18 Non-Traditional Bar Mitzvah Ideas For A Special Day

Did you know that a bar or bat mitzvah doesn’t actually have to take place inside of a synagogue? You only need a space where there is a minyan present (10 Jewish adults). A synagogue is traditional but with more and more people moving away from strict traditions, there is a large demand for alternative bar mitzvah ideas. So why not let Peerspace, experts in party planning, give you a hand with some of our favorite non-traditional bar mitzvah ideas for a special day!

1. Make it a beach-themed party

A beach party is a unique way to celebrate a bar or bat mitzvah! Remember, a synagogue is just one of the many places where you can hold a bar mitzvah so long as you have 10 or more Jewish adults! Beach venues include loads of sun, open space, volleyball nets, and opportunities to swim. If you’d prefer an indoor venue, then include the beach theme with a volleyball net, beach-themed food and drinks, blue decorations, and a nearby pool!

2. Host a movie night party

One of our favorite non-traditional bar mitzvah ideas is to make the party a movie night. Choose your teen’s favorite movie or one that they’ve been looking forward to watching with their friends. Invite everyone over and after the ceremonies and dinner, turn on the movie.

Private screening rooms are the best venues for making a movie night feel truly special. Unlike a public theater, you can bring the food and drinks of your choice. Plus, rowdy teens won’t be disturbing the general public! Peerspace has plenty of private screening rooms for hire for a bar mitzvah movie night like this intimate black box theater in Hollywood, CA.

3. Book a video game arcade 

How about a venue filled with dozens of different games for your bar mitzvah child and their friends to enjoy? Book a video game arcade for the occasion! Most arcades are set up to host special events like a bar or bat mitzvah and you can easily reserve the entire venue for your kid’s 13th birthday party. Use the private party hall for food and ceremony before letting the teens loose to play some arcade games!

4. Spend time volunteering with a local organization

How about a non-traditional bar mitzvah idea that celebrates the joys of service? You can spend part of the day giving the gift of your time to a local organization! A few hours serving at a soup kitchen or repairing wilderness trails is as fulfilling for you as it is for the people who receive the fruits of your efforts. After a brief reflection on the blessings you’ve received in your own life, you can then move on to the party!

Speaking of parties, our special bar and bat mitzvah ideas help you celebrate your child in style.

5. Break free of an escape room

Escape rooms are a fun activity for bar/bat mitzvah kids who love a challenge! They will have 30 to 90 minutes to solve puzzles, find clues, and work their way free of a themed space. From space stations to murder mysteries, escape rooms offer a fun time for all ages and skill levels. 

6. Throw a DIY crafts party

DIY crafts are a non-traditional bar mitzvah idea where guests get to leave the party with a keepsake of the occasion! You can set up painting easels for everyone to enjoy an hour of guided painting with an expert teacher. Pottery painting, drawing stations, charm bracelets…There are a lot of ways to get creative during a bar mitzvah!

7. Head to the race track

One exciting activity to enjoy during your bar mitzvah celebration is go-kart racing! So why not bring everyone down to the race track for some friendly competitive fun? The nice thing about go-kart tracks is that many of them have private rooms where you can party in style. And afterwards, see who can make the best time on the go-kart track. Race tracks are usually activity venues with more to do, like arcade games, batting cages, and skeeball. So there’s guaranteed to be something for everyone to enjoy!

8. Take a food tour of your city

Step outside and visit a few new restaurants with a local food tour! Many of these trips are organized to explore some of the more niche cuisines in major cities like New York and Los Angeles. Or you can choose a specific food to explore; did you know that Seattle has downtown donut tours to explore for special events like a bar mitzvah party?

9. Make it a bar mitzvah color party

We love color parties because they provide an instant theme for any special event! What is your bar/bat mitzvah child’s favorite color? Use it as the color of choice for everything from food and decorations to the clothing that guests should try to wear. Use a few of Peerspace’s color party ideas and color party food ideas to get you started! If you don’t have a single color in mind, make it a rainbow color party instead!

10. Book a private room at a museum or art gallery

Did you know that you can easily make a bar or bat mitzvah part of an educational outing for your young adult and their friends? Many museums, art galleries, planetariums, zoos, and other educational venues keep private rooms that you can book for parties of all kinds! You can reserve a party room for the bar mitzvah; one that may even come zoo or art gallery-themed. Before or after the party everyone attending will also be able to enjoy the exhibits since admission is often included with these party spaces!

11. Throw a bar mitzvah barbecue party

A barbecue is a non-traditional bar mitzvah idea that you can host either in the synagogue’s party hall or at your own home! The food you serve is going to make or break this theme; go with classic American BBQ favorites like cheeseburgers, potato salad, hot dogs, and potato chips. Sweets like apple pie and chocolate chip cookies round things off. You might include some of our outdoor games to play with friends if your venue has a large yard!

12. Have multiple kids celebrate a bar mitzvah together

Bar and bat mitzvahs are all about celebrating the coming of age of a kid so you’ll need to give extra thought to this idea. For parents on a budget or who have families that are closely connected to their neighbors, a single bar mitzvah for two kids is a great way to celebrate the occasion! Twins and close siblings will also appreciate a multi-bar mitzvah. Make sure to honor the uniqueness of each teen with activities like individual photo sessions and foods that both of them enjoy!

13. Book a resort hotel

A traditional bar or bat mitzvah is held at a synagogue with all of its religious connotations. But there’s no reason why you can’t celebrate at the space of your choosing; many rabbis are more than willing to accommodate non-traditional bar mitzvah ideas like a resort hotel, party hall, or banquet hall! If you want to make the occasion extra special, consider flying to a city known for world-class resorts, like Las Vegas or Miami! You’ll have everything from a dinner buffet to live performances to watch each night, all without leaving the resort hotel.

Our guide on how much it costs to rent a banquet hall can help you book the perfect hotel banquet room no matter your location!

14. Set up a themed photo booth

Everyone attending will want photos from the day, not just the guest of honor! So why not set up a photo booth where guests can capture Polaroid prints with the newly minted young adult and each other? You can even include props like mustaches, masks, funny hats, and other accessories! Photo booth rentals typically have a Polaroid printer installed so you get a small print right away that you can hang up at home or tuck away as a keepsake.

15. Hire a temporary tattoo artist

13 is a young age for actual tattoos but how about some fake ones made from henna or paint? Professional henna artists can recreate the design of your bar/bat mitzvah child’s dreams that will last less than 2-3 weeks. If henna art isn’t to your taste, try glitter tattoos, which fade much quicker, or have a face painting artist set up a station!

16. Have a rock climbing bar mitzvah

Does your bar or bat mitzvah child love scampering on rock walls? Make the party a climbing-themed one! You can easily rent a portable rock or rope climbing wall with safety equipment included. Take the theme even further by placing little climbing action figures on the cake and lining the venue with ropes and helmets!

17. Send themed invitations

Once you’ve decided on a particular bar/bat mitzvah theme, choose invitations that fit the idea! For a beach party, have ocean waves, surfers, and sunshine. If you’re going to have a magic show be the star attraction, perhaps the invitations can include rabbits being pulled from a hat…You get the idea! We recommend Etsy for downloadable themed bar mitzvah invitations.

18. Have a magician perform

Magic shows are fun for all ages; card tricks, disappearing acts, and hypnosis are just a few of the acts a good magician has to share with your bar mitzvah guests! Hiring a local magician for an hour or two of fun has never been easier. And don’t forget to ensure the bar/bat mitzvah child gets to take center stage once or twice during the show!

Non-traditional bar mitzvah ideas: conclusion

Since a bar mitzvah doesn’t have to be celebrated inside of a synagogue there are all kinds of ways to have a non-traditional ceremony and celebration! From beach parties to private screening rooms, try one of our non-traditional bar mitzvah ideas for your upcoming party! If you’ve enjoyed the ideas Peerspace has to share, think about browsing some of the bar and bat mitzvah venues near you we have in reserve! 

Find unique party venues for a bar or bat mitzvah near you on Peerspace