Hanukkah events & concerts in NYC

There’s a full calendar of Hanukkah events and concerts in NYC.  The Jewish Festival of Lights begins at sundown Sunday for eight days.  Here are more than eight family-friendly events and adults-only parties and concerts to celebrate Hanukkah in New York.  Nothing on our list is more than $10 per person for family events and $20 for adult-only events.  Unless a price is noted, the event is FREE.

Shop for special Hanukkah products at Grand Central Terminal

• Sun. Dec. 6

Bright Lights, Big Menorah – The lighting of the first night candle is celebrated with latkes, hot chocolate, face painting and balloon art for the kids and more.  5pm to 6pm at Sutton Place Park, at East 57th St.  Sponsored by Chabad of Beekman Sutton.

Battery Park Christmas Lights and Menorah Lighting  – At Sundown, at South Cove at the southern end of South End Ave.  Event website.

World’s Largest Menorah Lighting  – Every evening of Hanukkah at 5:30pm, except for Friday at 3:30pm before the Sabbath and Saturday at 8pm after the Sabbath.  Grand Army Plaza, Fifth Avenue at 59th St.  See the complete list of  NYC holiday tree and menorah lightings here.

Brooklyn’s Largest Menorah Lighting – Every evening of Hanukkah; same times as Manhattan.  At Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park.

Play Me a Story: Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins at the Museum of Jewish Heritage: Follow Hershel on a musical journey as he saves Hanukkah by outwitting the goblins that haunt the old synagogue. Following the performance, enjoy an art activity and family-friendly mini-tour of the Museum’s collection of menorahs. $8, Free for children and grandchildren of MJH Members. at 10:30am.  Tickets sold at the door, and includes museum admission.  Event website

Hanukkah Family Day at the Jewish Museum –  All day events including storytelling, arts and crafts, dreidl decorating, musical concerts and more. Noon to 4pm. Free with museum admission.  Workshop and event schedule.

• Mon. Dec. 7

The Maccabeats – This upbeat Jewish a cappella group is performing at the Jewish day school Magen David Yeshivah in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, there’s no information on the Maccabeats or Yeshiva websites what time or cost.  So, instead, we’re sharing their a new song, “Latke Recipe,” which reworks Walk The Moon’s “Shut Up And Dance” to be about a Hanukkah dinner (“up and dance with me” becomes “latke recipe”).

• Thurs., Dec. 10

Concert of Russian and Jewish Heritage Music – While not precisely a Hanukkah concert, this FREE performance by recording artists Linda Kunkin and Vlad West includes old and new holiday and popular songs, in Russian, Yiddish, Hebrew and English.  6:30pm at the Mid-Manhattan branch of the NYPL, across Fifth Ave. from the main branch with the two stone lions out front.

• Sun., Dec. 13

FREE event for Jewish and Interfaith families at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, at 10:30amJoin the musical group Yellow Sneaker and their puppet pals for programs that nurture family bonds and bridge connections to Jewish life and traditions. Every concert will focus on a different Jewish holiday or value including: caring for the environment, friendship, and love and kindness. Families, musicians, and puppets will sing and learn together as a welcoming community. Yellow Sneaker features the Brooklyn-based performers and teaching artists Ora and Yoshie Fruchter.  Event website.

Klezmer Brunch Bar with the Breslov Band at City Winery.  11am.  Tickets are $10, plus brunch.

Dress Up Dreidel Down, Hanukkah Disco Party – Dress to impress at the Jewish Museum’s very first Hanukkah Disco. Make with a red carpet entrance, catch the daytime dance fever and kick off the last night of Hanukkah.  Starting at 3pm.  Free with museum admission.

•  Tues., Dec. 22