Where to Celebrate Hanukkah in New York – Kveller
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Hanukkah

Where to Celebrate Hanukkah in New York

Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, begins at sundown on Tuesday, December 16 and ends the evening of Wednesday, December 24. In addition to spinning your dreidel and frying your latkes at home, here are some events throughout the New York metro area that will help you party like a Hanukkah rock star.  

Manhattan:

When Mindy Saved Hanukkah Treasure Hunt

Who doesn’t love an adventure? Take the kids on a Hanukkah-themed treasure hunt in this century-old synagogue/museum and make holiday crafts and treats. $15 per family

Eldridge Street Synagogue, 12 Eldridge Street, Lower East Side

Sunday, Dec. 14, 11am-1pm

Hanukkah Family Day@ The Jewish Museum

This annual event is always a winner with activities to please everyone in the family including: crafts, performances, and the museum’s amazing collection of Hanukkah lamps. Best for ages 3 and up. Free with museum admission.

The Jewish Museum, 1109 5th Avenue @ 92nd St., Upper East Side

Sunday, Dec. 14, 12pm-4pm

Menorah Madness with Joanie Leeds & The Night Lights

The kids get to boogie to the music and create holiday crafts, and you get a family-friendly mini-tour of the museum. Because when is the last time you actually managed to tour a museum? Best for ages 3-10. $10 per person, $7 children 10 and under.

Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, Downtown Manhattan

Sunday, Dec. 14, 2pm

Dirty Sock Funtime Band Concert

Nosh on some latkes and rock your socks off to Hanukkah songs and other original hits.

$10/child in advance, $15/child at door — grown-ups are FREE!!

Temple Israel of the CIty of New York, 112 E. 75th Street, Upper East Side

Sunday, Dec. 14, 10:30am-12pm

92nd St. Y Hanukkah Festival

The 92nd St. Y knows how to throw a party. Bring the entire family for musical performances, holiday crafts, make-your-own holiday treats, opportunities to give back, and more. $12 and up, good for all ages.

92 St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave., Upper East Side

Sunday, Dec. 14, 11am-2pm

Family & Friends Hanukkah Party

A Hanukkah show with Len Leavitt and his Levity puppets followed by snacks and family fun.

Conservative Synagogue of Fifth Avenue, 11 East 11th Street, Downtown

Sunday, Dec. 14, 1-3pm

Hanukkah Celebration @ the Y

Head on over to the Y and celebrate with music, crafts, and more.

YM/YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwoods, 54 Nagle Ave, Washington Heights

Sunday, Dec. 14, 1:30-3:30pm

Hanukkah on Ice

Bundle everyone up for an evening of ice skating to live Jewish music and be sure not to strain your neck during the lighting of the 6-foot-tall hand-carved ice menorah!

Wollman Rink, Central Park @ 830 5th Avenue, Upper East Side

Tuesday, Dec. 16, 6-9pm


Hanukkah with the Levity Puppets

Everyone loves a puppet show! Let Len Leavitt and his puppets entertain your brood, enjoy some Hanukkah treats, and make your own puppet to take home.

$5 per person $18 max per family

West End Synagogue, 190 Amsterdam Avenue @69th St., Upper West Side

Saturday, Dec. 20, 4pm-6pm

Brooklyn

Family Hanukkah Party

Hanukkah lights, singing with Adam Blotner, storytelling, and jelly doughnuts. What more can you ask for? Fun for all ages, free, and open to the community.

Kings Bay Y at North Williamsburg, 14 Hope Street, Suite 1, North Williamsburg

Sunday, Dec. 14, 10:30am-12:30pm

Olive Press Workshop

Channel your inner Maccabee and learn how to press your own olive oil, make a wick, and light a Hanukkah menorah with your creations.

Jewish Children’s Museum, 792 Eastern Parkway, Brownstone Brooklyn

Sunday, Dec. 14 & 21st, 12:30-5:30pm

Community Hanukkah Art Festival

Why just look at art when you can make it yourself? Kids ages 2-10 can participate in art workshops led by a variety of artists and organizations from all over NYC. $5 per person, no registration necessary.

Hannah Senesh Community Day School, 342 Smith Street, Brownstone Brooklyn

Sunday, Dec. 14, 1-4pm

Family Hanukkah Party

Sit back, relax, and let the kids be wowed by face painting, balloon art, holiday arts & crafts, and an interactive concert by Oran Etkin’s Timbalooloo. $5 per person, $20 per family.

East Midwood Jewish Center, 1625 Ocean Avenue, Southern Brooklyn

Sunday, Dec. 14, 1-3pm

Long Island

Huntington Hanukkah Happening

Celebrate Hanukkah with activities for all age groups–including teens. While the kids are busy having fun, you can nosh on a latke and dream of summer at the Jewish summer camp fair. Free

Huntington Jewish Center, 510 Park Avenue, Huntington, NY

Sunday, Dec. 14, 11am-1pm

Family Hanukkah Party

Celebrate Hanukkah deliciously with cookie-baking and chocolate-making along with PJ Library story time, crafts, and a sing-along. For kids in 2nd grade and younger. Free and open to the public.

Central Synagaguge of Nassau County & Congregation Beth Emeth, 430 DeMott Ave., Rockville Centre

Sunday, Dec. 14, 12-2pm

JWOW Hanukkah Extravaganza
– now @ 2 locations!

Jewish Without Wall’s annual Hanukkah party in the mall is always a blast and this year you have your choice of two locations! Free.

Smith Haven Mall, 313 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove

Sunday, Dec. 14, 1-4pm

Walt Whitman Mall, 160 Walt Whitman Rd., Huntington Station

Sunday, Dec. 14, 12-3pm

Family Hanukkah Sing-a-Long w/ Sifriyat Pijama B’America

Sing your favorite Hanukkah songs and learn some new ones, listen to stories, and have a snack. Free and open to the entire community.

Solomon Schechter of Long Island, 1 Barbara Lane, Jericho

Monday, Dec. 15, 5:30-6:30pm

Westchester

Latkepalooza @ Temple Beth Abraham

Finish up your holiday shopping at the gift boutique, listen to stories read by PJ Library author Leslie Kimmelman, make your own “Maccabear,” and have a holiday treat.

Temple Beth Abraham, 25 Leroy Avenue, Tarrytown

Sunday, Dec 14, 9am-1pm

Hanukkah Celebration @ the Rosenthal JCC

Kids will love participating in a re-enactment of the Hanukkah story with Jewish Drum Tales. When they are done banging on drums and shaking their noisemakers, refuel with fresh latkes and create holiday crafts to decorate your home or give as gifts.

Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester, 600 Bear RIdge Road, Pleasantville

Sunday, Dec. 14, 3:30-5:30pm

COJECO Family Hanukkah Celebration

Join other Russian-speaking Jewish families for a latke lunch, conversation, and fun activities for children ages 3-5 and 6-10. $18 per family.

Temple Israel Center, 280 Old Mamaroneck Road, White Plains

Sunday, Dec. 14, 12:30-2:30pm

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