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Hanukkah Celebrations in Philly

Philadelphia celebrates the Jewish Festival of Lights this year with these fun, family friendly celebrations

Hanukkah Celebrations in Philly

Hanukkah starts on December 25 this year and goes until January 2nd. Get your family together for festive and kid-friendly Hanukkah celebrations in the city of Philadelphia and surrounding area.

Since it’s still early in the season, make sure to check back in for updated info!

Nosh & Shop: Hanukkah Market

December 26, 3:30 p.m.

Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 South Independence Mall East

Celebrate Jewish joy and creativity at this year’s Nosh & Shop: Hanukkah Marketa highlight of our Winter at The Weitzman events. This festive holiday shopping event is back and bigger than ever. We’re featuring new food vendors, unique gift ideas, and tons of Hanukkah spirit — all in one place. Shop jewelry, dreidels, menorahs, and more.

Old City Menorah Lighting

December 30, 4:30 p.m.

Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St.

The Old City Jewish Arts Center and Betsy Ross House will join together to host a community menorah lighting. Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with traditional foods like latke and doughnuts!

Manayunk Hanukkah Candle Lighting

December 26, 5 p.m.

Canal View Park, 4418 Main Street, Manayunk

Manayunk Shines bright for the Festival of Lights. Join us on Thursday, December 26th for a magical Hanukah candle lighting in Canal View park with Mt Airy Chabad. Enjoy candles, delicious latkes, and so much more!

Hanukkah Celebrations in Philly
Photo courtesy of Sesame Place

Hanukkah Celebration at Sesame Place

December 26 – January 1

Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Rd., Langhorne

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with Sesame Place’s Menorah Lighting Ceremony. Join a local cantor, Baby Bear, who celebrates Hanukkah with his family, Grover, and more of your Sesame Street friends to play a game of dreidel, light the Menorah, and learn all about Hanukkah! The lighting ceremony will happen daily at 4:30 p.m.

Chanukah on the Avenue

December 29, 5:30 – 7 p.m.

The Singing Fountain, Passyunk Ave. & 11th St.

Join the South Philadelphia Shtiebel for their annual Chanukah extravaganza on East Passyunk Avenue, featuring music, celebration, and connection with the local community.

Headhouse Shambles Menorah Lighting

December 30, 5 p.m.

Headhouse Shambles, 2nd & Lombard Streets

Three local rabbis will lead the community in a menorah lighting at the Headhouse Shambles. Light refreshments will be available. Arrive by 5 p.m. for a prompt candle lighting & short service at 5:30 p.m.

Looking for more family-friendly events? We’ve got you covered! Check out our calendar below:

Shared Vision: Portraits from The CCH Pounder-Koné Collection

​The African American Museum in Philadelphia 701 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA, United States

The African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) is proud to present, “Shared Vision: Portraits from The CCH Pounder-Koné Collection,” featuring paintings from the personal collection of award-winning actress, CCH Pounder. This exhibition, curated exclusively for AAMP, is a stunning collection of contemporary art that spans the African […]

Ice Dinosaurs Exhibit

The Academy of Natural Sciences 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Explore paleontology’s final frontier in Ice Dinosaurs, the Academy’s exciting new special exhibit. Transport yourself to the Late Cretaceous period in the Arctic Circle, where dinosaurs actually lived year-round in extreme polar environments. This brand-new, immersive and educational experience brings this era to life with animatronic […]

Event Series LIGHT THROUGH A GLASS SPRING

Light Through a Glass Spring

Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia South at The Navy Yard 1001 Intrepid Avenue, Philadelphia, United States

Light through a glass spring features work by artists Cynthia Goodman Brantley and Emily Selvin. Emily’s translucent glass and Cynthia’s glowing drawings play with mixing non-literal forms and perceived function. Both artists embrace openness in their pieces, and leave their work available to viewers’ analysis. […]

Free
Event Series The Comeuppance

The Comeuppance

The Wilma Theater 265 S Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

From the boundary pushing, Tony Award-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (An Octoroon), this electrifying comedy is a meditation on impermanence, nostalgia, and isolation. Anticipating their 20-year high school reunion, fueled by adult jungle juice and pot, four former classmates reminisce at a porch pre-party that hangs […]

Event Series Chilly Philly Mini Golf in Franklin Square

Chilly Philly Mini Golf in Franklin Square

Franklin Square 200 N 6th St, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Putt through 18 holes of wintry fun this holiday season! Center City’s only outdoor mini golf course transforms into a winter wonderland both day and night during Winter in Franklin Square. Chilly Philly Mini Golf features lights, seasonal music, and larger-than-life wintertime friends throughout the […]

Event Series Astra Lumina: An Enchanted Night Walk Amongst the Stars

Astra Lumina: An Enchanted Night Walk Amongst the Stars

Abington Art Center 515 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown, PA, United States

Astra Lumina is coming to Philadelphia for an enchanted night walk at the Abington Art Center inviting the audience to discover the wonder of visiting stars. Set off across mysterious grounds to discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song. Created […]

Event Series Electrical Spectacle Light Show in Franklin Square

Electrical Spectacle Light Show in Franklin Square

Franklin Square 200 N 6th St, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Enjoy one of Philadelphia’s premier winter light shows for FREE! The Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO is Winter in Franklin Square’s main attraction. Hundreds of thousands of LED lights make the Square the perfect backdrop for your winter Instagram pictures. This year celebrates Ben […]

Event Series Astra Lumina: An Enchanted Night Walk Amongst the Stars

Astra Lumina: An Enchanted Night Walk Amongst the Stars

Abington Art Center 515 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown, PA, United States

Astra Lumina is coming to Philadelphia for an enchanted night walk at the Abington Art Center inviting the audience to discover the wonder of visiting stars. Set off across mysterious grounds to discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song. Created […]

Event Series Electrical Spectacle Light Show in Franklin Square

Electrical Spectacle Light Show in Franklin Square

Franklin Square 200 N 6th St, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Enjoy one of Philadelphia’s premier winter light shows for FREE! The Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO is Winter in Franklin Square’s main attraction. Hundreds of thousands of LED lights make the Square the perfect backdrop for your winter Instagram pictures. This year celebrates Ben […]

Holidays on the Hill | Chestnut Hill

Chestnut Hill 8000 to 8600 blocks of Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

During Holidays on the Hill, visitors can immerse themselves in the season’s spirit by strolling through one of Philadelphia’s most historic villages! Guests can enjoy the holiday cheer of Chestnut Hill with a brass quartet, view an outdoor model train display at Morris Arboretum and take […]

Holiday Light Show at Shady Brook Farm

Shady Brook Farm 931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, PA, United States

Shady Brook Farm’s spectacular Holiday Light Show features more than three million lights illuminating acres of farmland. Encounter whimsical displays and familiar characters as you drive through in the comfort of your own car or enjoy the show on an open-air wagon ride. Opens on […]

Christmas Around the Farm – Linvilla Orchards

Linvilla Orchards 137 W. Knowlton Road, Media, PA, United States

During the holiday season, Linvilla Orchards transform the Farm into a Winter Wonderland. Featuring Santa and his elves, handmade wreaths, greens and holly, and a sea of poinsettias. Shop an enormous selection of timeless holiday decorations, children’s toys and collectibles you won’t find anywhere else. […]

Photo by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

Philadelphia Family is published by a team of local women to connect families raising their kids in the city with resources, events, and each other. Learn more about us, our mission, and our method for supporting local businesses at familyfocus.org.

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