Best Hanukkah events in NYC

Two massive menorahs light up each year to celebrate Hanukkah in NYC, one in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn.

Manhattan

Find the world's largest Hanukkah menorah in Manhattan's Grand Army Plaza at 59th Street (across from the Plaza Hotel) for all eight days of the Festival of Lights.

The giant menorah will be lit after sunset every night of Hanukkah. Each day, a new candle will sparkle until all eight of them are lit on the last night of the holiday. 

Brooklyn

Those in Brooklyn can enjoy the borough's largest menorah, which will be set up in Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza, right outside Prospect Park.

In true Brooklyn style, this menorah lighting opens with an official Hanukkah kickoff concert at 4pm on Sunday, December 14. Free latkes will be on offer, as will gifts for children, every night of the holiday. 

Light up the story of Hanukkah through music, puppetry and creative play at The Children's Museum of Manhattan December 19 through 21. Spin, Sing & Shine for Hanukkah is a three-day event that will celebrate the holiday with events like "Dancing Dreidel Design" where you can decorate and play your own dreidel game; Candle Crafting & Hanukkah Puppet Play, where you can create your own candle crafts and join a lively puppet play; and performances with musicians from Tkiya Music on Sunday. 

The festivities willl all take place on the first floor of The Children's Museum of Manhattan. You can view the full schedule and times here. 

Town & Village Synagogue's annual concert, Songs in the Key of Peace & Harmony, is back for another Hanukkah season. This year features T&V's Cantor Shayna Postman, Synagogue Choir and Junior Singers, plus a dynamic a capella vocal octet featuring fresh insights into ancient biblical texts from The Choral Torah Collective featuring Cantor John Ehrlich.  

A Hanukkah Concert: Songs in the Key of Peace & Harmony will take place on Saturday, December 6 at 7:30pm. If you can't make it in person, you can join virtually as well. 

Tickets are $40 for adults, $18 for adults and free for ages 13 and under. Advance registration is required.

Talk about shining bright! Two million twinkling white lights now adorn Hudson Yards for the shopping center's sixth annual holiday display. This year's seasonal illumination includes 115 miles of string lights, 725 evergreen trees dressed to create a gleaming forest and a massive 32-foot hot air balloon centerpiece suspended in The Great Room of The Shops & Restaurants. 

On December 15, don’t miss the Hanukkah Menorah lighting celebration in partnership with the local Chabad of Midtown.

This holiday concert, A Goyishe Christmas to You!, features favorite Yuletide tunes (performed with a twist) and specialty material by Jewish composers. The December 10 show includes songs suggesting a variety of Jewish approaches to the Christmas hullabaloo, as well as classics like "White Christmas" and "Winter Wonderland," plus Yiddish versions of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside." 

The show's presented by The New York Festival of Song and led by Director Steven Blier. Featured peformers include singers Lauren Worsham, Donna Breitzer, Rebecca Jo Leob, Alex Mansoori, Joshua Jeremiah and Cantor Joshua Breitzer. Steven Blier joins as pianist and host, alongside clarinetist Alan R. Kay. 

A Goyish Christmas to You! will begin at 9pm in Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center (129 West 67th Street). Tickets start at $45 for adults and $10 for students. 

Jazzukkah is back this Hanukkah season for its third annual concert in New York City on Sunday, December 14 at Greenwich Village's Groove. 

The Jazzukkah Projects is an ensemble of musicians putting a "jazz, er, spin" on the beloved canon of holiday music. From "Maoz Tzur" to "Sevivon," their fresh arrangements blend swing, soul and celebration—made for audiences of all ages to enjoy. This year, the band features vocals from Elana Rozenfeld, Gilad Abro on the bass, Alon Benjamini on the drums and Itamar Dahan playing the keys, all led by producer Gil Shefler. 

Jazzukah will have 11am and 1pm showtimes on December 14 at Groove (125 MacDougal Street). Tickets are on sale now for $25.95 per person. 

The Paley Center for Media's annual seasonal spectacular is back for another holiday season: PaleyLand will run through Saturday, January 4 at the midtown museum with jolly joy for revelers young and old.

Along with free hot cocoa and holiday treats, attendees can enjoy five floors of merriment, including photo opportunities with Santa; a magical train display with hot chocolate stations; a stunning menorah display which serves as a perfect background for Hanukkah photos; giveaways, arts and crafts; screenings of holiday classics and family favorite programs; meet-and-greets with classic holiday characters like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hermey the Elf and the Abominable Snow Monster, plus Chase and Sky from PAW Patrol. Other attractions include the PaleyGX Studio featuring popular video games and VR titles available. 

Tickets are now on sale for $21.50. You can view the full schedule and purchase tickets here.

The award-winning Young People's Chorus of NYC (YPC) invites audiences to experience the magic and joy of the holidays when over 600 young voices fill Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall for the group's annual winter concert, "A Very Merry New York," on Sunday, December 7 at 5pm. This tradition brings together choristers from every borough of New York City in a festive program blending beloved holiday classics, vibrant world music and imaginative new arrangements. 

This year features Eric Whitacre's Lux Aurumque; selections from Samuel Adler's Flames of Freedom; the Nigerian holiday anthem "Betelehemu;" and seasonal favorites including Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, "My Favorite Things," and contemporary classics such as "Little Saint Nick," and "Underneath the Tree." Highlights also include the playful "Puppy for Hanukkah," a vibrant Ose Shalom complete with a bottle dance, and YPC's beloved Merriest Medley, leading into a hall wide holiday sing-a-long.

Tickets start at $59 and can be purchased online here or by visiting the Lincoln Center Box Office at 10 Lincoln Center Plaza. VIP tickets include premium concert seating and an invitation to YPC’s festive pre-concert reception. For more information on VIP tickets contact rsvp@ypc.org.