With an influx of Christmas decor everywhere we look, it can be a bit tricky to know the right way to meaningfully incorporate Hanukkah into your corporate holiday parties, brand activations, and personal celebrations. So we asked three event design experts to share their top tips.
1. Get creative with colors.
Traditional Hanukkah colors include shades of blue, white, and silver—but there are plenty of ways to add your own spin, says Alexandra Rembac, principal and creative director of Sterling Engagements in Los Angeles. Lately, Rembac has been integrating more cool hues, and adding doses of gold to liven things up. “I think Hanukkah and the spirit of it should be inspired by what you want to make of it—be it a series of blue and white with matte and shiny silvers, or a more modern collective of blues, purples, and even mixed metals,” she says.
Amy Shey Jacobs, founder and creative director of Chandelier Events in New York, is also embracing tradition with a twist. Her ideas to mix it up? Add an unexpected color pop. “Perhaps it's a neon yellow and pink? Or the Pantone Color of the Year, Viva Magenta, or a seasonal orange.”
Shey Jacobs’ other ideas to add a modern twist include going pastel (”instead of bright royal blue, go with an ethereal pale blue, silver, and white for a softer holiday look,” she suggests) or ombré, with a white and silver into blue ombré motif. “I am a huge fan of acrylic and glass,” she adds. “This material is clear, but really can become part of a whole color story.”
Meanwhile, Ty Kuppig, founder and creative director of Tyger Productions in Boston, suggests leaning into “unexpected textures and finishes to add a modern edge to the holiday palette. Think about mixing velvet, suede, mirror, and stone to add a new, tactile facet to Hanukkah decor while respecting and embracing the traditional palette of blue, white, and silver,” he says. “The experience will be elevated, contemporary, and unexpected!”
2. Don’t neglect the Hanukkah must-haves.
Traditions are there for a reason—and there are some must-have staples at any Hanukkah party. The first is, of course, a menorah. “There are so many types, from traditional styles to modern menorahs with more contemporary style, and they come in all shapes and sizes,” notes Shey Jacobs.
Menorahs can also be a place for some creativity; click here to check out some clever DIY menorahs—incorporating everything from potatoes to paintbrushes to binder clips—that event designer David Stark shared with design publication Cool Hunting. 
Adara Rituals also offers the Stella Mirror Tray ($78), a Star of David-shaped vessel that can be used to create an elevated take on a menorah.Photo: Courtesy of Adara Rituals
In terms of overall decor, Rembac likes leaning into “shiny, sparkle heavy objects and decor that are enhanced with light.”
Another traditional element is a dreidel, a four-sided spinning top used for a traditional Hanukkah game. “We love to use dreidels in our decor, filling cylinders with them as a base for LED votives on tables, or using the shape as a laser-cut item hanging from above or on a gift tag,” notes Shey Jacobs. “Or, creating a wreath with them for an interfaith home or office party.”
3. Lean into latkes.
For food, Shey Jacobs notes that traditional potato latkes are always a must-have. “Consider a latke bar,” she suggests. “Serve different types—traditional potato, sweet potato, vegetable latke—and set up a toppings bar with apple sauce, sour cream, caviar, smoked salmon, dill, chives, and truffle oil.”
Shey Jacobs also likes to serve Hanukkah sufganiyot, or Israeli donuts, which she describes as “a hybrid of beignet and a jelly donut. These pillowy donuts are among the foods fried in oil that symbolize the miracle of oil that burned for eight days.”
As for drinks, you can’t go wrong with Champagne, Shey Jacobs adds. Looking to get creative? She likes to serve winter-inspired drinks with a citrus twist, “like a cinnamon-sugar rimmed white Russian or a bourbon old fashioned with a clementine garnish.”
4. Above all, focus on family and community.
Rembac’s top advice for Hanukkah celebrations? “[Avoid] letting the party get bigger than big and losing focus on what matters most during this holiday—the guests and that vibrant excitement they bring,” she says. “It’s such a friends- and family-focused, positive, organic holiday—that is also welcoming and rather inclusive to all both observing and guests of those who do. I really believe that Hanukkah ‘culture’ is its best attribute.” 
"I have to say that the bulk of our holiday-party corporate clients over the years have been super hypersensitive to not doing anything that is too holiday-leaning to any particular religion," says Rembac, whose team designed the pictured enchanted forest-theme holiday party for a client this month. "You never know who observes what or doesn’t, so over the last 14-plus years we have developed this holiday party ethos that is non-holiday specific and seasonally neutral. We use the warmth of spirit of the season to navigate concepts over specifics, so we are as cautious as possible with guests and their comfort level."Photo: Hazelnut Photography
5. Acknowledge Hanukkah and other non-Christmas holidays at seasonal events.
“I am Jewish, and I absolutely love Christmas (as many do, because of its cultural and seasonal fun!), but all too often the menorah is stuck in a corner, or the Hanukkah wrapping paper on boxes seems to be an add-on,” Shey Jacobs says.
She advises brands and corporate groups to be more inclusive by embracing a neutral color story. “Instead of just going red and green, add Hanukkah blue to the overall scheme,” she suggests. “Even if there is tinsel and ornaments and wreathes about, adding Hanukkah blue to your celebrations is so easy.” Or, lean entirely into "winter wonderland" vibe with whites and silvers, golds, and lucite, she adds.
Kuppig also recommends that corporate clients focus their celebrations around a seasonal winter theme rather than a specific holiday.
“This creates a more inclusive environment for celebration in which all guests feel comfortable, while also building a wider lane for creative concepts,” he says. “We have designed seasonal projects around such inspirations as winter wonderland, snow disco, ice palace, and even a warm-weather spin of winter in the desert.”
Shey Jacobs also advises incorporating both Hanukkah foods and Christmas foods and cocktails into the menu. “But please pay attention to the particulars of cultural cuisine: You don't want to put Christmas ham, bacon, or shrimp cocktail as a topping on a latke bar,” she explains, adding: “Absolutely serve the donuts: You will make everyone happy!”
Another easy, inclusive swap? “Instead of an office Secret Santa, perhaps do another game or give it another name: Mystery Gift, White Elephant, Charity Swap, The Regift Game, a Book Swap—you get the drift,” Shey Jacobs says.
While Rembac also opts for a neutral, inclusive theme for holiday parties, she does advise clients to honor Hanukkah at the office. “Find a way that, just like the trees and decor you integrate around the office, utilizes menorahs and dreidels too,” she says. “Don’t stick these elements in the corner, but rather flank them side by side with all the other elements. Add some florals, presents symbolizing the eight days, and even some dreidels and gelt.” 
Rembac's team designed this Hanukkah-themed entrance area for an in-office holiday party.Photo: Elaine Lee Photography
Bonus: Here’s what else our experts see trending for holiday celebrations this year…
Cocktails: “People are exhausted after an insane return to real life and real offices, so I think the mixology game is strong and the demand for drinks is even stronger,” says Shey-Jacobs.
Rembac likes working with California-based company Ice Bulb to add fun ice options to holiday cocktails. “Those custom cubes with snowflakes, dreidels, and beyond are a total hit,” she says.
Sweet treats: What’s a holiday party without some sweets? “I’m all about Cookies by Heather's DIY cookie kits,” adds Rembac. “You can order them in bulk for an interactive station, or have her do them up right for a celebration. We are having her do combo sets for us with both Hanukkah and Christmas cookies to decorate."
Rembac’s other go-to vendors for Hanukkah-related treats: Doughnut Plant’s menorah ripple, and sufganiyot donuts from Continental Bakery or Primo’s.
Culture building: “This is the first company holiday party for many who were hired during the pandemic, during remote office times,” Shey-Jacobs points out. “So focus on great ice breakers and team building at parties, like fun game shows and scavenger hunts.”
Charity: There’s no better time to give than during the holidays, Shey-Jacobs adds. “Incorporate giving back at every opportunity you can.”
Playlists: “At Chandelier Events, I create and send out my greetings with signature playlists for our clients, co-workers, families, friends, and followers for every occasion,” says Shey-Jacobs. “I feel it's a great way to bring the party home!”
Plenty of fun: “As we return to gathering and celebration, I recommend tearing down the walls of formality and creating engaging experiences that are centered around fun with exaggerated design elements, creative food concepts, over-the-top performers and DJs, and lots and lots of dancing!” says Kuppig.
