Put on your yarmulke — here comes Hanukkah!
For the first time since 2005, Hanukkah and Christmas fall on the same day — something that has only happened five times since 1900, including this year.
Hanukkah this year begins at sundown on Wednesday, Dec. 25, and ends at sundown on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.
Though it may seem like everything is overloaded with Christmas this time of year, there are plenty of events and activities happening in New York to celebrate Hanukkah.
Here are some of the lit events going on for the Festival of Lights — and there’s something for people of all ages.
Largest Hanukkah Menorah Lighting
During the festival of lights, head to either Midtown or Brooklyn to witness the lighting of the world’s largest Hanukkah menorahs — which has been confirmed by Guinness World Records.
Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn and Grand Army Plaza in Midtown compete with its 32-foot-high, 4,000-pound steel menorahs, which are lit each night of Hanukkah at sundown.
Manhattan’s largest menorah will be located outside the Plaza Hotel on 59th Street near Central Park. ConEd will reportedly use a crane to lift the Rabbi up to light the Shamash Candle (middle candle) on Wednesday, Dec. 25, according to Pix11 News.
Over in Brooklyn, a kickoff concert with rapper Nissim Black will take place on the first night of Hanukkah at 4 p.m., followed by the menorah lighting.
59th Street and 5th Avenue / Grand Army Park at Flatbush Avenue
MatzoBall 2024
Attending the annual MatzoBall event is a rite of passage for Jews with nothing to do on Christmas Eve.
The event is celebrating its 38th year of bringing Jewish singles together for a night of schmoozing, fun and “romantic possibilities,” this year at Slate NY.
This year, “the nation’s No. 1 Jewish Singles Holiday Party” is adding a tech aspect to the lineup, adding its digital campaign, the Jewzz app. Jewzz is a free Jewish dating app from the creators of MatzoBall offering real-time video speed dating for verified Jewish singles.
MatzoBall is for people aged 21+ and goes from 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve through 4 a.m. on Christmas Day. Tickets for admission are $55, or $75 for a “fast pass” ticket. Table prices range from $235 to $407.
54 W. 21st St.; Dec. 24 at 10 p.m.
Maccabee Bar
The Maccabee Bar, a Hanukkah-themed pop-up bar, is returning to New York for its third year.
Starting Monday, Dec. 23, through Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2025, patrons can get lit at the pop-up located at Saint Tuesday in Tribeca.
The bar will have Hanukkah-themed decor, classic holiday foods and Hanukkah-specific cocktails, including the new Kosher Nostra, “a play on a Negroni using the flavors of tzimmes,” creator Naomi Levy told TimeOut.
Favorite drinks from Maccabee Bar past will also be returning, including the Latke Sour, which contains apple brandy, lemon, Havana & Hyde bitters with a “touch of potato,” as well as the Ocho Kandelikas, which pairs an olive oil gin with honey, apricot, almond and lemon.
24 Cortlandt Alley; Dec. 23-Jan. 4
Celebrate Hanukkah at Hudson Yards
To kick off the holiday, there will be a menorah lighting celebration with the local Chabad of Midtown in Hudson Yards Public Square and Gardens on Dec. 25.
Through Jan. 2, there will be a live menorah lighting each night of Hanukkah to celebrate the Festival of Lights.
11th Avenue and Hudson Boulevard; Dec. 25-Jan. 2
Chanukah Menorah Lighting & Celebration at Seaport
Seaport’s annual Chanukah Menorah Lighting hosted by the Chabad Jewish Center of FiDi will take place on Sunday, Dec. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m.
The family-friendly celebration at Heineken Riverdeck at Pier 17 will have latkes, hot cocoa, live music, arts and crafts, face painting and a six-foot-tall chocolate Menorah.
Though the celebration is only one night, the menorah will be on display through Jan. 3, 2025.
89 South St.; Dec. 29 at 3 p.m.
Manhattan Jewish Experience Gatsby Hanukkah/New Year’s Party
Bring in the new year and close out Hanukkah Gatsby style!
At Manhattan Jewish Experience’s Gatsby-themed Hanukkah and New Year’s party, people will be dressing to impress in their best Roaring ’20s outfits.
The event will include an open bar, latkes and donuts, a live DJ and a menorah lighting. Tickets are just $17.85 when you purchase in advance, or $23.18 at the door.
131 W. 86th St., 10th Floor; Jan. 1 at 8 p.m.
The 8 Nights of Hanukkah with Yo La Tengo
Indie rock band Yo La Tengo is back with their annual Hanukkah run at Bowery Ballroom — a tradition in New York City nearly every year since 2001.
Yo La Tengo will be performing each night of Hanukkah from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1, 2025, and each night will be different.
The band doesn’t repeat songs throughout the run, and each night has a different surprise music and comedy opener, as well as a special guest who will accompany them for the set.
6 Delancey St.; Dec. 25 to Jan. 1
Dreidel Drop: A Jew Year’s Eve Hanukkah Party
It’s not every year that the last night of Hanukkah and the last night of the year overlap. Ring in the new year and the unprecedented holiday crossover with a party hosted by Danielle Brody of Danielle in Doodles.
The event will have latkes and sufagniyot (jelly doughnuts), photo opportunities, custom Hanukkah drinks, gelt and music from DJ Zap.
Watch the ball — and dreidels — drop at this event for $72 general admission early bird or $126 VIP.
12 Vandam St.; Dec. 31 at 9 p.m.
Museum of Eldridge Winter Concert: Jazzukkah
Celebrate Hanukkah with The Jazzukkah Project at the Museum at Eldridge Street on Manhattan’s historic Lower East Side.
Jazzukkah takes classic Hanukkah songs such as “Ma’oz Tzur” and “I Have a Little Dreidel” and reimagines them in different jazz tunes.
They even have a few original songs, such as “Hanukkah Blues.”
12 Eldridge St.; Dec. 25 at 2 p.m.
