8 Hanukkah Celebrations and Festivities in NYC 2021

Hanukkah Celebrations and Festivities in NYC

Hanukkah is all about celebrating traditions and spending time together as a family. Luckily, New York has many events happening throughout the holiday season that will allow you to celebrate in many different ways. Whether you are looking for a menorah lighting or a glow in the dark dance party, there are Hanukkah celebrations and festivities that will make your Hanukkah more memorable.

Psst… Check out 9 Amazing Menorah Lighting Ceremonies in 2021: Your Guide to NYC, Long Island, and Westchester

Hanukkah at Jane’s Carousel
Jane’s Carousel, New Dock Street, Brooklyn, NY
December 1, 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Hosted by Chabad of Dumbo, Chanukah at Jane’s Carousel brings families together to celebrate the holiday in a fun way. Take part in activities such as carousel rides, ice Menorah carvings, arts and crafts, and more! At the end of the night, families are able to gather around and take part in a traditional Menorah lighting ceremony. This event is free, but guests are asked to register.

Hanukkah on Ice
Wollman Rink
November 29, 6pm – 9pm

This annual skating experience is known as one of the biggest Hanukkah parties in the city. Guests can enjoy listening to Jewish music, eating delicious kosher food and, of course, skating the night away! To keep everyone safe and healthy, guests over the age of 12 will be asked to show a proof of vaccination, a recent PCR test, or get rapid tested at the venue. Masks will also be required in the Club House at all times.Tickets start online at $22 or $30 with skate rentals but prices will go up when purchasing at the door.

Hanukkah Under the Stars

92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
December 5, 4pm & 5:30pm

Celebrate the festival of light while gazing up at the stars! 92Y is putting on a rooftop event where guests will be able to take part in fun and festive activities. Parents will enjoy jamming out to classic hanukkah songs while the kids play with their friends. The event will also be available online. Adults and kids 12+ will have to show proof of vaccination and masks should be worn at all times. Tickets start at $18.

Hanukkah Family Fest
Jewish Children’s Museum
November 28-December 6, Monday-Thursday 10am-4pm, Sunday 10am-5:30pm

Get your kids excited to celebrate Hanukkah with fun activities put on at The Jewish Children’s Museum. Kids will be able to make unique Chanukah arts, decorate donuts, and learn the art of olive oil making. This fest will be the perfect way to celebrate the holiday with the family.

Chanukah Celebration
The Chelsea Green Park, 140 W 20th Street
December 2, 5:30pm

You are not going to want to miss the Hanukkah celebration at The Chelsea Green Park! Enjoy some delicious treats as well as fun activities and crafts that will make for a perfect celebration! Not only are there fun activities but there will also be a Grand Menorah Lighting to add some tradition to the celebration.

Chabad of Long Island City: Community Chanukah Celebration
Gantry Plaza State Park, 48th Avenue and Center Blvd.
December 1, 6pm

At the Community Chanukah Celebration, there are fun activities that are perfect for each member of the family! Not only is there live music and good food, but visitors will also love watching a performance by Chabad Hebrew School. This event is free but donations are appreciated.

Hanukkah Hunt Gallery Program
The Jewish Museum, 1109 5th Avenue, New York, NY
December 5, 10:30am – 3pm

Are you looking for a fun and educational way to end the Hanukkah holiday? Bring your family to see different menorahs from around the world at The Jewish Museum. Take part on a fun hunt around the museum for treasured works of art. This event is free with the purchase of a museum ticket.

Latke Festival 2021
Location TBA
December 6, 6pm – 8:30pm

The most unique holiday tasting event is coming back! Organized by Great Performance, this festival is put on to celebrate some of the most creative potato pancakes. If families want to get more information about this event, sign up to get their newsletters.

The Wild Center

The Wild Center, nestled within the breathtaking landscape of New York's Adirondack Park, offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of nature. As visitors approach the Center, they are greeted by the Adirondack Mountains towering in the distance, setting the stage for an immersive adventure. Upon entering the 34,000-square-foot exhibit hall, guests are enveloped in a world of wonder and discovery. Interactive exhibits like Planet Adirondack and Climate Solutions invite exploration, allowing visitors to delve into the rich biodiversity of the Adirondack region. The indoor experience also includes an opportunity to soar on Birdly--a one-of-a-kind VR experience. Also, get up close with an animal ambassador during one of many live animal encounters throughout the day. In addition to its indoor exhibits and programs, the Wild Center also boasts 115-acres of extensive outdoor amenities. One of the highlights in the award-winning Wild Walk. Visitors walk up a trail of bridges to the treetops of the Adirondack forest, 40 feet off the ground. Along the way, interactive exhibits provide insights into the flora and fauna that call the Adirondacks home, from songbirds to black bears. The rest of the campus features more ways to explore. Check out Patrick Dougherty&rsquo;s Stickwork sculpture, an all natural installation of woven sticks that will spark your imagination and nostalgia. Immerse yourself in Forest Music, take a naturalist-lead canoe trip, or get your roll on with Raquette River Roll, a brand-new, oversized, all-natural ball run experience opening in June 2024.

Speakitaly NYC

SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge. Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"

Brooklyn Robot Foundry - Virtual Classes

Brooklyn Robot Foundry offers super fun online robot-building classes for children 2-13 years old!&nbsp;&nbsp;Each week, students are introduced to new engineering concepts and components while building that day&rsquo;s robot in their own &ldquo;workshop&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;All classes maintain a very low student-to-teacher ratio, allowing for plenty of individualized instruction and socializing. The supplies are shipped in advance and classes are led by amazing instructors, taking all the pressure off parents.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Foundry&rsquo;s main focus however, is that kids have fun, get creative, and enjoy being part of this STEAM-loving community!&nbsp;