Yes, it’s beginning to look a lot like Chanukah. And there’s plenty of holiday events, get-togethers and soirees going on around town to celebrate the Festival of Lights, which this year will be observed from Sunday night, Dec. 14, until Monday evening, Dec 22.
Of course, there are lots of activities happening at the fabulous Chanukah House of Pikesville and the River Hill Chanukah House in Columbia, as well as offerings from the JCC and Chizuk Amuno Congregation’s first-ever “HanuCon” gathering.
But here are a few other celebrations for the Festival of Lights going on around the area that you might also want to check out:
Join Baltimore Hebrew Congregation’s YoPro group and Moishe House Baltimore for a pre-Chanukah celebration at Peabody Heights Brewery on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m. The party will feature latkes and sufganiyot, as well as access to the Dugout arcade room at Peabody Heights, 401 E. 30th Street. For information, visit associated.org/event/baltimore-hebrew-congregation-pre-chanukah-celebration-with-moishe-house-baltimore/.
Chabad Owings MIlls and David S. Brown Enterprises will hold the annual Community Chanukah Festival and Menorah Lighting on the first night of Chanukah on Sunday, Dec. 14, from 4-5:30 p.m. at Metro Centre Owings Mills, Grand Central Avenue. Includes live entertainment, crafts and face-painting, donuts, latkes and gifts. For information, visit chabadom.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/6703848/jewish/Community-Festival.htm.
Join the downtown Jewish community and the historic B’nai Israel Congregation in East Baltimore on Tuesday, Dec. 16, to bring some Chanukah joy to the Tikvah House, 529 E. Washington Street. The Tikva House is a home base for Jewish families caring for a loved one receiving treatment at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Kennedy Krieger Hospital. For information, visit jewishdowntown.org/event/hanukkah-at-the-tikvah-house.html or email office@downtownjewish.org.
The next evening, Dec. 17, B’nai Israel will host a candle-lighting and musical Chanukah celebration with Avihay Aharoni and Matityahu Tonti. The program will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at B’nai Israel, 27 Lloyd Street. For information, visit jewishdowntown.org/event/musical-hanukkah-candlelighting.html.
Also, on Saturday, Dec. 20, B’nai Israel will host a festive Chanukah Shabbat lunch after services.
On Sunday, Dec. 21, join Jewish Connection Network for a Chanukah gathering held in partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of Maryland. This free event will be held from 1-3 p.m. at the Pikesville branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, 1301 Reisterstown Road. Everyone is welcome. Light refreshments and a magic show. For information, visit thejewishnetwork.org/event/chanukah-dsa/.
Need a good laugh? Why not check out the second annual “Haha Hanukkah Party”? The show features an all-star, all-Jewish lineup of comedians who have performed at top clubs across the country, plus a festive menorah lighting. The party will be held Sunday, Dec. 21, from 8-10 p.m. at the Port Comedy Club, 813 S. Broadway. There will also be music, gelt and kosher dairy sufganiyot courtesy of the Jewish Connection Network and the Shalom Social Club.
This year’s “Haha” will be headlined by Matty Litwack, a finalist at both the Seattle International Comedy Competition and the Boston Comedy Festival. The party will be hosted by Adam Freesman, a Port Comedy regular. For information, visit associated.org/event/2nd-annual-haha-hanukkah-stand-up-show/.
Yes, besides the “Haha Hanukkah Party,” there’s also the annual “Hannukah Brew Ha Ha,” to be held on Thursday, Dec. 18, from 8-9 p.m. at Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh, 2001 Liberty Heights Avenue. The gathering — which is presented with Union Craft Brewing — will feature latkes, libations and lager, as well as a performance of by acclaimed Israeli-American rapper Kosha Dillz. In addition, there will be a hands-on service project led by the Jewish Connection Network with support from Repair the World. DJ Selecta 2 Scoops will set the mood for the evening by leading the menorah lighting for the holiday’s fifth night. For information, visit thirdspacest.org/happenings/.
In addition, Third Space and the Jews of Color Mishpacha Project will host a Chanukah celebration for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) Jews and their families on Sunday, Dec. 21, from noon to 3 p.m. The third annual “Jews of Color Hannukah Party” will feature board games, cards and crafts, including candle-making. There will also be latkes, sufganiyot (donuts), and pizza. For information, visit thirdspacest.org/event/joc-hannukah-party-2025/.
Need some space? A special Chanukah program at the Gordon Center for Performing Arts will feature a presentation of the short documentary “Fiddler on the Moon,” exploring how Jewish traditions and practices could theoretically be observed in outer space. This event will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at noon. Following the film, enjoy a discussion with guest speaker Stanley Fishkind, a chief engineer at NASA for 10 years. The Gordon Center is located at 3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue in Owings Mills, and a light lunch will include latkes and salads. This program is presented in partnership with Meyerberg at the J, a collaboration between the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC and the Edward A. Myerberg Center. For information, visit gordoncenter.com/event/fiddler-on-the-moon/.
Can’t get enough of Old Ellicott City? Join Chabad of Ellicott City in celebrating Chanukah in the heart of historic Main Street on Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 6-7 p.m. with a fire show, live music, crafts, inflatables and traditional Chanukah treats. This gathering will be held at the historic Thomas Isaac Log Cabin, 8358 Frederick Road. For information, visit chabadellicottcity.com/tools/events/register_cdo/eventid/19937
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