Celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights, also known as Hanukkah – or Chanukkah. However you spell it, it’s an eight-day celebration with an additional light added to a special Menorah (candelabra) each night.
It begins at sunset on Sunday, November 28, with family-friendly lighting ceremonies around NYC.
Hanukkah – or Chanukkah – celebrates the miracle in the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, when there was only enough holy oil for one night but it lasted miraculously for eight. At the time, a group of Jews now known as Macabees were under seige after rising up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors.
The name Macabees was formed from the first letters of a Hebrew phrase, “Mi Kamocha Ba’eilim Hashem,” which translates to “Who is like You, God.”
Put these menorah lighting events on your calendar.
As the saying goes, you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy music, dancing, donut decorating and ice carvings.
World’s Largest Menorah Lighting Ceremonies
The world’s two largest Menorahs – one in Grand Army Plaza next to Central Park, the other in Grand Arm Plaza next to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park – are lit each night at sundown.
The Menorahs are 32-foot-high and 4,000-pound steel.
The Menorah lightings are FREE and generally at 5:30pm (Fridays 3:30pm and Saturdays 8pm).
Chabad of Park Slope hosts the ceremonies in Brooklyn.
There’s a kick off concert on Sunday, November 28, and each subsequent night is celebrated with music, latkes, and gifts.
Brooklyn menorah lightings are as follows, and the Manhattan times are similar:
- 1st Night of Hanukkah, Sunday, November 28 kickoff concert begins at 4pm
- 2nd Night of Hanukkah, Monday, November 29 at 6pm
- 3rd Night of Hanukkah, Tuesday, November 30 at 6pm
- 4th Night of Hanukkah, Wednesday, December 1 at 6pm
- 5th Night of Hanukkah, Thursday, December 2 at 6pm
- 6th Night of Hanukkah, Friday, December 3, at 3:30pm
- 7th Night of Hanukkah, Saturday, December 4 at 7:15pm
- 8th Night of Hanukkah, Sunday, December 5 at 5pm
More Menorah Lighting Events
Photo: South St. Seaport
Sunday, Nov. 28, 3pm-5pm
Hanukkah Family Fun Day, South Street Seaport, Manhattan
The Seaport is celebrating the first night of Hanukkah with a two-hour event including a magical ice sculpture carving and Grand Menorah lighting. In addition, numerous outdoor and indoor activities including face painting, holiday treats, and live music will be available throughout the neighborhood.
Grand Ice Carving of Menorah Show – 3:00pm – 3:30pm
- Watch the artists craft the menorah out of giant blocks of ice.
Indoor and Outdoor Activities and Entertainment – 3:00pm – 4:30pm
- Enjoy a variety of winter themed and Chanukah activities and projects including balloons, coloring books, and donut decorating.
- RSVP for Chanukah crafts here.
Grand Menorah Lighting – 4:30pm – 5:00pm
- Celebrate the start of Chanukah with your loved ones as neighborhood figureheads light the first candle at sundown.
Sunday, Nov. 28, 5:30pm
Outdoor Clinton Hill Chanukah Celebration, Brooklyn
Join Rabbi Yossi of Myrtle Ave’s Hadas Gallery + Synagogue, who will lead the lighting of a menorah made of ice. The event also includes live music, hot latkes and sufganiyot (friend doughnuts) and giveaways for kids.
- FREE, Sunday, Nov. 28, 5:30pm
- Rohr Chabad of Clinton Hill & Pratt Institute, across from 541 Myrtle Ave., Clinton Hill
Tuesday, Nov. 30, 4:30pm
Chanukah Menorah Lighting Ceremony - Queens Borough Hall, Queens
Join Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. in a festive celebration of Hanukkah.
- FREE, 4:30pm
- Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens
Wednesday, Dec. 1, 6pm
Community Chanukah Celebration - Gantry State Park, Long Island City
Chabad of Long Island City presents this celebration which includes an ice menorah carving show, a performance by Chabad Hebrew School, an ice menorah carving show, 3-D glow-in-the-dark glasses, lively Hanukkah music, and much more.
Plus, enjoy doughnuts, chocolate gelt, and other treats
- FREE, 6pm
- Gantry Plaza State Park, Center Boulevard at 48th Avenue, Long Island City
Thursday, Dec. 2, 5:30pm
Hanukkah Celebration - Chelsea Green Park, Manhattan
Celebrate Hanukkah with crafts, latkes, doughnuts, chocolate gelt, dreidels, and a grand menorah lighting.
- FREE, 5:30pm.
- Chelsea Green Park is 140 W. 20th St.
Sunday, Dec. 5, 5pm
Abingdon Square Menorah Lighting, Manhattan
See the lighting of a giant menorah and enjoy latkes, doughnuts, entertainment for kids, and a Hanukkah gelt drop
- FREE, 5:30pm
- Abingdon Square Park, intersection of Bleecker and Hudson streets, Greenwich Village
Sunday, Dec. 5, 7pm
Image: HIAS
Join HIAS for a community candle lighting to celebrate the last night of Hanukkah.
Join an international audience gathering virtually for a moment of shared reflection, song, and light, and to hear from activists across the country who are making a difference for refugees in their communities.
This is an opportunity for advocates, volunteers, and supporters to come together to acknowledge the work we are doing as a community, and to shine a light of welcome for the refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers still on their journeys to safety.
Get your menorah ready, and celebrate a reconnection and rededication to our values of welcome, dignity, and freedom for all.
- FREE, register here for the virtual link.
Menorah Lighting Ceremonies in
Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, New Jersey and Connecticut
Sunday, Nov. 28, 6pm
Grand Menorah Car Parade & Lighting - Dix Hills
WHERE: The Chai Center, 501 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills
WHAT: Celebrate Hanukkah with a Grand Menorah Car Parade & Lighting. The parade starts from Chabad of Mid-Suffolk (318 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack) at 6pm. The Grand Menorah Lighting at The Chai Center (outdoors), located at 501 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills, will happen at 6:45pm. Enjoy live music, doughnuts, latkes, and fun for the entire family.
- Free.
Sunday, Nov. 28, 6pm
Chabad Somers Public Menorah Lighting - Somers
WHERE: Elephant Hotel, 335 US-202, Somers
WHAT: Kick off the first night of Hanukkah with a public menorah lighting.
- Free.
Sunday, Nov. 28, 6pm
Menorah Lighting - Yonkers
WHERE: Cross County Center, 8000 Mall Walk, Yonkers
WHAT: Enjoy a special Hanukkah menorah lighting with the Chabad of Yonkers. The Chabad Rabbi will light the menorah in celebration of the festival of lights, and guests will enjoy live music, cultural dancing, and treats.
- Free.
Sunday, Nov. 28 6pm
Pound Ridge Outdoor Menorah Lighting
WHERE: Across from 55 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge
WHAT: Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with an outdoor Menorah lighting ceremony and gift bags.
- Free.
Sunday, Nov. 28, 3pm
Bedford Outdoor Menorah Lighting
3pm Chanukah Village; 4pm Menorah Lighting
WHERE: Bedford Village Green, Bedford
WHAT: Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah when Bedford Village is turned into Chanukah Village! Every store will have a Hanukkah treat for you! Then, get ready to light the menorah.
- Free.
Monday, Nov. 29, 6pm
Public Menorah Lighting - Great Neck
WHERE: LIRR Station, Middle Neck Road & Station Plaza, Great Neck
WHAT: Celebrate Hanukkah with music, dancing, doughnuts, and prizes for all kids. Great Neck dignitaries will light the menorah.
- Free.
Monday, Nov. 29, 6pm
Menorah Lighting - Stratford, Ct
WHERE: Stratford Town Hall, 2725 Main St., Stratford, CT
WHAT: Celebrate the second night of Hanukkah with a menorah lighting.
- Free.
Tuesday, Nov. 30, 5-6:30pm
GCA Menorah Lighting Ceremony - Greenlawn
WHERE: Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn
WHAT: Celebrate the third night of Hanukkah with a community menorah lighting.
- Free.
Wednesday, Dec. 1, 6:30pm
Menorah Lighting and Gelt Drop - Rutherford, NJ
WHERE: Temple Beth El of Rutherford, 185 Montross Ave., Rutherford, NJ
WHAT: Celebrate Hanukkah with a menorah lighting, music, latkes, doughnuts, and a gelt drop from a fire truck.
- Free.
Thursday, Dec. 2, 6:30pm
Annual Christmas Tree & Menorah Lighting - Jersey City
WHERE: The Historic Downtown Special Improvement District, 119-158 Newark Ave., Jersey City, NJ
WHAT: Join Mayor Fulop and the HDSID in celebrating the holiday season with the lighting of the Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah.
- Free.
Thursday, Dec. 2, 6pm
Public Menorah Lighting - Great Neck
WHERE: The Village Green, Middle Neck and Beach roads, Great Neck
WHAT: Celebrate Hanukkah with music, dancing, doughnuts, and prizes for all kids. Great Neck dignitaries will light the menorah.
- Free.
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