How to Celebrate Hanukkah in New York: 7 Best Activities

Hanukkah 2024 will begin at nightfall on December 25 and end at nightfall on January 2, 2025. TimeOut highlights the best Hanukkah events in New York City.

Lighting menorah

In New York City, two huge menorahs are lit every year to celebrate Hanukkah - one in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn.

Manhattan

The world's largest Hanukkah menorah will be lit in Grand Army Plaza in Manhattan on 59th Street (across from the Plaza Hotel) throughout the eight days of the Festival of Lights.

The giant menorah will light one new candle each night of Hanukkah after sunset until all eight are lit. lit on the last evening of the holiday.

Brooklyn

Brooklyn residents will be able to take solace in the borough's largest menorah, which will be installed at Grand Army Plaza, just behind Prospect Park.

The lighting of this menorah will begin with the official Hanukkah concert at 16:00 PM on Wednesday, December 25. Here You can see the full ignition schedule.

United in Song: Hanukkah Concert

This holiday concert invites everyone to an evening of Jewish choral, Israeli, folk, blues, pop, and Hanukkah songs. United in Song: A Hanukkah Concert to Bring Light to Our World features cantors from across the region, as well as the Town & Village Synagogue Choir and pianist Scott Stein.

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The all-ages concert on Saturday, December 7, will be held in person at the Town & Village Synagogue in Manhattan and online. Be sure to register in advance hereAdult tickets cost $36.

Girl Mountain Christmas Show

This Christmas show is not to be missed! It will take place at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective's Eris Theatre in Williamsburg. The show will feature three one-act comedy pieces dedicated to the holiday season, as well as an after-party. It will start at 22 p.m. The group of sketch comedians calls themselves "00% Jewish and 57% female." Their mission is to reveal the true meaning of Christmas, as many have tried to do before them.

Girl Mountain Sketch Group consists of comedians Lisa Joitlin, Megan Bitchell, Franny Weed, Andrea Rose, Alex McMullen, Jamie Duncan and Maddie Kasten. Catch the show on December 12. Tickets are available here.

A Goyisha Christmas

Enjoy your favorite Christmas tunes (with a twist) and special pieces by Jewish composers at A Goyishe Christmas. This show, presented by the New York Festival of Song (NYFOS), takes place on Tuesday, December 17 at Congregation Beth Simchat Torah.

The evening will be hosted by Artistic Director Stephen Blier with soprano Lauren Worsham, mezzo-sopranos Donna Breitzer and Rebecca Jo Loeb, tenor Alex Mansouri, baritone Joshua Jeremiah, and cantor Joshua Breitzer. Blier will join as pianist and host, along with clarinetist Alan R. Kay.

The annual show features Christmas songs written by Jewish composers, "ranging from the sinisterly funny to the heartbreakingly beautiful," as the event's organizers promise.

Chrismukkah Concert at the Museum at Eldridge

This year, the real celebration of the Nativity of Christ will take place. It officially coincides with the first day of Hanukkah.

To celebrate the occasion, the Museum at Eldridge will host The Jazzukkah Project on December 25th.

Along with jazz performances, the daytime festivities will feature a special candle-lighting ceremony featuring historic menorahs from the Aaron Ben Zalman Collection, displayed in the museum's 1887 Sanctuary.

Island of Warmth in Manhattan West

Along with the big city bonfire, there will be music and dance performances (from Harlem Lite Feet with Chrybaby Cozie, Maimouna Keita Dance School and Music from the Sole), memorable holiday photos and a spectacular winter light show.

Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate from Daily Provisions on December 4, caroling around the campfire on December 11, and a Hanukkah celebration featuring the Brooklyn Klezmer Trio Plus on December 18.