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Bar Mitzvah Ideas

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10 Creative Bar or Bat Mitzvah Party Ideas

Last updated on March 28, 2017


Turning 12 or 13 is a big deal in a young person’s life! Plus, it’s a great excuse to party. Looking for a way to top the last “mitzvah” you attended? Check out these 10 creative bar or bat mitzvah party ideas that will fit any theme!

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Bat and Bar Mitzvah Party Ideas to Celebrate This Milestone

 Photo of excited teenagers embracing at party under falling

Last updated on November 7, 2024


Turning thirteen and entering the age of adulthood is a big deal. In the Jewish tradition, it also means it’s time to celebrate with a bar or bat mitzvah party! From fun party themes to unique entertainment ideas, there are many ways to make the special occasion unforgettable. Let’s dive in!

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Brenden Trojan - Magician in Columbus, Ohio Featured vendor banner
Brenden Trojan - Magician in Columbus, Ohio

Brenden Trojan

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Courtney K. said “We hired Brenden for our daughter’s first birthday and he was absolutely phenomenal! We had a few less children then expected due to a family emergency…”

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Brian Koenig - Comedy Emcee, Juggler - Corporate Entertainment in Columbus, Ohio Featured vendor banner
Brian Koenig - Comedy Emcee, Juggler - Corporate Entertainment in Columbus, Ohio

Brian Koenig - Comedy Emcee, Juggler

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Rivky G. said “Brian was a pleasure to work with! Although this was a last minute booking with some specific requests, he was super accomdating! He was flexible and…”

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Giles Ponticello - Singing Guitarist in Powell, Ohio

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Judy F. said “The Steely Dan pieces were great. Everyone was happy with the live music, outdoor setting.”

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Choosing a Theme

A theme isn’t necessarily required for a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah, but choosing one will make your party easier to plan and will be more fun for the kids attending. When deciding the theme, base your selection off the interests of your child. Some ideas are sports, animals, games or movies just to name a few. Remember though, this is an important birthday year religiously for your child, so don’t let the theme of the party overpower the ultimate meaning and reason for the celebration. The theme will then effect many other pieces of the party planning. You should tie the theme to your party decorations and invitations. You may also want to consider making party favors to give to the guests that attend! If your party is as good as we believe it will be, then we know your guests will want something to remember it by. Your favors can tie into your theme as well.

Mitzvah Entertainment

The entertainment you choose will depend on the theme and style of party you've chosen to throw, and can reflect the child's personality. The most common Bar and Bat Mitzvah party entertainment are live bands and DJs. DJs often have packages which include games, prizes, themes and favors, so this might be a good place to start if you are theme-challenged. Or you could entertain your guests with a comedian or magician. If you want more than just music and performances, you can hire more interactive performers. Another popular idea is to hire a caricaturist and also set up a craft table for kids to make their own frames for their caricaturization. This doubles as entertainment AND party favors!

Don't forget the food!

Food is one the most important parts of a Bar Mitzvah celebration. Before deciding on a menu, first decide if you are going to have a sit down meal with your guests, set up a buffet or just provide hors d'oeuvres. If the menu you choose is not very kid friendly, you may want to also add a platter of pizza bites or chicken fingers. So that you may focus on the rest of the party running smoothly you may want to hire a caterer and waitstaff to handle the meal for you. If you choose to keep your menu Kosher, then you may want to hire a caterer that specializes in handling that. Depending on the amount of adults attending your party, you may want to offer an open bar or cash bar to serve cocktails and wine. The caterer you hire may include this in their service, or you can hire a bartender to serve non-alcoholic drinks, as most thirteen year olds love Shirley Temples and smoothies!

What else are we missing?

Depending on the venue you've chosen and what is supplied there, you may need to look into renting extra equipment. There a companies out there that can provide you with tables, chairs, linens, tableware and even tents, if you are planning on your party taking place outdoors. A Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah is a celebration that only happens once for your child, so you want to make sure you will remember it forever. So that you aren't distracted from enjoying the party yourself, you may want to hire a photographer to take care of capturing all the moments for you. Another fun twist on pictures would be to rent a photo booth to set up for the kids to take pictures in! They could take the pictures home with them as party favors and you can keep some to add to the pictures the photographer takes.

If you feel that this is too much to take on alone, you can hire a professional planner to help you. However, with the right resources, you can do it yourself and have fun doing it! GigSalad is here to help you every step of the way as your one stop shop for all your Bar Mitzvah party planning needs.

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