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Hanukkah celebrations in and around Washington, DC

November 30, 2023

Hanukkah begins December 7 this year! There are several ways to get festive in our area from menorah lightings to family Hanukkah parties to performances!

Nov. 30 – Dec. 31: Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins at The Puppet Co.
Hershel just wants to celebrate Hanukkah with the community, but the Queen and King of the Goblins have forbidden the lighting of the candles. Can Hershel save the day and lift the curse for this shtetl (village)?

Dec. 7 at 4:00pm: National Menorah Lighting
The annual lighting ceremony of the National Chanukah Menorah, on the Ellipse, just across from the White House, helps launch and strengthen the celebration of “Chanukah – Festival of Lights” in all 50 states and over 100 countries globally. The National Menorah is honored to have the presence of the Military Bands of the Military District of Washington perform at the lighting ceremony, often accompanied by a celebrity Jewish artist. Prominent guests including the President, Vice President, members of the Cabinet, Congress and the diplomatic corps, as well as numerous senior Administration officials and international dignitaries and celebrities have participated in the ceremony. The event creates much joy and celebration throughout the entire Washington community and beyond. Music, food, entertainment and the “National Essay Winners” are main attractions of the National Menorah Ceremony.

Dec. 7 – Dec. 15 from 5:00pm-6:00pm: The Wharf Lighting of the Menorah
The Wharf is continuing the annual tradition of lighting the menorah in District Square for each night of Hanukkah. Come to The Wharf to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

Dec. 7 at 6:00pm: Chanukah Festival in Old Town, Alexandria
Celebrate the holiday of Chanukah! Enjoy delicious latkes, hot cocoa, donuts and more!

Dec. 8 from 6:00pm-8:00pm: Lights & Ice: Hanukkah Skate Night
The Festival of Lights is back at the Canal Park Ice Rink with Free Skate Rentals for the first 150 attendees to glide around the outdoor menorah along with live music from DJ Ci Ci, free Hannukah-themed donuts, and hot cider from neighborhood confectionary shop Kilwins courtesy of the Capitol Riverfront BID; PLUS dreidels, glow sticks, gelt, and an exclusive Capitol Riverfront mug & hot cocoa kit for the first 100 attendees! The official menorah lighting will take place at 7:00 pm.

Dec. 10 from 10:30am-11:30am: Family Chanukah Party
Join us for a Chanukah gathering for families of young children!

Dec. 10 at 5:00pm: Light Up Arlington
Celebrate the holiday of Chanukah! Enjoy delicious latkes, hot cocoa, donuts and more!

Dec. 12 from 6:30pm-9:00pm: Hanukkah Party at National Museum of American Jewish Military History
Join the annual Hanukkah Party for latkes, jelly doughnuts, gelt and song! Explore the museum and enjoy food, music, and more.

Dec. 14 from 5:00pm-6:30pm: Community Menorah Lighting
It’s Chanukah time – and they’re bringing the celebration to you! Join as they light the candles, sing songs, enjoy entertainment, spin the dreidel and more!

Sign up for Jewish books and holiday resources!

February 27, 2023

Did you know that every child under age 12 in your family can receive their own FREE book each month?

PJ Library sends free, award-winning books that celebrate Jewish values and culture to families with children from birth through 8 years old. Signing up is easy and takes less than 3 minutes.  Join today!

PJ Our Way (PJOW) is for kids ages 9-12, and they choose their own books each month, creating a tailored experience totally based on their own interests and reading level. Learn more and sign up your middle grade reader.

Both programs are open to families raising Jewish children.

If you would like to share more about Jewish holidays and traditions with your child, please visit the PJ Library Holiday Hub for ideas, recipes, videos, and more.

For the upcoming holiday of Purim (starts at sundown on Monday, March 6^th), traditions include

· Dressing up

· Telling the story of the holiday from the Book of Esther

· Using groggers (noisemakers) to drown out the name of the villain in the story

· Sharing gifts of food with friends,

· Eating hamantaschen (filled triangular cookies), and

· Donating to those in need.

Get ideas to celebrate at home on the PJ Library Purim Holiday HubPJ Library Purim Holiday Hub, or find an event to celebrate in the community at the local PJ Library events page.

PJ Library and PJ Our Way in Greater Washington are made possible by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and generous local donors.

Hanukkah celebrations in and around Washington, DC

November 27, 2021

Hanukkah begins November 28 this year! There are several ways to get festive in our area from menorah lightings to family Hanukkah parties to ice skating! Edible DC has an amazing round-up of places to get food for your holiday.

Now through Dec 7: Military Mitzvah Chanukah Card Project
PJ Library and The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington are partnering to share a wonderful opportunity with you to send Chanukah greeting cards to Jewish military members and veterans! Sign up to mail your cards by December 7^th.

Nov. 19 – Jan. 2: Winterfest production at Adventure Theatre
Get three shows for the price of one! Adventure brings favorites from the digital Jingle in July festival to the live stage. The shows are: Uri & Ora Light the Menorah, Connection & Cranky Penguin.

Nov. 26 – Jan. 2: Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins at The Puppet Co.
Hershel just wants to celebrate Hanukkah with the community, but the Queen and King of the Goblins have forbidden the lighting of the candles. Can Hershel save the day and lift the curse for this shtetl (village)? Join during Hanukkah (November 28 – December 5) to take home a special gift.

Nov. 28 from 3:15pm – 5:45pm: National Menorah Lighting
The annual lighting ceremony of the National Chanukah Menorah, on the Ellipse, just across from the White House, helps launch and strengthen the celebration of “Chanukah – Festival of Lights” in all 50 states and over 100 countries globally. The National Menorah is honored to have the presence of the Military Bands of the Military District of Washington perform at the lighting ceremony, often accompanied by a celebrity Jewish artist. Prominent guests including the President, Vice President, members of the Cabinet, Congress and the diplomatic corps, as well as numerous senior Administration officials and international dignitaries and celebrities have participated in the ceremony. The event creates much joy and celebration throughout the entire Washington community and beyond. Music, food, entertainment and the “National Essay Winners” are main attractions of the National Menorah Ceremony.

Nov. 28 – Dec. 6 from 5:00pm-6:00pm: The Wharf Lighting of the Menorah
The Wharf is continuing the annual tradition of lighting the menorah in District Square for each night of Hanukkah. Come to The Wharf to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

Nov. 28 at 5:30pm: Chanukah Festival in Old Town, Alexandria
Join us as we celebrate the holiday of Chanukah! Enjoy delicious pre-packaged Latkes, hot cocoa, pre-packaged donuts and more!

Nov. 30 at 6:00pm: Light Up Arlington
Experience the festival of lights at Clarendon Menorah Lighting and Community Celebration when they light a giant 9 foot Menorah. Enjoy delicious hot potato latkes (pre-packaged), hot cocoa, donuts, (pre-packaged), chocolate gelt and dreidels for all. There will also be lively Chanukah music!

Dec. 2 from 5:30pm-8:00pm: Chanukah Party for Jews of Color & the Families
Please join for an evening in the EDCJCC parking lot to celebrate Chanukah in fellowship with Jews of Color and multiracial Jewish and interfaith families in the DMV. It may be chilly outside, but latkes, candle-lighting, music, activities for a wide range of ages (tweens and teens welcome!), and friendly conversations will keep us warm. 🙂 Bring your coat and yourself, and join us for a festive opportunity to be together and get to know other Jews of color and multiracial families — Jewish, Jew-ish, interfaith, and everything in between.

Dec. 2 from 6:00pm-8:00pm: Lights & Ice: Hanukkah Skate Night
Celebrate the Festival of Lights at the Canal Park Ice Rink with the Capitol Riverfront BID! Free skate rentals will be offered to the first 100 attendees to slip and slide around the outdoor menorah along with free donuts plus dreidel and gelt giveaways.

Dec. 2 from 6:00pm-8:00pm: Chanukah on Ice
Skate with family and friends at the Pentagon Row Ice Rink. There will be a free raffle and the lighting of a giant 6ft Menorah. There will be hot latkes, kosher hot dogs and refreshments.

Dec. 4 10:30am (Brunch), 11:30am (Concert): Boogie-Woogie Klezmer Brunch with The Music Pilgrim Trio & Daryl Davis
Klezmer brunch is back and family friendly this December! Music lovers of all ages are welcome to join us for Boogie-Woogie Klezmer Brunch with Seth Kibel paired with the Music Pilgrim Trio & Daryl Davis. There will be concert seating for those who want it, but children will not be expected to sit quietly — dancing is encouraged! $25/person for concert and brunch; $15 for concert only; children 7 and under are FREE

Dec. 4 at 11:00am: City-State Brewing Story Hour: The Ninth Night of Hanukkah
Erica is the author of numerous early-reader books, chapter books, middle grade novels and picture books, including the festive and inspiring The Ninth Night of Hanukkah, which follows siblings Rachel and Max as they navigate their first Hanukkah in a new apartment.

Dec. 5 from 10:00am-11:00am: Family Chanukah Party
Happy Chanukah! Join at the EDCJCC for a fun morning celebrating Hanukkah. There will be arts and crafts, music, science and a community service opportunity. This program will take place in the JCC parking lot and inside the building.

Dec. 4 from 4:30pm-6:30pm: Hanukkah Party at The Lane
The Lane loves a party and there’s no better reason to celebrate than the festival of lights: Hanukkah! Join the party in partnership with The Micah Storefront Project for a Hanukkah party with latkes, donuts, dreidels, and singing with Rabbis Josh Beraha and Stephanie Crawley! Sign up here.

Dec. 5 from 5pm-6pm: Community Menorah Lighting
It’s Chanukah time – and they’re bringing the celebration to you! Join as they light the candles, sing songs, enjoy entertainment, spin the dreidel and more!

Dec. 10 at 6:30pm: Chanukah Havdalah in Pajamas
Join PJ Library, Berman Hebrew Academy, Kehilat Pardes, and The Jewish Federation to celebrate how to bring more light into the world with Chanukah (the Festival of Lights) and Havdalah. After a warm, spirited Havdalah ceremony to end Shabbat, we’ll create our own lanterns for a lantern walk!

Dec. 11 from 1:00pm–2:30pm: The Great Hanukkah Escape
Join the CESJDS STEM Center for Hanukkah! Families will work to solve puzzles to celebrate the joy of Hanukkah! *Ages 3-10, must be accompanied by an adult.

Dec. 13 at 4:30pm: Chanukah with Grandfriends Zoom (link sent after registration)
Join a virtual, multi-generational event for PJ kids and their “grandfriends” to celebrate the Festival of Lights with stories, a de-light-ful craft project, and games. Register by December 7^th to receive the project materials in the mail. Registration opens 11/17. This is a collaboration of PJ Library, Bender JCC, Edlavitch DCJCC, Pozez JCC’s Growing Jewish Families, HoneymoonIsrael, and The Jewish Federation of Great Washington. $8/screen, which includes project materials mailed to you.

Dec. 18 from 3:45pm-5:15pm: National Menorah Lighting
Musical performances, special guest and the lighting will occur on the Ellipse. Register to attend at link above.

Dec. 18 at 5:30pm: Northern VA Night of Lights
Join a family-oriented, community-wide candle lighting event featuring holiday-themed activities, including latkes, dreidel playing, doughnuts, kids crafts, music, a photo booth and more!