink—perfect for Labor Day—topped with ice, a lemon wedge, and a cherry, set against a plain white background. This festive beverage is the ideal way to cool off in style. — Layered Red, White, and Blue Cocktail. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

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This festive cocktail brings bright citrus flavor and patriotic flair to your Labor Day gathering. Its colorful layered presentation makes it especially fun for backyard celebrations and summer holidays.
Get the Recipe: Layered Red, White, and Blue Cocktail

Refreshing Strawberry Whiskey Smash

Two glasses of pink iced cocktails garnished with fresh strawberries, basil leaves, and lemon make the perfect summer refreshments. Surrounded by whole and halved strawberries and a lemon half on a white surface, these cool drinks are ideal for your Labor Day beverages spread. — Refreshing Strawberry Whiskey Smash. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

Fresh strawberries, lemon, and basil give this whiskey cocktail a bright, garden-fresh personality. It is an easy summer drink with plenty of juicy fruit flavor and a refreshing finish.
Get the Recipe: Refreshing Strawberry Whiskey Smash

Fresh and Juicy Peach Margarita

A salt-rimmed glass filled with an orange drink, ice, and garnished with a slice of lime and peach; a halved lime sits in the background—one of the perfect summer refreshments to enjoy on a warm afternoon. — Fresh and Juicy Peach Margarita. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

This peachy spin on a classic margarita is made for warm-weather sipping. Fresh peach flavor gives the tequila cocktail a wonderfully fruity character that feels right at home at a summer get-together.
Get the Recipe: Fresh and Juicy Peach Margarita

Copycat Pink Dragonfruit Refresher

A glass jar filled with pink drink, ice cubes, dragon fruit pieces, and a lemon wedge on the rim—perfect to cool off with refreshing beverages this Labor Day. — Copycat Pink Dragonfruit Refresher. Photo credit: Posh Plate.

This vibrant pink refresher is as eye-catching as it is cooling. Fruity dragonfruit, lemonade, and green tea come together with a naturally sweet, pleasantly tangy flavor that is perfect for beating the summer heat.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Pink Dragonfruit Refresher

Juicy Watermelon Mojito with Fresh Mint

Three glasses of pink watermelon cocktails with ice, mint leaves, and watermelon slices are arranged on a wooden board—perfect summer refreshments to enjoy on a warm afternoon. — Juicy Watermelon Mojito with Fresh Mint. Photo credit: My Rad Kitchen.

Fresh watermelon puts a juicy summer spin on the classic mojito, while mint and lime keep the drink bright and refreshing. It is a vibrant cocktail made for leisurely sipping on a warm afternoon.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Watermelon Mojito with Fresh Mint

Sparkling Non-Alcoholic Aperol Spritz Mocktail

Two glasses of orange-pink cocktail garnished with grapefruit and orange slices, each with a silver straw, sit on a white surface—perfect summer refreshments for those seeking cool drinks to enjoy on Labor Day. — Sparkling Non-Alcoholic Aperol Spritz Mocktail. Photo credit: My Mocktail Forest.

This alcohol-free take on the Italian aperitivo offers a sophisticated option for guests who want something festive without alcohol. Bright, refreshing flavors make it an easy addition to a Labor Day drink spread.
Get the Recipe: Sparkling Non-Alcoholic Aperol Spritz Mocktail

Smooth Southern Sweet Tea

Two glasses of iced tea with lemon wedges and mint garnish, set on a white surface next to a small bowl of lemon slices and a dish of fresh mint—perfect beverages to help you cool off and enjoy a relaxing Labor Day. — Smooth Southern Sweet Tea. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This classic Southern drink is wonderfully cool and refreshing on a hot day. Its mellow black tea flavor and gentle sweetness make it a natural choice for picnics, cookouts, and casual Labor Day gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Smooth Southern Sweet Tea

The Refreshing Holiday Cooler That Brings Everyone Out to the Patio

A tropical cocktail with ice, garnished with a pineapple slice, lime wheel, cherry, and mint sprig—perfect to cool off and enjoy refreshing beverages. A pineapple and lime are visible in the background. — Tropical Bacardi Rum Punch. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

This lively rum punch combines tropical fruit flavors with light rum for an easygoing party drink. It has the sunny, vacation-inspired character that makes summer celebrations feel instantly more festive.
Get the Recipe: Tropical Bacardi Rum Punch

Cooling Pineapple Agua Fresca

A glass of yellow iced drink garnished with mint leaves, a pineapple wedge, and a green striped straw—perfect to cool off with on Labor Day or anytime you crave refreshing beverages. — Cooling Pineapple Agua Fresca. Photo credit: The Foreign Fork.

This Mexican-inspired agua fresca is sweet, fruity, and wonderfully thirst-quenching. Pineapple gives the drink a bright tropical flavor that makes it an ideal choice for hot summer gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Cooling Pineapple Agua Fresca

Spicy Pineapple Margarita

Two glasses of yellow beverages garnished with pineapple wedges, jalapeño slices, ice, and chili powder on the rim, set on a light surface with pineapple pieces nearby—perfect to help you cool off this Labor Day. — Spicy Pineapple Margarita. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

Sweet pineapple and a gentle jalapeño kick make this margarita an exciting choice for summer happy hour. The tropical fruit flavor keeps it refreshing while the heat adds an extra layer of personality.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Pineapple Margarita

Sweet Peach Southern Iced Tea

Juicy peach flavor turns traditional sweet tea into a fruity summer favorite. Light and refreshing, this Southern-inspired drink is made for sipping outdoors on a warm afternoon.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Peach Southern Iced Tea

Smoky Mezcal Mule with Fresh Lime

Put a smoky spin on the classic mule with mezcal, zippy lime, and refreshing ginger beer. It is an easy cocktail with a distinctive flavor profile that is perfect for relaxed warm-weather gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Smoky Mezcal Mule with Fresh Lime

Tropical Bahama Mama Cocktail

This colorful island-inspired cocktail brings together rum and tropical fruit flavors for a vacation-worthy sip. With its sunny pineapple and orange character, the Bahama Mama is perfect when you want to bring beach vibes to your backyard celebration.
Get the Recipe: Tropical Bahama Mama Cocktail

Refreshing Lychee Iced Tea with Lemon

Fragrant lychee adds a lovely fruit-forward note to chilled green tea and bright lemon. It makes a particularly refreshing picnic drink when you want something light, fruity, and cooling.
Get the Recipe: Refreshing Lychee Iced Tea with Lemon

Frozen Non-Alcoholic Paloma Mocktail

This icy mocktail captures the bright grapefruit-and-lime character of a classic Paloma in a smooth frozen format. Its tangy citrus flavor and slushy texture make it a wonderfully refreshing alcohol-free choice for Labor Day.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Non-Alcoholic Paloma Mocktail

Crisp Cucumber Gin and Tonic

Give the classic gin and tonic a cool, refreshing upgrade with fresh cucumber. Its clean, crisp character makes it an especially appealing drink for a hot Labor Day afternoon.
Get the Recipe: Crisp Cucumber Gin and Tonic

Fresh Basil Lemonade

Classic lemonade gets a fragrant garden-inspired upgrade with fresh basil. This simple summer drink is bright and refreshing, with a flavor that makes it a welcome addition to any warm-weather table.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Basil Lemonade

Creamy Coconut Lime Margaritas

Coconut and lime create a deliciously tangy, lightly creamy take on the margarita. Enjoy it over ice or frozen for a tropical cocktail that is refreshing without being overly sweet.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Coconut Lime Margaritas

Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Slush

Real strawberries and lemon transform into a thick, icy drink with plenty of sweet-tart flavor. This frosty lemonade is an especially satisfying way to cool down during a hot holiday gathering.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Slush

Juicy Southern Watermelon Lemonade

Fresh watermelon and tart lemon create a naturally sweet drink that tastes like summer in a glass. It is especially well suited to picnics, cookouts, and relaxed Labor Day afternoons.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Southern Watermelon Lemonade

Bright Homemade Lychee Lemonade

Lychee gives classic lemonade a delicate fruity twist that feels fresh and unexpected. This cool, sweet-tart drink is an easy way to add something special to a hot-weather gathering.
Get the Recipe: Bright Homemade Lychee Lemonade