Weather 
Hanukkah is just around the corner, and New Yorkers are ready to celebrate the happy challah-days.
This festive season in NYC can feel like a smack in the face of all things Christmas, but the Festival of Lights — beginning at sundown on Sunday, Dec. 14, and ending at sundown on Monday, Dec. 22 — also shines brightly at this time of year. There are plenty of events and activities happening here to properly commemorate the joyous Jewish holiday.
Here are some of the lit events to check out this year.
World’s largest menorah(s)
Two menorahs battling over the title of “world’s largest” — one in Manhattan, the other in Brooklyn — will light up both boroughs each night of Hanukkah starting this weekend.
The official victor — according to Guinness World Records, which cited it in 2006 — is a 32-foot-tall, 4,000-pound structure erected at Midtown’s Grand Army Plaza, Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, across from the Plaza Hotel. Its rival, a menorah at Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza, also tops off at 32 feet, but there is debate that it may be taller by a half-foot because its shamash, or center candle, adds about six uncounted inches to its height. However, a representative for Guinness told The Post that the largest menorah is measured by the overall height/length of the menorah, excluding candles.
The Manhattan menorah will follow this lighting schedule:
- Dec. 14 through 18, and Dec. 21: 5:30 p.m.
- Dec 19: 3:45 p.m.
- Dec 20: 8:30 p.m.
The Brooklyn lightings will take place on:
- Dec. 14 and 21: 5 p.m.
- Dec. 15 through 8: 6 p.m.
- Dec. 19: 3:30 p.m.
- Dec. 20: 7:15 p.m.
In Brooklyn, the musical group Pumpidisa will host a kickoff concert at 4 p.m. on the 14th, before the lighting; each night will have live music, hot latkes and gifts for children.
Dec. 14 to 21; Grand Army Plaza, Fifth Avenue at the north side of 59th Street at Central Park, Midtown; Grand Army Park at Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn
Shine Bright at Hudson Yards
Kick off Hanukkah at Shine Bright at Hudson Yards with a menorah lighting and celebration on Dec. 15, at around 4:30 p.m.
Presented by Wells Fargo in partnership with Chabad of Midtown, the Public Square and Gardens will have daily lightings at sundown. Guests can enjoy other holiday festivities at Hudson Yards after the ceremony, such as the glittering holiday light display or a hot chocolate pop-up at the nearby La Maison du Chocolat.
Dec. 15 to 22; 11th Avenue and Hudson Boulevard
Chanukah menorah lighting and celebration at Seaport
One of the more unique menorah lightings in the city — if seeing the “world’s largest” too ho-hum for you — will take place at The Seaport, which will celebrate the season with a six-foot Hanukkah lamp made of LEGOs.
The annual neighborhood event, hosted by the Chabad Jewish Center of FiDi, will be 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, and will feature latkes, hot chocolate, live music, arts and crafts, face painting and a musical performance by the FiDi Hebrew School.
The celebration is free, but an RSVP is encouraged.
Dec. 14 at 3 p.m.; Heineken Riverdeck at Pier 17, 89 South St.
Chanukah on Ice
Central Park visitors can skate under the festive lights at Wollman Rink from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, during Chanukah on Ice NYC 2025.
General admission tickets for the event, featuring a live DJ, kosher treats and a menorah lighting, cost $35 until 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13; they go up to $40 from Dec. 14 through noon on Dec.16. Children under 2 years old skate free; tickets include skate rentals, food and beverages.
Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.; Wollman Rink | 830 Fifth Ave.
MatzoBall 2025
If you’re Jewish, single and ready to mingle, check out Matzoball, the annual rite of passage for those faithful with nothing to do on Christmas Eve.
“The nation’s No. 1 Jewish Singles Holiday Party,” as it’s billed, brings together non-coupled folks — some already using the Jewzz dating app, created by the event founders — for a night of schmoozing, dancing and, in their G-rated assessment, “romantic possibilities.”
MatzoBall is for people 21 and over, kicking off at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and shutting down at 4 a.m. on Christmas Day. Tickets are $55, or $80 for a VIP, line-skipping “fast pass” ticket. Table prices range from $235 to $407.
Dec. 24 at 10 p.m.; Musica | 637 W. 50th St.
The Jazzukkah Project
The musicians behind The Jazzukkah Project celebrate the holiday by reimagining songs such as “Ma’oz Tzur,” “I Have a Little Dreidle” and “Sevivon” as electric jazz tunes.
Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Grove NYC | 125 MacDougal St.
‘Jumping off the Roof’
Elana Polin‘s cheekily named one-woman musical, “Jumping Off the Roof” explores the seven-member family from the classic “Fiddler on the Roof” in a parody from the females’ point of view.
The play asks: What really happens to Tzeitel in the New World? How does she really feel about Motel, the tailor? And how has the Dairyman mentality and community protected and prepared her for life?
Dec. 13 to 15 at 3:30 p.m.; The Triad Theater | 158 West 72nd St.
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.
They will perform different setlists each night of Hanukkah from Dec. 14 through 21.
Dec. 14 to 21 at 7:30 p.m.; 6 Delancey St.
Zamir Choral Foundation Hanukkah Concert
On Saturday, Dec. 13, Zamir Chorale, a premier Hebrew singing choir in North America, and Zamir Noded, a Jewish choir for young professionals, will collaborate on a concert conducted by maestro Matthew Lazar.
“Celebrating Hanukkah: Jewish Independence, Resilience and Hope” will feature both ensembles singing separately and together. Tickets are available online for $40 for balcony seats and $65 for orchestra.
Dec. 13 at 8 p.m.; Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center | 129 W. 67th St.
The Great Chanukah Doughnut Duel 2025
The annual battle for the “Golden Doughnut trophy” is billed as the “ultimate holiday showdown” to find Hanukkah’s best sweet treat in the Big Apple.
Hosted by comedian Eitan Levine, NYC’s top chefs will go head-to-head at The Moxy Williamsburg on Dec. 16, bringing their most creative sufganiyah — the round jelly doughnut pastry eaten around the world during the Jewish holiday — to the neighborhood.
Guests will sample bold, over-the-top doughnuts and cast votes to help decide this year’s champion. Tickets are available online for $36.
Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.; The Moxy Williamsburg | 353 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn
Hanukkah food offerings in NYC
Of course, along with events, there are plenty of notable food offerings across NYC for Hanukkah. With everything from traditional holiday eats to creative spins on classics, here are some options for the foodies:
Mama Mezze
Chef Einat Admony at Mama Mezze will serve a crispy latke with apple sour cream, combining the two highly debated toppings into one. The apples are roasted with Aleppo pepper, honey, rosemary and thyme, then blended with yogurt and sour cream.
1123 Broadway
Acadia
For Hanukkah dinner from Dec. 14 through 22, Acadia offers a ltkes special with freshly grated latkes and a broad range of toppings, such as smoked salmon, lamb ragu, silan-ginger applesauce, schug, sweet-and-sour harissa, and tahina–amba. They also serve a crispy potato latke with two eggs, smoked salmon and labneh at lunch and brunch year-round.
101 W. 57th St.
Russ & Daughters
Russ & Daughters locations will serve their classic, gold-standard potato latkes, handmade in small batches. They come with applesauce or sour cream, with the option to add smoked salmon or roe.
179 E. Houston St. | 127 Orchard St. | 502 W. 34th St. | 141 Flushing Ave.
Gertie
Gertie’s will offer three latkes with mix-and-match toppings, such as apple butter and sour cream, lox with dill, hot-and-cold smoked salmon with hot honey mayo, pickled herring, tuna melt or reuben-style.
602 Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn
12 Chairs Café
12 Chairs Café has a Hanukkah-only latke, served with classic toppings such as sour cream and applesauce, plus Middle Eastern-forward sides including labneh and smoked salmon.
From Dec. 15 through 22, both SoHo and Williamsburg locations will serve sufganiyot, and candles will be lit at 6 p.m. nightly throughout the holiday.
56 MacDougal St. | 342 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn
Misi
Williamsburg’s Misi is bringing an Italian twist to Hanukkah, serving latkes with whipped ricotta and rosemary apple butter, available for holiday pre-order.
329 Kent Ave.
Levantine
Head to Levantine in Williamsburg to get sweet potato latkes with a yogurt-chive dip, a modern variation on the crispy holiday standard.
361 Graham Ave.
Edith’s
There are multiple latke-centric dishes at Edith’s this holiday season, including the BEC&L, a bacon-egg-cheese on a crispy latke; bite-size Totkes; and a Latke, Egg & Cheese on a bagel or malawach.
495 Lorimer St.
Miriam
Miriam will be serving their beloved gluten-free chickpea latkes, made extra-crispy with chickpea flour, for Hanukkah this year, thanks to a trick passed down from chef and owner Rafael “Rafi” Hasid’s mother.
Plus, the restaurant will have house-made raspberry sufganiyot dusted generously in powdered sugar, as well as DIY-style latkes, which will have add-ons like labneh, smoked salmon, salmon roe, applesauce and crudités.
The specials will be available at all restaurants — Park Slope, Upper West Side, Upper East Side and West Village — from Dec. 14 through 22.
300 Amsterdam Ave. | 79 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn | 140 Seventh Ave. South | 973 Lexington Ave. | 81 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn
Miznon
Miznon will offer latkes at all of its New York City locations from Dec. 14 through 22. The dish comes with four golden potato versions, served with Miznon’s rich, tangy Runover Cream, for $16.
435 W. 15th St. | 30 Rockefeller Plaza | 601 Lexington Ave. | 20 Hudson Yards, Floor 2 | 1410 Broadway
Hank Schwartz’s Delicatessen & Appetizing
This Jewish deli located in Jersey City wanted to offer guests something unexpected this Hanukkah, so on the final night, owner Jason Stahl will debut The Feast of the Smoked & Cured Fishes.
Inspired by Stahl’s wife, who serves up a traditional Italian feast of the seven fishes on Christmas Eve, the fish charcuterie board — a.k.a. “seacuterie” — will feature up to eight smoked and cured fish, one for each night of Hanukkah.
Swimmers will include citrus gravlax, Nova smoked salmon, buttery sablefish, maple bacon salmon candy, jazzed-up whitefish spread, matjes herring, fish roe and smoked trout.
