17 ways to celebrate Hanukkah in NYC

With Hanukkah coinciding with Christmas this year, New York City is transforming into a festive hub of holiday celebrations. This year, the Festival of Lights begins at sunset on Wednesday, December 25, and lasts until sunset on Thursday, January 2. Across the five boroughs, there are many ways to enjoy the eight-night holiday, from menorah lighting celebrations to live music performances. Ahead, discover ways to celebrate Hanukkah in the Big Apple, from competing giant menorah lightings to live klezmer band performances at Brookfield Place.

Menorah lightings

Prospect Park & Central Park
Since 1985, the giant menorahs in Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn and Grand Army Plaza in Manhattan have competed for the title of “world’s largest.” Although both are 32 feet tall, the Guinness Book of World Records named the Fifth Avenue menorah as the “World’s Largest Menorah” in 2016. As 6sqft reported, a settlement was finally reached in 2016 when a Chabad-Lubavitch rabbinical court weighed in on the matter and gave the title to Central Park.

Hosted by the Chabad of Park Slope, the first night features a kickoff concert, this year featuring a live performance by Nissim Black, along with hot latkes and gifts for young attendees.

• 1st night, Wednesday, December 25 (Kickoff concert begins at 4:00 pm)
• 2nd night, Thursday, December 26 at 6 p.m.
• 3rd night, Friday, December 27 at 3:30 p.m.
• 4th night, Saturday, December 28 at 7:15 p.m.
• 5th night, Sunday, December 29 at 5 p.m.
• 6th night, Monday, December 30 at 6 p.m.
• 7th night, Tuesday, December 31 at 6 p.m.
• 8th night, Wednesday, January 1 at 6 p.m.

Manhattan’s Grand Army Plaza
Find the city’s other giant menorah at Manhattan’s Grand Army Plaza, at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, across from the Plaza Hotel. The schedule for the lighting ceremony has not been released yet.

Fifth Avenue
Hosted by the Chabad of Midtown Manhattan, Midtown’s annual public menorah lighting takes place at 509 Fifth Avenue. The nightly lighting ceremonies feature live music, singing, and holiday cheer. The ceremonies will take place on the following dates:

• 1st night, December 25 at 5 p.m.
• 2nd night, December 26 at 5 p.m.
• 3rd night, December 27 at 3:45 p.m.
• 4th night, December 28 at 6:30 p.m.
• 5th night, December 29 at 5 p.m.
• 6th night, December 30 at 5 p.m.
• 7th night, December 31 at 5 p.m.
• 8th night, January 1 at 5 p.m.

On December 26, the lighting event will feature a giant, 12-foot-tall ice menorah, which guests can watch being chiseled out of ice. The ice carving and live music begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the menorah lighting at 6 p.m.

This year, the Chabad is expanding its public menorah lighting to nine other locations across Manhattan, including Times Square, Grand Central, Madison Square Park, and more. You can learn more here.

Abingdon Square
Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Wednesday, December 25 at 4 p.m.
Chabad West Village’s annual Chanukah festival is returning for another fun-filled year, featuring a 10-foot menorah lighting traditional holiday treats, dreidel mascots, face painting, and a special appearance by Andy Cohen. Other highlights include a parachute gelt drop with the FDNY, balloon twisting, and arts and crafts for kids. You can RSVP here.

Hudson Yards
Celebrate the festival of lights in the Public Square and Gardens at Hudson Yards each night of the holiday.

The Seaport
Heineken Riverdeck at Pier 17
Sunday, December 29 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
While enjoying potato latkes, live music, and arts and crafts, watch as a six-foot-tall chocolate menorah is lit. Hosted by the Chabad Jewish Center of FiDi, the family-friendly celebration includes face painting, popcorn, chocolate, and other traditional treats, as well as a musical performance by the FiDi Hebrew School. The menorah will be on display through January 3.

Brooklyn Borough Hall
Corner of Court and Montague Streets, Brooklyn Heights
Wednesday, December 25 through Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at 5 p.m.
Join the Brooklyn Heights community in celebrating Hanukkah outside Borough Hall. Hosted by Chabad of Brooklyn Heights, this event takes place on all eight nights of the holiday and welcomes everyone, regardless of religious background, to participate in the festivities.

Celebrations

Hanukkah at Brookfield Place
Brookfield Place, Winter Garden, Battery Park City
Tuesday, December 17 from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Brookfield Place invites you to an all-day Hanukkah celebration featuring live music, arts & crafts, and family-friendly activities. From 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., enjoy klezmer tunes from Shoko Nagai’s Menorahs Quartet while participating in a drop-in art-making session led by art therapist Tova Speter. Later, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Michael Winograd’s Heimishe Klezmer Band, joined by special guest Sarah Mina Gordon, will perform alongside another art activity with Tova Speter.

Hanukkah Celebration at CMOM
Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd Street, Upper West Side
Saturday and Sunday, December 21 and 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Join the Children’s Museum of Manhattan for a two-day Hanukkah celebration filled with music, dance, crafts, and traditions. Highlights include live performances by award-winning Judeo-Spanish singer and children’s book author Sarah Aroeste, a dreidel spin-off, a traditional Sephardic Jewish potluck, and a workshop where participants can learn about the significance of oil in the Hanukkah story while making their own sparkly sensory jars.

Hanukkah Carnival 2024
Kings Bay Y, 3495 Nostrand Avenue, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
Sunday, December 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hosted at the Kings Bay Y, the annual Hanukkah Carnival is back with inflatables, food, live performances, arts and crafts, sufganiyot (donut) making, and more surprises. This free event is open to the public and you can RSVP here.

Jazzukkah Concert
Museum at Eldridge Street, 12 Eldridge Street, Chinatown
Wednesday, December 25 from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Celebrate the Festival of Lights with the Jazzukkah Project, an ensemble that puts a creative jazz twist on beloved Chanukkah classics. The concert also includes a special candle lighting ceremony using historic menorahs from the Aharon Ben Zalman Collection in the 1887 Sanctuary at the Museum at Eldridge Street. Tickets cost $25 plus fees for adults.

Jewish Children’s Museum
792 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, Brooklyn
December 25 through January 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Jewish Children’s Museum is hosting the ultimate family-friendly Chanukah experience. Kids can decorate jelly donuts, participate in an olive oil-making workshop, learn how to make bath bombs in a science lab, and more.

14Y’s Downtown Chanukah Celebration
Union Square, Manhattan
Thursday, December 26 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Light up the night at the 14Y’s Chanukah Celebration! Enjoy captivating LED light juggling, kid-friendly arts & crafts, live music, and, of course, a menorah lighting and jelly donuts.

Chanukah at Industry City
Industry City, 51 35th Street, Sunset Park
Thursday, December 26 at 5 p.m.
Join the Chanukah festivities at Sunset Park with a stunning LED menorah lighting, jelly donuts, holiday gifts, kid-friendly arts & crafts, potato latkes, and holiday music. Additionally, ice skate at Industry City’s rink for a discounted price. You can RSVP here.

Hanukkah Storytime
Queens Public Library, 144-20 243 Street, Rosedale, Queens
Monday, December 30 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Join the Friends of Rosedale for a Hanukkah-Christmas story time with the reading of “The Trees of the Dancing Goats.” Limited copies of the book will be available for giveaway after the event.

Island of Warmth at Manhattan West
Manhattan West Plaza, 385 9th Avenue, Midtown
Through January 8, 2025
For the holidays, gather around Manhattan West’s newest public art installation—a glowing urban campfire made of 220 light bulbs that come to life in response to spectators’ presence and movements. On Wednesday, December 18, enjoy live music in celebration of Hanukkah by the Brooklyn Klezmer Trio Plus, led by accordionist Ilya Shneyveys.

Atlantic Terminal Hanukkah Fest
139 Flatbush Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn
Monday, December 30 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal invites families to a free Festival of Lights celebration. From 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., enjoy indoor activities on the ground floor, including Hanukkah crafts, dreidel games, jelly donuts, and chocolate gelt. The festivities conclude with a menorah lighting at the outdoor plaza from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Chanukah Spectacular and Chocolate Gelt Drop
Gantry Plaza State Park, Center Boulevard and 48th Avenue, Long Island City, Queens
Thursday, January 2 at 5 p.m.
Celebrate the final night of Chanukah in Long Island City’s Gantry Plaza State Park with a giant menorah lighting, a gelt drop from a fire truck, a gourmet doughnut bar, games, raffles, Chanukah treats, and an appearance by the dreidel mascot.

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