Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday honoring the miracle of the menorah oil lasting for eight nights. As an eight-day-long celebration, you’ll probably spend most of it in relatively low-key ways, but it’s also a great chance to celebrate with loved ones. Keep reading for Hanukkah party ideas that’ll light up your celebrations and make this holiday season unforgettable!
Create a Hanukkah haven
No party is complete without the perfect ambiance. Set the tone of the celebrations with holiday-inspired decorations throughout your space that are festive and inviting. Make memories with family and friends by crafting DIY Hanukkah decorations or picking out decorative ornaments and garlands together.
DIY Menorah
Lighting the menorah is a powerful tradition, symbolizing hope and the endurance of the Jewish faith.
Create a homemade menorah—a cherished keepsake blending tradition with innovation. It’ll make your celebrations more meaningful year after year.
The Colors of Hanukkah
Embrace the traditional colors of Hanukkah—blue and white—in your decor. Hang blue and white string lights, drape tables with blue and white linens, and scatter elegant silver or gold accents.
Dazzling Dreidel Decor
Create paper dreidel decor to use in garlands, on table settings, or place on a shelf or bookcase. It’s cost-effective and allows for creative expression. Paper decor is also a fun way to get the whole family involved in decorating!
The Star of David
While not specifically tied to Hanukkah, the Star of David represents the broader Jewish heritage celebrated during the holiday. Hang ornaments or add the star to your table settings to honor the culture and show pride in your Jewish identity.
Enliven your event with entertainers
For a Hanukkah celebration, there’s a range of entertainment options that can bring joy and liveliness to your event. Tailoring the entertainment to match the interests and preferences of your attendees will ensure a memorable and enjoyable Hanukkah party for everyone.
Melodies and Movement
Music sets the tone beautifully for a happy Hanukkah party. There’s nothing quite like hiring live musicians, especially those who perform Klezmer music, the traditional music of the Ashkenazi Jews. It will have everyone tapping their toes!
Klezmer music features spirited melodies, soulful tunes, and lively rhythms. It’s typically played by small bands with instruments like clarinets, violins, accordions, trumpets, and sometimes percussion.
💽 Considering more contemporary entertainment? A skilled DJ would be perfect for your party!
Stories Brought to Life
For a more intimate occasion, book a skilled storyteller to entertain your guests with classic Jewish tales and legends. For small children, you may even consider hiring a puppet show to lend visuals to these age-old stories. Bring the miracle of the oil story to life and create a unique experience for your guests.
Laughter and Levity
Laughter is a universal language that brings people together. Hiring a comedian can set a refreshing and relaxed tone, helping guests unwind, laugh, and create fond memories. Additionally, a comedian who incorporates Jewish humor can resonate deeply with the audience, sharing anecdotes, jokes, and experiences that reflect culture and traditions.
Spin some Hanukkah fun
Playing games, especially the dreidel game, is a long-standing tradition during the Festival of Lights. Connect with family and friends of all ages with various Hanukkah games that will guarantee laughs and lasting memories.
Delightful Dreidel Challenges
One of the cherished customs during Hanukkah is playing the lively and time-honored game of dreidel. Brush up on the classic instructions, or put a spin on the original game with dreidel Scattergories. Choose a different category for each letter on the dreidel (Jewish celebrities, Hanukkah foods, songs, etc.). When each player spins, they’ll yell out an answer for the category they land on.
🍸Planning a Hanukkah party for adults? Try out a dreidel drinking game!
Gelt Checker Competition
This is a playful adaptation of the traditional game of checkers. Instead of checkers pieces, players use chocolate gelt, or chocolate coins, as the game pieces. It’s a delightful way to infuse a sweet and festive twist into a classic game during your Hanukkah celebrations.
Dangling Doughnut Duel
Participants hang doughnuts on strings or ribbons. The challenge is for players to eat the dangling doughnut without using their hands. They might bob and weave, tilt their heads, or employ creative techniques to devour the doughnut suspended before them. Use sufganiyot, or jelly donuts, for a traditional touch.
🍩 Need a sufganiyot recipe? Check out this easy-to-follow tutorial from Once Upon a Chef!
Pin the Shamash on the Menorah
Draw or craft a menorah or purchase a menorah poster. Then, blindfolded participants try to accurately place the shamash, or the central candle, on the menorah. This lighthearted game will be sure to create a joyous and hilarious night of Hanukkah.
Craft a culinary celebration
Now, onto the heart of any holiday party—the food! The foods enjoyed during Hanukkah often reflect symbolic elements of the holiday and commemorate its stories. Here is a delectable array of Hanukkah’s traditional and modern dishes that explore the delicious tapestry of flavors.
Festive Fried Sides
To honor the miraculous enduring oil, deep-fried foods have become a symbolic part of Hanukkah celebrations. Potato latkes, or potato pancakes, are an absolute staple. Or, try zucchini fries or Italian arancini for something different.
Delectable Desserts
Sufganiyot, or jelly-filled doughnuts, are a quintessential Hanukkah treat, but don’t stop there. Rugelach or honey cake are great additions to your dessert menu. Hanukkah sugar cookies shaped like dreidels, menorahs, or Stars of David can add a fun touch to the table.
The Star of the Meal
A classic and comforting main dish is slow-cooked beef brisket, often braised with onions, garlic, and savory spices. If you want something different this year, an Italian Jewish classic like Pollo Fritto—fried chicken—is a great alternative.
Healthy Hanukkah Hits
Traditional Hanukkah food can be rich and often fried. You may need something light to balance out the heavy, savory foods of the season. Enjoy these alternatives that retain the festive spirit of the holiday while incorporating healthier ingredients.
🧑🍳 Don’t want to cook? Hire a kosher caterer who can whip up a mouthwatering menu for you.
We hope these ideas for a Hanukkah party help you create an event that shines as brightly as the menorah itself. Until the next season calls for the lighting of candles, here’s to a resounding Happy Hanukkah! ✡️🕎
Matt Holland is a Customer Happiness Agent at GigSalad. With 10+ years of experience performing as a jazz drummer, he has gained insights into the life of a gigging musician as well as what makes an event go off without a hitch. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, cooking, and watching the newest TV shows with his wife.