Hanukkah is the Jewish “Festival of Lights”. Celebrated annually around late November to December with eight days of Menorah lighting, prayers, and festive foods, this Jewish celebration honours the re-dedication of the Holy Temple after Israel was liberated from the Grecian army in the second century BCE.

Hanukkah is a time for joy and festivities. Looking to host an event for Hanukkah? Keep reading for 15 creative party ideas.

Fun Hanukkah party ideas

Planning a Hanukkah party lets you celebrate an important holiday, learn more about history, and bring individuals of varying faiths together. During the eight-day holiday, Jewish families share gifts and traditions. Others are encouraged to learn more about the Jewish faith at this special time. Read on for 15 Hanukkah celebration ideas to make your event a success.

1. Host a loud shirt competition

Fun ideas for a Hanukkah party include an ugly sweater or loud shirt contest. Find the cheesiest, most colourful shirts with a Hanukkah or Jewish theme; think Menorahs and twinkling lights. To encourage attendees to wear their loudest shirts, offer prizes in categories such as ugliest, brightest, and most creative.

2. Organise a latke cook-off

Latkes are potato pancakes or fritters, traditionally prepared during Hanukkah. Host a latke cook-off by setting up a latke station with traditional toppings like apple sauce and sour cream, or modern spins like creme fraiche and smoked salmon or caviar. Encourage attendees to be creative and discover who makes the best potato pancakes.

3. Book a Jewish DJ for a dance party

Get attendees on the dance floor and hire a Jewish DJ. Add a light show and DJ-led dance choreography, and your event is bound to be successful. Or professional dancers could lead everyone in an unexpected flash mob.

4. Host a mindful Hanukkah party

A mindful party is a relaxed event for attendees of all ages, offering guests a break from the busy holiday season. Mindfulness can be as simple as teaching relaxation techniques, listening to soothing music, or creating lists of things attendees are thankful for.

Hanukkah party ideas for adults

Both children and adults traditionally celebrate Hanukkah, but if you’re planning an event for attendees 18 and older, read on for Hanukkah party ideas adults will enjoy.

5. Celebrate Jewish comedy

Hanukkah is a time for celebration, and you want your attendees to rejoice. Book Jewish comedians for a comedy show and ensure they have a dedicated audience by listing your event online and in print. Or you could host a movie night, screening Hanukkah favourites such as “Eight Crazy Nights” or “Mistletoe and Menorahs”.

6. Make it a wine-tasting party

A Hanukkah wine-tasting event encourages attendees to try new kosher or organic and natural wines. Homemade wines and spirits are special traditions at this time. Use our checklist to plan a memorable wine- or spirit-tasting party.

7. Hanukkah club night

Why not host a night out at a club or dance venue and combine candle lighting with entertainment, such as aerial performers or fire dancers? Dreidels are spinning tops with four flat sides used for fun Hanukkah traditions such as gambling-style games (see more below). Perhaps host a poker and dreidel night with free chips or gelt (chocolate coins). Have a prize for who ends up with the most at the end of the night.

Hanukkah party ideas for kids

The following ideas show that throwing a Hanukkah event for kids can be fun for all and doesn’t need to be complicated.

8. Host a craft party

Several traditional images associated with Hanukkah are easy to turn into fun crafts for children. Set up the supplies on a table and encourage kids to get creative. Paddle-pop sticks make great Stars of David. Paint Menorahs and dreidels or create simplified versions out of paper. How about using glittery paint and pipe cleaners to create Menorahs?

9. Traditional baking party

Kids of all ages can enjoy a traditional Hanukkah baking party. Rugelach (sweet crescent-roll pastries) and Hamentashen (triangular jam-filled pocket pastries) are easy recipes to follow. Children too young to use the oven can decorate cookies with the Star of David and other traditional symbols.

10. Kids’ games night

Kids can have loads of competitive fun playing games like spinning the dreidel with funny tasks to complete for each Hebrew symbol. Use gelt for checkers and a Menorah for a ring toss. Consider hiding gelt for a treasure hunt or filling a jar with them for a guessing competition.

Virtual Hanukkah party ideas

Not everyone can gather in person, but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out. Read on for some fun virtual Hanukkah party ideas.

11. Organise a Hanukkah-themed quiz

Encourage attendees to brush up on their knowledge with a fun and informative quiz based around Hanukkah. Use a mixture of easy and difficult questions and have traditional foods such as gelt or pastries as prizes for the winners.

12. Host a virtual live band or jam session

A Klezmer band or a violinist is ideal for a Hanukkah celebration, so attendees can experience a traditional Jewish vibe. A Klezmer band often includes a fiddle, a bass or cello, a clarinet, and a drum – their light and fast music is made for dancing. Or host a Hanukkah dance party with a modern house artist. Holding an online event doesn’t mean attendees can’t dance the night away! If you have musically talented friends, invite them to a virtual jam session with an online audience.

Fun Hanukkah activity ideas

Event attendees of all faiths will enjoy these fun Hanukkah activities.

13. Mix up the games

Mixing traditional Hanukkah games with non-traditional ones keeps your attendees engaged. Your options are limitless. Incorporate board and video games, run a limbo competition, or get everyone out and about with a Hanukkah-themed scavenger hunt.

14. Keep the doughnuts rolling

Sufganiyot are sweet, jam-filled doughnuts that are a traditional Hanukkah food. Incorporate these into your event with stacks or even a wall of them. A topping station with icing, decorations, and fruit allows guests to create their own mix of flavours.

15. Light the Menorah

Even if your event only lasts for part of a day or evening, attendees can still light the eight candles! Offer attendees Menorahs so they can light the candles from left to right, each time saying a fact about the meaning of Hanukkah. Or do this as a group. The central candle is called the helper candle, or shamash. This is always the first to be lit and is used to light the rest.

What do I need for a Hanukkah party?

Throwing an unforgettable Hanukkah event takes planning and preparation, but by following these suggestions, you’ll keep everything streamlined and hassle-free.

Choose a suitable venue

You want your venue to be memorable, but location also matters. Explore easy parking options if many guests are driving, and make sure it’s age-appropriate – you don’t want to host a kid-friendly Hanukkah event at a bar.

Decorations

Decorating the venue and having a colour theme gets everyone in a festive mood. Remember, blue, white, and silver are the traditional colours of Hanukkah. Bunting is popular, and you can even have a Hanukkah tree or bush.

Serve traditional food

Traditional Hanukkah foods are kosher; think Challah (a traditional plaited yeast bread enriched with eggs and oil), beef brisket, Matzo ball (dumpling) soup, and latkes.

Create a Hanukkah playlist or book live entertainment

Games and conversation keep guests entertained for a while – but how about music? Create a playlist for the DJ to simplify things. When booking artists or entertainment, ensure it’s appropriate for the event and your target audience.

Let Eventbrite help you plan your Hanukkah event

Hanukkah celebrates the art of gathering in so many ways. When it comes time to plan your memorable Hanukkah event, why not simplify the process with Eventbrite tools? Create a free event listing and find out how we can help make your event a success.