29 Hanukkah Activities & Events for Kids in NYC, Long Island, Westchester, & Rockland

There are many kid-friendly Hanukkah activities for families in NYC, Long Island, Westchester, and Rockland. At these Hanukkah 2021 events, kids can learn about the holiday and Jewish culture, make arts and crafts, and see menorah lightings. Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights that remembers the miracle of lamp oil lasting for eight days. Hanukkah 2021 is celebrated from Nov. 28-Dec. 6. And there are so many ways to celebrate, musical performances and parades to yummy foods. Experience Hanukkah 2021 in NYC and the surrounding area with these Hanukkah activities and events. 

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• Rockland

Hanukkah Activities in NYC

Accumulations: Hanukkah Lamps

WHEN: Through Jan. 31, 2022: Monday and Thursday, 11am-6pm; Friday, 11am-4pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-6pm. 
WHERE: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side
WHAT: See more than 80 Hanukkah lamps representing four continents and six centuries of artistic production. The Jewish Museum’s collection of Hanukkah lamps is the largest in the world at nearly 1,050 pieces, and was amassed over the 114 years of the museum’s existence. The Hanukkah lamps on view reflect a wide variety of stylistic influences and decorative techniques, with lamps ranging in date from the Renaissance to Thanksgiving 2013.
WANT TO GO? $18; $12 seniors 65 and older; $8 students; free for children younger than 18 and members; free on Saturdays. Advanced registration required.

Chanukah at The Seaport

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 28, 3-5pm
WHERE: The Seaport, 25 Fulton St., Downtown Manhattan
WHAT: Celebrate Chanukah with face painting , balloons, Live Music, arts & crafts, latkes, donuts, chocolate gelt, a Live Ice Carving Menorah Show, Dreidel mascots, a Stilt Walker, clowns, Musical Performance by the FiDi Hebrew School the Grand Menorah Lighting Ceremony, and more!
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required.

Chanukah on Ice

WHEN: Monday, Nov. 29, 6-9pm
WHERE: Wollman Rink, 830 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side
WHAT: Ice-skate to festive Hanukkah music with a DJ and live band, see the lighting of the giant ice menorah, and enjoy a boxed dinner including delicious Hanukkah doughnuts. 
WANT TO GO? Online: $22; $30 with skate rental; at the event: $28; $35 with skate rental.

Chanukah Celebration

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 2, 5:30pm
WHERE: The Chelsea Green Park, 140 W. 20th St., Chelsea
WHAT: Celebrate Hanukkah with crafts, latkes, doughnuts, chocolate gelt, dreidels, and a grand menorah lighting.
WANT TO GO? Free.

Hanukkah Hunt Gallery Program

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 5, 10:30am-3pm
WHERE: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side
WHAT: Explore striking Hanukkah menorahs from around the world. Embark on a playful hunt, draw your discoveries in a sketchbook, experiment with whimsical shapes, touch replicas of artifacts, and chat with Jewish Museum Educators about what you encounter in this special opportunity to see treasured works of art in person during the holiday.
WANT TO GO? $18; $12 seniors 65 and older; $8 students; free for children younger than 18 and members; free on Saturdays. Advanced registration required.

Abingdon Square Menorah Lighting

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 5, 5pm
WHERE: Abingdon Square Park, intersection of Bleecker and Hudson streets, Greenwich Village
WHAT: See the lighting of a giant menorah and enjoy latkes, doughnuts, entertainment for kids, and a gelt drop!
WANT TO GO? Free.

Hanukkah Activities in Brooklyn

Chanukah Family Fest

WHEN: Nov. 28-Dec. 6, Sunday, 10am-5:30pm; Monday-Thursday, 10am-4pm
WHERE: Jewish Children's Museum, 792 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights
WHAT: Get into the holiday spirit by designing unique Hanukkah arts and decorating a mouth-watering holiday doughnut. Discover the art of olive oil making in a fascinating and interactive workshop. Step into a world of wonder as you explore the museum’s unique exhibits, and help create a Hanukkah mural on a menorah.
WANT TO GO? $15

Brooklyn's Largest Menorah

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 28 to Sunday, Dec. 5, various times
WHERE: Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park West and Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights
WHAT: Be there for the lighting of the largest menorah in Brooklyn every night of Hanukkah with live music, hot latkes, and gifts for the children.
WANT TO GO? Free. 

Outdoor Clinton Hill Chanukah Celebration

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 28, 5:30pm
WHERE: Rohr Chabad of Clinton Hill & Pratt Institute, across from 541 Myrtle Ave., Clinton Hill
WHAT: Rabbi Yossi of Myrtle Ave’s Hadas Gallery + Synagogue will lead the lighting of a menorah made of ice. There will also be lots of free holiday fun to enjoy: live music, hot latkes and sufganiyot (friend doughnuts), fun giveaways for kids, and more!
WANT TO GO? Free. 

Hanukkah Activities in Queens

Chanukah Menorah Lighting Ceremony

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 4:30pm
WHERE: Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens
WHAT: Join Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. in a festive celebration of Hanukkah.
WANT TO GO? Free. 

Chabad of Long Island City: Community Chanukah Celebration

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 1, 6pm
WHERE: Gantry Plaza State Park, Center Boulevard at 48th Avenue, Long Island City
WHAT: It’s an ice menorah Hanukkah celebration! There will be a performance by Chabad Hebrew School, an ice menorah carving show, 3-D glow-in-the-dark glasses, lively Hanukkah music, and much more! Plus, enjoy doughnuts, chocolate gelt, and treats!
WANT TO GO? Free. 

Hanukkah Activities on Long Island

Chanukah Experience

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 28, 4:15pm
WHERE: Chabad Center for Jewish Life, 2174 Hewlett Ave., Merrick
WHAT: Park your car at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life and join the walking parade to the Merrick Long Island Railroad Station for 12-foot Menorah lighting, latkes, dancing Rabbis, doughnuts, juggling show, and more!
WANT TO GO? $18 suggested donation per family. Advanced registration required.

CKids Chanukah Disco

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 28, 10-11am
WHERE: Chabad of The Hamptons, 13 Woods Lane, East Hampton
WHAT: Boogie down at this glow-in-the-dark dance party complete with glowing cupcake decorating and a glowing dreidel spin-off.
WANT TO GO? Free. Advanced registration required. 

Grand Menorah Car Parade & Lighting

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 28, 6pm
WHERE: The Chai Center, 501 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills
WHAT: Celebrate Hanukkah with a Grand Menorah Car Parade & Lighting. The parade starts from Chabad of Mid-Suffolk (318 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack) at 6pm. The Grand Menorah Lighting at The Chai Center (outdoors), located at 501 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills, will happen at 6:45pm. Enjoy live music, doughnuts, latkes, and fun for the entire family.
WANT TO GO? Free.