It’s that chaotic time again, pals: Purim is here! Maybe you already have plans to attend a Purim party, or maybe you were planning to sit the holiday out this year because you’re a little burned out from… *gestures to the whole world.* But maybe you fall into a third category: You’d like to celebrate Purim — you’re even open to throwing a party yourself — but you’re just not sure what the vibe should be.
Well, great news. I am here to suggest nine specific Purim party options to meet all your needs. There’s really something for everyone here. Purim is literally right around the corner — not to stress you out, but the holiday starts THURSDAY NIGHT — so read through this list, pick the party of your dreams and then text your group chat to make plans ASAP. You got this!
1. If you have a childlike spirit
If what you’d really like to do for Purim is get creative and also eat some delicious treats, a hamantaschen-making party is the event for you! Gather a small group, encourage everyone to bring 2-3 fillings and make the dough in advance. If you want to be super professional about it, you can cut the dough into circles in advance too, but I believe your friends can manage making their own circles (probably) so choose your own adventure here. If you’re a pro at hamantaschen folding, do a demo yourself, or if you need to pull up a YouTube, go for it. Once everyone is confident with their folding and pinching techniques, let the creating begin! Bonus points if you try each filling with a spoon while the hamantaschen cook; anticipate the inevitable fight over Which Filling Is The Best.
2. If you have an actual child
Repeat the ~childlike spirit~ party, but this time… invite actual children! This is an extremely cute idea because imagine a bunch of little kids making hamantaschen as a group. Like?! Talk about creating a meaningful Jewish core memory!!! But this could also go off the rails if the kids are too young or don’t have enough supervision. I’ve heard of successful parties like this one where the kids all bring their own rolling pins, the dough and the fillings are ready to go, and as one friend told me: “The party basically turned into a hamantaschen factory with child labor and all, while all the parents relaxed on the couches with drinks and fresh cookies in hand.” Sounds ideal, I say, as the weird gay aunt with no children of my own just yet.
3. If you wanna get drunk
If you haven’t been invited to a Purim rager, you can always make your own. Invite everyone you know. Tell them to invite everyone they know. Include aggressive instructions on your text invites that state NO COSTUME, NO ENTRY!!! Make a stellar playlist with lots of bops for dancing and making out and embracing the chaos and confusion of the holiday. Did you know you can make Manischewitz jello shots? You’re so welcome.
4. If you love those “is it cake” videos
Sure, Purim is a time to dress yourself up in costume… but have you considered dressing your food up in costume? Hear me out — a friend of a friend hosts a party every Purim called a “costume meal party,” where the costume does not belong on the person, no, it belongs on the disguised meal. As the host, choose a theme (Dessert That Looks Like Delivery, Veggies That Look Like Make Up). The lore I heard from this particular party is that one year, someone brought a dessert placed in McDonalds packaging that looked like chicken nuggets and fries. Inventive!
5. If you have an extensive costume collection
It cannot be emphasized enough that Purim is an excuse to dress up in a costume. As adults, we have tragically few opportunities to dress up in a costume, and I think it’s important to take advantage of every single one of them. That’s why I’m a big advocate for the humble costume party — it doesn’t matter what y’all do while dressed up, the important thing is the act of dressing up itself. Maybe this is even an interactive costume party with a makeup station, a wig selection and multiple outfit changes! It can be a highly specific themed costume party — perhaps an “Oops! All Queen Esthers” moment where every single person present dresses up as the hero of our story. Or maybe you want to lean into the weirder… like what if everyone had to dress up as a character from the VeggieTales Purim episode? Dibs on Mordecai, even though I’m still unclear exactly what kind of vegetable he’s supposed to be.
6. If you just wanna chill while watching anthropomorphic vegetables
SPEAKING OF VEGGIETALES… may we suggest a VeggieTales Purim episode watch along party? I have it on good authority that only the coolest people host VeggieTales watch along parties 😉
7. If you’re a theater kid (with a bunch of theater kid friends)
All theater kids have either participated in or heard lore of 24 Hour Plays, the absolutely unhinged scenario where you and a group of equally dramatique friends create and perform a play in 24 hours or less. Yes, that means coming up with the concept, writing the script, sourcing the props and costumes, creating the set, rehearsing and performing… it’s a whole situation. Well, hear me out: What if you took on this extremely chaotic task for the most chaotic of Jewish holidays? Tbh this should be even easier than your average 24 hour play, because the concept is already created for you! Act out the Book of Esther, babes! What, like it’s hard?
8. If you’re a theater kid and a gamer
What about if you’re a theater kid and a gamer? Great news — if you’re the kind of nerd who loves board games, social deception games, card games, reality TV games, etc. etc. etc., may I interest you in a Purim Themed Murder Mystery Party?! This option is nice because it combines a few of the key elements of some of the other parties (you’re eating food, you’re not leaving your home, you’re being dramatic) and also by virtue of the nature of a murder mystery party, it’s an intimate VIP-only gathering (yes, the VIPs are simply the small group of people you know who also land in the slim Venn diagram sliver of theater kids who are also gamers). If you’ve never hosted a murder mystery party before and need guidance, this blog offers some good stuff, and I’d also recommend poking around Reddit for inspiration.
9. If you wish Shabbat was more than just one day
Purim falls on a Friday this year, so if you’re that person who always wishes Shabbat could last longer than it does, this is the year for you to shine. Take a page out of the Syrian community’s book and host a pre-Shabbat Purim lunch that rolls directly into Shabbat. Hamantaschen and challah? Literally what could be better.
If you end up hosting any of these parties this Purim, tag us on Instagram — we’d love to see your costumes, your hamantaschen and yeah, your Manischewitz jello shots.
