Chanukah Events and Menorah Lightings in New York 2023

Chanukah Events and Menorah Lightings in New York 2022
partial view of man lighting up candles in menorah on black background with bokeh lights on Hanukkah

Chanukah Events and Menorah Lightings Near Me 2023

We have all the Chanukah Events and Menorah Lightings in New York that are near, in and around New York City for families to enjoy this holiday season.

Psst… Looking for more holiday events? Check out Christmas Tree and Menorah Lightings in Staten Island!

Manhattan

Glow-in-the-Dark Chanukah Dinner

The 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave., Upper East Side
Friday, Dec. 1, 5:30 pm
All ages
$36

It’s a Chanukah extravaganza of music, glow sticks, latkes, and light! Gather ‘round to sing and share blessings, followed by a catered dinner, wine (for the adults!), dancing, crafts, and of course, glow sticks galore! 

Hanukkah Family Day

The Jewish Museum, 1109 5th Ave & E 92nd St., Upper East Side
Sunday, Dec. 3, 11 am – 3:30 pm
Ages 3 and older
$18; $12 senior; $8 student; free for ages 18 and younger and members

Celebrate the festival of lights through art-making and music at the Jewish Museum!

Build a holiday sculpture with a playful mix of found objects inspired by the exhibition Marta Minujín: Arte! Arte! Arte! and by Hanukkah menorahs in the Museum’s collection, design bold printed cards, paint metallic light images on canvas, dance to the bilingual pop tunes of Mister G, sketch Hanukkah lamps from around the globe, enjoy gallery activities, and collaborate on a giant mixed-media work of art. 

77th Annual Menorah on the High Line

The High Line, 15th St. and 10th Ave., Chelsea
Thursday, Dec. 7, 5 pm
All ages
Free

Come out for a Chanukah Celebration on the High Line. Chanukah Donuts, hot cocoa, chocolate gelt and dreidels for all, and a grand Menorah lighting! Plus, music by the Noah Solomon Band.

Hanukkah Celebration at CMOM

Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 W 83rd St., Upper West Side
Dec. 8-10, Friday-Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm
All ages
Included with admission: $13-$16

Celebrate the start of Hanukkah and learn the origins of the dreidel game and its importance as it was used to protect freedom. Discover the songs and story books the game has inspired. 

Family Chanukah Celebration

Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave., Upper West Side
Friday, Dec. 8, 11 – 11:45 am
Ages 5 and younger
$15 per child; free for children younger than 1
Pre-registration is required

Join the Marlene Meyerson JCC for a family Chanukah celebration complete with storytelling, activities, and special Chanukah treats. 

Chanukah Festival: Bring in the Light!

The 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave., Upper East Side
Sunday, Dec. 10, 11 am
All ages
$18

This annual event is bursting with crafts, entertainment, make-your-own holiday treats, a live Chanukah Game Show, a special Chanukah Israeli folk dance performance, opportunities to give back, and more.

Hanukkah Celebration

Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey St., Battery Park City
Sunday, Dec. 10, 11 am – 2 pm
All ages
Free

Come out for a special Hanukkah event in Hudson Eats, with live music featuring Zisl Slepovitch’s Klezmer Ensemble, art-making, photo ops and festive offerings for everyone to enjoy!

Chanukah Menorah Lighting Activities

South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St., Downtown Manhattan
Sunday, Dec. 10, 11 am – 5 pm
All ages
Free
Advanced registration requested 

Get into the festive spirit with creative family activities in honor of the annual neighborhood Chanukah Menorah Lighting, which will take place on the Heineken Riverdeck at Pier 17, from 3–5pm.

Aboard the Seaport Museum’s 1885 tall ship Wavertree at Pier 16, families and visitors of all ages are encouraged to join in the creative fun by crafting your own baggywrinkle, charming maritime-inspired decorations perfect for holiday decorations, using festive colored yarn.

Baggywrinkle, traditionally made from unraveled ropes, is a ships’ tool used to safeguard sails from damage.

Sunday Story Time: Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, Upper West Side
Sunday, Dec. 10, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Ages 3-6
Included with admission: $24; $19 seniors; $13 students; $6 ages 5-13; free for children younger than 5

Enjoy a reading of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel, with illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.

In this story, the traditional Jewish folk hero Hershel of Ostropol arrives in a small village on the first night of Hanukkah and discovers that a group of goblins have taken over the synagogue and forbidden the villagers from celebrating.

Hershel is determined to outwit the goblins and save Hanukkah! Come find out if he succeeds, and after the story, make your own Hanukkah dreidel!

Chanukah on Ice NYC

Central Park Wollman Rink, 830 5th Ave., Upper East Side
Tuesday, Dec. 12, 6 – 9 pm
All ages
$32 ages 3 and older
Advanced registration required

Come out for an evening of ice skating and Chanukah fun for the whole family. Participants will skate to the sounds of Jewish music, while kosher food will be distributed from the concession.

The crowd will participate in the lighting of a hand-carved six foot tall Ice Menorah, accompanied by music and prayers for Israel.

Chanukah at Chelsea Green

The Chelsea Green Park, 140 W 20th St., Chelsea
Thursday, Dec. 14, 5:30 pm
All ages
Free

Celebrate Chanukah with a grand Menorah lighting, Chanukah crafts, latkes & donuts, chocolate gelt, and dreidels for all!

Bronx

Chabad Lubavitch of Riverdale Giant Menorah Lighting

The Bell Monument at Bell Tower Park, W. 239th St. & Riverdale Ave., Riverdale
Sunday, Dec. 10, 4 pm
All ages
Free

Celebrate Chanukah with hot latkas, donuts, live music and the lighting of the menorah!

Brooklyn

Klezmer Brunch Revival: Chanukah Edition

pinkFROG cafe, 221 North 9th St., Williamsburg
Sunday, Dec. 3, 12 – 2 pm
All ages
$20; $10 child

Join the neighborhood and musical guests Daphna Mor and The Shul Band for a holiday Klezmer brunch concert over bagels and jelly donuts. This family-friendly event will bring together an all-star group of Jewish musicians to get you into the Chanukah spirit.

Daphna Mor will lend her virtuoso recorder playing and vocals to The Shul Band’s high energy sound. They will collaborate on Klezmer songs, Sephardic grooves, Chanukah specials, and more.

Hanukkah Community Arts Festival

Hannah Senesh Community Day School, 342 Smith St., Red Hook
Sunday, Dec. 3, 1 – 3:30 pm
All ages
$5 per child over 2 years old to be paid at the door (no charge for parents/caregivers)
Advanced registration required

Come out for an afternoon full of family fun with holiday-focused art workshops. Enjoy step-by-step art stations for projects such as cookie decorating, dreidel painting, menorah crafting, along with music, storytime, yummy snacks, and so much more! 

Chanukah Family Fest

Jewish Children’s Museum, 792 Eastern Pkwy., Crown Heights
Dec. 7-14, Sundays – Thursdays, 10 am – 5:30 pm
All ages
$17 child; $15 adult; $14 seniors 65 and older
Advanced Reservation Required

Join the Jewish Children’s Museum for the ultimate Chanukah family experience. Decorate a mouth-watering holiday donut, discover the art of olive oil making in a fascinating and interactive workshop, and don’t forget to get crafty!

Make your own Chanukah Gelt Bag, and step into a world of wonder as you explore the museum’s unique Jewish, and Chanukah exhibits.

1st Night Chanukah Concert @ The Largest Menorah

Brooklyn’s Largest Menorah, Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights
Dec. 7, 5 – 7 pm; Dec. 8, 3:30 pm; Dec. 9, 7:15 pm; Dec. 10, 5 – 7 pm; Dec. 11 – 14, 6 pm.
All ages
Free

The Largest Menorah in Brooklyn has been towering over New York since 1985 and is a must on everyone’s calendar. Every night of Chanukah thousands celebrate with the accompaniment of live music and hot latkes for all. Special gifts are distributed to every child.

Making this a family celebration and a must on everyone’s calendar. For the 1st Night of Chanukah, there is a special free concert with world renowned Jewish musicians begins at 5:00 pm.

Ice Menorah Lighting

Industry City Courtyard ⅚, 51 35th St., Sunset Park
Sunday, Dec. 10, 4 – 6 pm
All ages
Free

Celebrate Hanukkah with Chabad of Sunset Park and see the lighting of a giant ice menorah!

Queens

Chanukah Festival at Commonpoint Queens

Commonpoint Queens Central Queens, 67-09 108th Street, Forest Hills
Sunday, Dec. 10, 12 – 3 pm
All ages
Free
Pre-registration is requested.

Bring the family to this annual Chanukah Festival and enjoy inflatable bounce houses, arts and crafts, games, children’s entertainment, information about programs, and more! Snacks will be available for purchase.

Chanukah Spectacular!

Gantry Plaza State Park, 4-44 47th Road, Long Island City
Sunday, Dec. 10, 4 – 5:30 pm
All ages
Free

Come out for the 4th night of Chanukah with a Gelt Drop from a Fire Truck, gourmet doughnut bar, silver menorah raffle, Chanukah treats, dreidel mascot, performance by City Gan Preschool and Chabad LIC Hebrew School, and the lighting of the menorah.

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Child's Play NY Virtual Classes

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f0d8558c-7fff-41d5-daea-321d9ce61efc" style="white-space: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Child's Play NY is a Brooklyn-based company founded in 2009, committed to offering a diverse array of theater arts classes for children. They believe studying the art of acting encourages kids to be even more creative, collaborative and compassionate human beings. Since its inception, Child's Play NY has touched the lives of hundreds of students, worked inside dozens of schools and is consistently ranked as among the top theater arts programs. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is the 2019 winner of Brooklyn Family's Choice award for Best Performing Arts Class.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fall/Winter 2020-21 Virtual Class Guide</span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make a Movie Class</span></strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Experience creative fulfillment and movie magic with Child’s Play NY! Kids get to make and star in their own film, with professional actors, directors and designers. From development to design to editing choices too, kids can take ownership over the creative process. Their friends and family get to celebrate their accomplishments at a final watch party premiere! Deep project-based learning and peer-connection is at the heart of this 9-week experience which can be done remotely or in-person.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fall and Winter Virtual Classes</span></strong></span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-left: 36pt; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong>Hogwarts School (grades 1-3)</strong>: Come get sorted into your favorite house, jump on your Firebolt and let’s make some magic! Class culminates in a movie montage featuring our original scripted work from the session.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create Your Own Class</span></strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make your own custom group to support social-emotional growth and play. Child’s Play NY provides a dynamic teacher and their lauded curriculum that puts peer-interaction at the front and center. Custom classes are a special way to nurture what your child loves most and share that excitement with their friends, in-person or online.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Playwriting (Grades 4-6)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students will use their creativity, compassion and confidence to build a story they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Individually, each student will craft a play, and together they will workshop their scenes, exercising their acting, directing, and most importantly, imagination skills. Over the course of the sessions, students will learn the basics of playwriting and be able to present any and all parts of their theatrical story. All classes will include individual assignments and collaborative opportunities. Each day will be structured so that all participants have the chance to learn and study other writers’ work, write for 10-15 minutes and share their words with each other. By the end of the semester they will have used their bodies, intellect and imagination to come up with an original play. By being confident, vulnerable and creative with each other and actively supporting and encouraging each other’s work, students will emerge with meaningful connections to each other and a strong sense of their writing and collaborative abilities.<br />Class culminates in a montage and packet of students’ original work.<strong><br /></strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Musical Theater Lab (Grades 4-6)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learn how to be a triple threat in this dynamic class for budding performers with Child’s Play NY. Students focus on songs, dances and characters from Broadway’s most celebrated and kid-friendly shows. They work alongside professional performers with years of experience bringing their passion to children. Class culminates in a movie showcase of scenes and songs.<br />Join for the full session, or enroll as a drop-in!<strong><br /></strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Shakespeare Scene Study (Grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Young people become confident with Shakespeare’s world, language and characters as they learn how to interpret a role with technique and courage. Classically trained professional actors assist the players in their physical, vocal and emotional transformations. All Shakespeare teaching artists are classically trained professional actors and have performed Shakespeare both on and off Broadway and in regional theaters across the country.</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students jump into the worlds of Shakespeare in this robust mash-up of improvisation and classic text scene study class. After learning the plot and characters from several plays, they rehearse and memorize scenes from the original text. New material, devised by the cast, adds a contemporary through-line to their show and highlights the universality of Shakespeare’s themes.<br />Class culminates in a movie showcasing their work.</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The Big Twist: A New Musical (Grade 1-4)</strong></div> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this acting class, students get to perform a brand new musical based on The Wizard of Oz.<br />The Wicked Witch of the South wants to return Oz to a time when WITCHES reigned supreme, and all was evil. Summoning a dark magic Tornado, the Wicked Witch of the South sends Oz hurtling into an alternate Oz. With the Yellow Brick road destroyed, the Wizard left powerless, and the citizens of Oz scattered to the Wind, our heroes are forced into unlikely partnerships to stop the Witch and restore the world to order. The Wizard of Oz meets The Tempest.  Class culminates in a premiere of a movie starring the students, filmed over the last few days of the session.</div> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-57c50323-7fff-79ce-175a-5e25408c0e29"></span></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-84ebe141-7fff-03c2-24cf-fead86e88df2"></span></p>

The Language Workshop For Children

<p dir="ltr">After offering both group and private lessons for many years and analyzing the results over time, The Language Workshop for Children, founded in1973, has decided to emphasize private remote lessons at shorter intervals. Our skilled educators will focus their attention exclusively on the unique needs, learning style, and interests of your child. This allows a bond to develop between teacher and student, which has been shown to drastically improve retention. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>OUR METHOD </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Developed by the pioneers of language education for children, our programs bring decades of experience to your living room with individualized, active language classes. Each lesson is based on proven methods and materials perfected to capture your child’s attention during the ages when he/she absorbs information the fastest.   </p> <p dir="ltr">While other online language classes rely on videos for passive learning, we deliver interactive, and engaging lessons with native-fluent teachers. In addition, all our teachers are certified in the Thibaut Technique which has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and many other well-respected publications.  </p> <p dir="ltr">Our short one-on-one lessons give kids the chance to focus, hear pronunciation clearly, and practice speaking in their target language. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>THE PROCESS</strong> </p> <p dir="ltr">First, students have a short meeting with our Director Francois Thibaut, in English, with their parent(s) present. Mr. Thibaut will determine the best course of study, including class length and frequency, the right teacher, lesson format and materials (or action games for younger students.) Then the learning begins! Mr. Thibaut will continually check in on your child’s learning to assure they are getting the most of their classes. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>OTHER OFFERINGS </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">We can also help your child prepare for: the French subject tests for SAT, AP & CLEP, the European DELF/DALF, the Canadian TEF and other standardized testing, college entry exams, studying or traveling abroad, cultural changes when moving abroad, and much more! </p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a97d759c-7fff-6e4d-8e93-70e093aa10f1"> </span></p>

The Music Institute of Long Island

<p dir="ltr">Established in 1990, the Music Institute of Long Island (MILI) is a classical music school staffed by exceptional instructors from many of the most prestigious conservatories and graduate music schools in the United States and Europe. Long Island’s foremost musical academies, its instrumental programs include violin, viola, cello, piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone and voice classes. MILI has been voted # 1 BEST MUSIC SCHOOL Consistently. </p> <p dir="ltr">They teach the Traditional, Suzuki, and ABRSM methods. Students participate in All-National, All-Eastern, All-State, youth orchestras, and score highly in NYSSMA and Royal Academy Music Festivals. First prize winners of competitions earn solos at Carnegie Hall and with orchestras. MILI offers Fall/Spring semesters plus Summer Sessions. Semesters include 15-17 weeks of private lessons, solo recitals with a final GALA Concert featuring chamber music.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>About the Directors: Carol & Geri Kushner:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The sisters are violinists, violists, chamber coaches & performers. They believe in instilling the love of music,  fostering proficiency, success, confidence & believe all MILI students achieve success.</p> <p dir="ltr">Degrees BM, MM (+), K-12 certifications, attended Manhattan School of Music, Queens College & Stonybrook University.They have been adjunct professors at Syracuse University, Aaron Copland School of Music Pre-College & Five Towns Colleges, Stonybrook University & have taught in L.I. public schools.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e9f5dcc8-7fff-2ad2-edea-98d61c367d72"></span></p>