Party Ideas for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah

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Josephine Havlak, Photographer... The key for a bar or bat mitzvah is to have a �facilitator� who can encourage the kids to be outgoing and break out of their shells, which can be hard for 13-year-olds. I covered one party where they brought in a woman from a professional dance troupe in Chicago and she was amazing at getting the kids out on the dance floor. By the end of the night, one boy, who initially was terrified to dance, was doing Michael Jackson moves!

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Josephine Havlak, Photographer... Fun activities for the kids, like a money �tornado� machine, keep the party moving and the energy up.

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Josephine Havlak, Photographer... Embrace the theme of the party with elaborate decorations. One bar mitzvah had a Hard Rock Caf� theme with musical-instrument cutouts decorating the entryway and records adorning the table centerpieces.

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Sam Orlando Jr., Orlando�s Catering... Offer both kid-friendly and adult-appealing food items. We have done made-to-order mini pizzas (heated by a blowtorch), deep-fried macaroni balls, and pastry cones filled with peanut butter and apple-jalape�o jelly.

Alan Wohlgemut

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Diane Stecher, Alobar�s Lighting and Sound... Adding the right lighting can completely transform the space and turn an ordinary room into a club-like atmosphere. Use uplighting and colored gobos (image projections) for great effect.