Best Hanukkah 2011 events for NYC kids

Hanukkah 2011 events for NYC kids

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  Hanukkah Festival at 92Y

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  Latkes and Applesauce at Merkin Concert Hall

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  JCP Hanukkah Bash at Citigroup

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  Hanukkah Festival at 92nd Street Y 

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  Chanukah Fever! with Mama Doni and the Mama Doni Band at 92nd St Y

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  JCP Hanukkah Bash at Citigroup

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  The Macaroons perform at the Jewish Museum.

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Hanukkah Festival at 92Y

Get out your dreidels and start frying up some latkes—Hanukkah has arrived! Celebrate the story of the Maccabees with your crew this year by checking out some fun-filled activities around the city. 

December 9–11

FREE   
Fri Dec 9 at 6pm. Congregation Rodeph Sholom Synagogue, 7 W 83rd St at Central Park West (646-454-3055, rodephsholom.org).
Celebrate Hanukkah by listening to uplifting music selections, including renditions of "Light One Candle" and "Bring On the Light," presented by a children's choir. Afterward, cantor Rebecca Garfein performs, accompanied by an organ, a flute, guitar, cello, and acoustic and electric bass. Afterward, stick around for the congregation's Shabbat dinner and latke party at 7:30pm. All ages.

FREE 
Sun Dec 11 at 1pm. Hannah Senesh Community Day School, 342 Smith St between 2nd and 3rd Sts, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn (718-243-1404, hannahsenesh.org).
Start a new tradition by going to this art fair that offers several different workshops for every member of the family, including a "Hanukkah multimedia mobiles" class, in which kids can make hanging mobiles or kinetic structures. To add to the fun, there will be origami and card-making classes, a paper doll workshop and knitting demonstrations. All ages.

Sun Dec 11 at 10:30am. 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave between 91st and 92nd Sts. (212-415-5500, 92y.org). $20, children ages 2–12 $15, children under 2 free.
At this bash celebrating the Festival of Lights, kids can decorate a dreidel, make candles, construct a personalized menorah, dress up like a Maccabee and take in lots of holiday entertainment, including a performance from the Shababa Mamas. All ages.

JCP’s Hanukkah Bash
Sun Dec 11 11am–1:30pm. Citigroup (sponsored by JCP Downtown), 388 Greenwich St between Hubert and North Moore Sts (212-334-3522, jcpdowntown.org). $15, four-person family $60.
Make your own menorah, play a game of “toss the latke,” watch a performance by Jacob Stein and the Downtown Puppets, and join in a community candle lighting at JCP’s Hanukkah Bash. All ages.

Advent/Christmas Service, followed by Hanukkah Celebration
Sun Dec 11 at 3pm. Brick Parish House, 62 E 92nd St between Madison and Park Aves (212-870-2544, interfaithcommunity.org). $25, family $60. R.S.V.P. required. If your Christmas stockings are hung beside your lighted menorah, this interfaith event is perfect for your crew. This year's service features a special Christmas pageant presented by kids in the center's after-school program. Festive eats and an evening of mingling with other interfaith families keep the celebration in full swing. All ages.

December 17–19

Sat Dec 17, Sun Dec 18 1:30–3:30pm. Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave at St. Marks Ave (718-735-4400, brooklynkids.org). Free with museum admission.
Discover the food and fun behind this celebration’s eight nights and create a special Hanukkah craft to take home. Ages 1 to 5.

Sat Dec 17 at 1pm. Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, Grand Army Plaza at Flatbush Ave (718-230-2100, brooklynpubliclibrary.org).
Hop on board for a magic train ride around the world and discover how holidays are celebrated in different cultures. Through a series of library books, children learn the celebrations behind Kwanzaa, Diwali, Solstice, Ramadan, Hanukkah and Christmas. All ages.  

Sun Dec 18 10am–1pm, 11:15am–2:30pm. Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 W 83rd St between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway (212-721-1223, cmom.org). Free with museum admission.
The next best thing to lighting a menorah, this workshop lets younger kids celebrate Hanukkah by crafting a shiny symbol of the holiday with glitter and metallic paper. Ages 1 to 4.

Sun Dec 18 at 11am. Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W 67th St between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave (212-501-3330, kaufman-center.org). $20.
The Poppy Seed Players' annual family musical includes a Hanukkah-themed twist on A Christmas Carol, a parody of American Idol and dance-in-your-seats, klezmer-inflected tunes. Ages 4 to 11.

Sun Dec 18 at 3pm. Congregation Ramath Orah, 550 West 110th St, between Broadway and Amsterdam. (212-222-2470, ramathorah.org). $10, $5 per child, $25 family maximum.
Rock out with the Ramath Orah All Star Band (with special guest Don Publisi) to American and British classics. This family-friendly show will also feature festive Hanukkah tunes for the whole family to sing along to. All ages.

Dec 18 noon–4pm. The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave at 92nd St. (212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org). Free with museum admission.
At the Jewish Museum's celebration, little revelers can decorate dreidels, craft Hanukkah lamps and use the stories of Ezra Jack Keats for scene-inspired artwork. Don't miss a performance from Ben Rudnick and Friends or the museum's iconic collection of Hanukkah lamps. Ages 3 and up.

Sun Dec 18 at 3pm. 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave (212-415-5500, 92y.org). $15.
The funky band plays tunes that focus on Jewish themes, but with a twist: Your tyke will be reggae dancing to "Mazel Tov" and disco jiving to "Sabbath Queen." In the spirit of Hanukkah, the group will also have kids jamming to such tunes as "The Funky Gold Menorah" and vying to win prizes like dreidels and chocolate gelt. Ages 3 and up.

Sun Dec 18 at 2pm. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd at Main St, Flushing, Queens (718-463-7700, flushingtownhall.org). $16, children under 12 $12.
Join singer, songwriter and storyteller Louie Miranda and his band for a highly interactive performance celebrating the story of Hanukkah. Come early and make your very own Star of David. Ages 5 and up.

FREE 
Sun Dec 18 at 10am. JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave at 76th St (646-505-5708, jccmanhattan.org). 
Celebrate Chanukkah with the family at the Manhattan JCC! Over the course of the morning, kids can participate in tons of festive activities, such as playing dreidel, making art, decorating cookies and much more. Stick around for a story reading by author Leslie Kimmelman, author of The Runaway Latkes, and enjoy a special performance by award-winning infant- and toddler-music masters the Little Meastros. All ages.

FREE 
Sun Dec 18 at 12pm. Winter Garden at the World Financial Center, 220 Vesey St at West St (212-417-7000, artsworldfinancialcenter.com).
The Festival of Lights inspires an afternoon of Yiddish music and theater courtesy of the National Yiddish Theatre-Folksbiene. All ages. 

December 20–25

Tue Dec 20 at 9pm. Wollman Ice Skating Rink, 830 Fifth Ave at East Dr (212-864-5010, ext 4; chanukahonicenyc.com). $25, children ages 3–13 $20; in advance $22, children ages 3–13 $18.
Families can celebrate the Festival of Lights by taking a spin around the ice rink in Central Park and watching as a giant ice menorah is lit for the first night of Hanukkah. A light dinner, donuts and hot beverages are included in the evening's festivities. All ages.

Sat Dec 24 2:30–3:30pm. Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave at St. Marks Ave (718-735-4400, brooklynkids.org). Free with museum admission.
Some families string them around a tree and some light one candle a night. No matter what holiday your crew celebrates, the theme of light is likely to be a part of the occasion. Children explore the shining symbolism by listening to several stories that explore such holidays as Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukkah and Diwali. Then, everyone creates a festive craft to bring home. Ages 6 and up.

Chanukah Party
Sun Dec 25 at 3pm. Astoria Center of Israel, 27-35 Crescent St between Newton and 28th Aves, Astoria, Queens (718-278-2680, astoriacenter.org). $12, children ages 6–12 $5, children under 6 free.
At this Hanukkah fete, families can enjoy face painting, arts and crafts, musical performances and plenty of dancing. Tote along your own menorah for a candle-lighting ceremony with other Jewish families while you sip apple cider and nosh on warm latkes. All ages.  

Sun Dec 25 at 11am, 1, 3pm. The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave at 92nd St (212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org). $20, children under 12 $15.
This kiddie group rocks out in the name of Hanukkah with melodies like "Hurry Up and Light the Candle" and "Mezuzah." Ages 3 to 9.

Sun Dec 25 at 2pm. West End Synagogue, 190 Amsterdam Ave at 69th St (212-579-0777, westendsynagogue.org). Suggested donation $5, family $18.
Celebrate the Festival of Lights at the West End Synagogue with a performance by singer-songwriter Michelle Citrin (star of viral YouTube videos "Rosh Hashanah Girl" and "20 Things to Do with Matzah") and kids' Hanukkah craft workshops, plus delicious latkes and chocolate gelt. All ages.

Sun Dec 25 11am–3:30pm. Museum of Jewish Heritage–A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, 36 Battery Pl at 1st Pl (646-437-4202, mjhnyc.org). Free with museum admission.
In honor of Jewish poet Emma Lazarus and the famous Lady of the Harbor, head over to the Museum of Jewish Heritage for a day of statue-inspired crafts (noon–3:30pm), screenings and tours. Films on tap include An American Tail (11am) and Ghostbusters II (3pm). Ages 3 to 10.