Brush up on those dreidel-spinning skills and get ready to catch some gelt because Hanukkah begins December 18! Here’s what’s going on around town.

Maccabees, Guitars, and Goblins at the Please Touch Museum

December 11, 2022, 1 pm–3:15 pm
Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia

December 11 is Hanukkah Celebration Day at the Please Touch Museum! Naturally, jkidphilly will be there, starting with a musical story time with Lisa and Rabbi David Ackerman at 1 pm and a play of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins at 2:30 pm. Maybe you will be one of the goblins! Admission to the museum is required for these events. Event is free with general admission. All guests must make a reservation to visit Please Touch Museum.

Olaf’s Hanukkah Celebration!

December 16, 2022, 4:30 pm–6:30 pm
The Barn Yard, 305 2nd Ave Suite 212, Collegeville

Come and celebrate the festival of lights with Olaf! Craft corner, donut bar, and games! Tickets available online.

Miracle of Lights: Hanukkah Laser Show with Old York Road Kehillah

December 17, 2022, 6 pm–8:30 pm Road Kehillah
Elkins Park

What better way to celebrate the Festival of Lights than with a laser light show! Join your Jewish community for an evening of wonder for people of all ages, whether you are 0 or 120. Enjoy snacks and a laser show, presented by Wondergy, that will bring the miracle of lights to life with bright and colorful displays. This free event will be held in an indoor location in Elkins Park. Please register for the exact location.

Hanukkah in the Borough

December 18, 2022, 1 pm–3 pm
Doylestown (please register for the exact address)

Join Temple Judea and jkidphilly in Doylestown Borough for a fun and interactive Hanukkah celebration. There will be fun singing, delicious donuts, treat bags, crafts, and raffle prizes. jkidphilly will have a cookie decorating table. Festivities will take place in an outdoor location in Doylestown; please register for the exact address. Free!

Yardley Chanukah Village

December 18, 2022, 3 pm–5 pm
Main Street, Yardley

Enjoy an enriching holiday experience for the whole family as Main Street Yardley is transformed into a magical Chanukah village! Pick up your map and stroll down Main Street as you enjoy exciting Chanukah activities, giveaways, and treats at participating vendors along the way. The Grand Menorah Lighting happens at 4:15 pm with music, latkes, and chocolate gelt. RSVP required.

Chanukah Bowl

December 18, 2022 2:30 pm–4:30 pm
Wynnewood Lanes, 2228 Haverford Road, Ardmore

Chabad of Penn Wynne invites you to Chanukah Bowl! Admission gets you unlimited bowling for two hours, music, crafts, donuts, and Chanukah treats. RSVP online.

Chanukah Village

December 18, 2022, 2:30–5 pm
State Street, Media (pick up your map at 201 W. Front Street)

Chabad of Delaware County will transform State Street into a magical Chanukah Village. Pick up your map at the courthouse, then stroll the neighborhood and enjoy activities at participating stores along the way including story time, dreidel making, donut decorating, crafts, treats, and more. Then at 4:30 pm, return to the courthouse for a grand menorah lighting and the Great Chanukah Gelt Drop! RSVP online.

Menorah Lighting on the Lawn

December 18, 2022 at 4 pm
The Lawn at Suburban Square, Anderson & Coulter Avenue, Ardmore

Join the community at Suburban Square for the annual Menorah Lighting to celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah. Enjoy live ice sculpting, donuts, pretzels, chocolate gelt, and hot chocolate!

Chanukah at the Courthouse

December 18, 2022 at 4:30 pm (parade begins at 3:30 pm)
Chester County Courthouse, 2 N High Street, West Chester

Come light the Menorah on the first night of Chanukah! The celebration begins with a car menorah parade departing from Chabad of Chester County (946 N Valley Forge Road, Devon) and arriving at the historic Chester County Courthouse. (Car menorahs are available for purchase.) The celebration is capped with a public menorah lighting accompanied by music, a firetruck gelt drop, plus donuts, latkes, hot drinks, crafts, and more.

Hanukkah at Sesame Place

December 18, 23, & 24, 2022 (see park hours)
100 Sesame Road, 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 as they play a game of dreidel, light the Menorah, and learn all about Hanukkah! Menorah lightings will happen at 4:30 pm.

Hanukkah at the Train Station

December 19, 2022 at 5:15 pm
Circle at Narberth Train Station, 1 Station Circle, Narberth

Come gather with friends for some blessings, songs, sufganiyot (jelly donuts) and Hanukkah celebrations and light the candles with the Lower Merion community and train goers. For questions, contact Max Moline a mmoline@jewishphilly.org.

Chanukah Celebration @ Glen Eagle Square!

December 19, 2022, at 6 pm
477 Wilmington West Chester Pike, Glen Mills

Join the Chanukah celebration at Glen Eagle Square featuring the lighting of the giant menorah! This free outdoor and indoor program will also include live music, a chocolate gelt-filled piñata, donuts, latkes, and a build-your-own menorah activity. Organized by the Chabad of Aston. RSVP encouraged.

Chanukah Night at the 76ers

December 19, 2022, at 7 pm

It’s Chanukah night at the 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors game with candle lighting, arts & crafts, latkes, and sufganiyot, as well as a post-game performance by the Maccabeats. To attend this special Chanukah celebration game night with the Chabad of Penn Wynne, please contact moshe@chabadpennwynne.org for more information. For tickets to the game, visit the NBA 76ers page.

Hanukkah Celebration with IAC and Community Partners

December 20, 2022, 5–7 pm
Kaisermann JCC, 45 Haverford Rd, Wynnewood

Come celebrate Hanukkah with us in partnership with IAC Philadelphia, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Adath Israel, Camp Galil, and the Scouts. There will be music, sufganyot, light up the Hanukeyah, a light show, activities, games, and more! Cost is $36 per family (one pizza is included in family ticket price). Tickets available online.

Chanukah Menorah Parade and Celebration

December 20, 2022 at 5:45 pm (parade begins at 6:00 pm)
Chabad of the Main Line, 625 Montgomery Ave., Merion Station (parade) | Giant parking lot, 50 E. Wynnewood Rd., Wynnewood (celebration)

Jewish organizations from all corners of the Philadelphia metro area outfit their cars with menorahs and converge to fill the streets with light and music. Meet at Chabad Main Line at 5:45 to get your menorah and swag. Even if you aren’t part of the festive motorcade, you can watch it pass by, and join in the revelry. After the parade, gather in the Giant parking lot for a menorah lighting, activities, and food. Pre-register online.

The Great Chanukah Gelt Drop

December 21, 2022 at 5 pm (parade at 4 pm)
Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company, 1440 Manoa Road, Wynnewood

Chabad of Penn Wynne and Overbrook Hills Fire Company are hosting a parade and The Great Chanukah Gelt Drop. The festivities begin with a car and fire truck menorah parade that leaves the fire station at 4 pm. After the parade, return to the fire station for a menorah lighting, fire truck on display, crafts, music, Chanukah refreshments, and the dropping of the Chanukah gelt. Catch and collect chocolate coins dropped from 25 feet in the air!

Virtual Hanukkah Storytime

December 22, 2022, 7 pm–7:30 pm
Via Zoom (register to receive the link)

Join friends from jkidaccess for an inclusive evening of Hanukkah music, a fun craft project, and storytime. Register by 12/12/22 to receive Hanukkah craft materials to use during the program in the mail! This is a virtual event via Zoom; please register to receive the link.

Being _ _ _ at Christmas 2022 – Annual Day of Family Fun

December 25, 2022, 10 am–3 pm
101 South Independence Mall East (corner of 5^th & Market), Philadelphia

Join The Weitzman for their annual day of family fun. From top to bottom, the Museum will be jam packed with performances and activities for members and visitors of all ages.

Start on the fifth floor with exciting live performances, including an interactive and imaginative kids’ music concert with Lolly Hopwood, a traditional Chinese lion dance demonstration from the Philadelphia Suns Lion Dancers, a family-friendly drumming workshop led by Joseph Tayoun, and hip-hop dance workshop by Movemakers Philly. Don’t miss the make-and-take craft activities, including winter-themed foam sticker picture frames, Hanukkah paper lanterns, snowflake beaded charm bracelets, and other crafts for kids of all ages. There will be story time on the second floor and a sensory-friendly play zone with a foam floor, Legos, blocks, and puzzles on the third floor. And the fun doesn’t stop there! Enjoy classic winter movies that will be screened throughout the day in our Dell Theater. Lastly, explore the Museum’s core exhibition and see what other fun activities are throughout the building. Visit The Weitzman website for admission information.

Shine a Light – The Weitzman

December 26, 2022, 3:30 pm–5 pm
101 South Independence Mall East (corner of 5^th & Market), Philadelphia

Join jkid4all, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, and Jewish Federation of North America on Monday Dec. 26, for an afternoon of learning about light. This free family event will highlight the history and customs of Hanukkah, including stories of communities standing up for their Jewish neighbors at Hanukkah. They will also explore the history and customs of Kwanzaa, an African-American celebration of heritage, culture, and community with educator Elaine Johnson. Included will be a light-themed, take-home craft activity. The event will culminate with the lighting of both the Kinara and the Hanukkah menorah. This event will take place in an indoor location in Center City; please register for the exact address. All ages.

Photograph by ChameleonsEye/iStock. Laura Swartz contributed to this article.