15 Best Hanukkah Party Ideas for a Fun and Festive Bash
How do you throw a good Hanukkah party? Look to these games, decorations and recipes.
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There's so much to love about Hanukkah. First, of course, there's the miracle behind the story. Add to that a full eight nights of celebrating, so many twinkling lights and candles, and plates upon plates of decadent fried food. (And that's before we've even discussed those stacks of Hanukkah gifts piled at the hearth!) With so much to celebrate during the Festival of Lights, a Hanukkah party is definitely in order.
In 2022, Hanukkah falls from December 18 through 26. If you're the one hosting the bash this year, our roundup of the best Hanukkah party ideas is here to inspire your plans. We've got recipes for Hanukkah desserts (even homemade sufganiyot!) as well as for cultural-fusion-style latkes to get the crowd talking (and going for seconds... and thirds). Our guide also includes ideas for decorations, from LED light strings to floral decor, as well as dazzling tabletop and barware additions just right for the holiday. Plus, we've rounded up ideas for Hanukkah party games both traditional and modern, as well as a unique spin on prizes to elevate the game of dreidel (see what we did there?).
Still looking for more Hanukkah inspiration? Check out our Hanukkah crafts to DIY at home (even with preschoolers) and Hanukkah movies to cozy up with for all eight nights.
Put a new spin on latkes.
Latkes are a must for any Hanukkah party. But there's no rule that they must be traditional. Give your party dish an unexpected twist with these Asian-inspired latkes. (Try swapping out the traditional sour cream for dashes of Sriracha hot sauce!).
Get the recipe for Crispy Ginger Scallion Latkes.
Serve those latkes, sufganiyot and other nibbles on a set of festive appetizer plates that elevate the experience. Each stoneware plate in this set of four features a different collection of blue menorahs. Bonus: They’re microwave and dishwasher safe.
Keep an all-ages crowd engaged with a rousing game of Hanukkah bingo. Print this game at home for a last-minute idea. Don't forget to grab some gold coins or other small objects for marking spaces.
Spin the dreidel.
No Hanukkah party can be fully complete without spinning the dreidel! Gather the group for some friendly competition where the stakes are gold coins.
Up the ante.
Or, instead of gelt, raise the table stakes on your game of dreidel. Use real casino chips to play, and let winners cash them in for real prizes at the end.
String up lights.
After all, Hanukkah is the festival of lights. Don't just stop at lighting candles though, string blue lights all around the house and outside to add some real festivity.
Call it ugly — or call it amazing! Invite guests to the party dressed in their most over-the-top Hanukkah sweaters. Don't forget prizes for the best in show.
Add a festive, fancy flair with blue and white flower arrangements atop the tables. This collection of hydrangeas, roses, agapanthus, and Star of Bethlehem fits right in with the holiday hues.
Sure, you could always invite people over text or email. But a proper paper invite feels so much fancier! This bold, modern version is fully customizable. Print a digital file, or request printing and delivery instead.
Put a Hanukkah spin on white elephant.
You've heard of the traditional white elephant gift exchange. What about giving it a Hanukkah twist? For a blue-and-white elephant activity, everyone comes with a wrapped gift. Guests take turns unwrapping one that’s still a mystery, or choosing to steal one that another guest has already unwrapped and revealed. State the rules of play before the game commences (there are so many variations) — and prepare to get rowdy!
Whip up a batch of sweet treats.
These balls of dough glazed with honey are perfectly bite-sized party fare. Orange blossom water imparts a bright, citrusy flavor.
Get the recipe for Hanukkah honey balls.
As you keep the wine flowing, help guests identify their glasses while dressing the barware up for Hanukkah. The blue hue here is most appropriate.
Why stop at the barware whe you could dress up the wine bottles themselves? Stick on these eight self-adhesive wine labels with cheeky, punny Hanukkah messages.
Make your own sufganiyot.
Sure, you could go the store-bought route, but if you make your own jelly donuts you will seriously wow the crowd.
Get the recipe for sufganiyot.
Make it a movie night.
Make it a movie party with some cozy blankets, a tray of indulgent sufganiyot and a Hanukkah flick on the screen.
Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles whose work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.
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