Chanukah begins this year at nightfall on Dec. 20, and with the start of the eight-day holiday comes a bevy of public menorah lightings around the Bay Area.
Some are annual events — including one that is approaching its 40th year —that have become popular, highly anticipated community traditions. But there are also several new events scheduled for this year, as well as the continuation of what seems to be emerging as a new tradition, “Chanukah on Ice” events sponsored by local Chabad chapters.
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Here is a list of events that focus on the lighting of the menorah. All are free, unless indicated:
San Francisco
Dec. 20-27. Chanukah in Union Square will open with a candlelighting by Rabbi Yosef Langer at 5 p.m. Dec. 20. Langer will continue to light the 25-foot tall menorah every night of Chanukah, including on Dec. 25, which will mark the 37th annual Bill Graham Menorah Day. The festivities Dec. 25 will begin at 3 p.m. and will include arts and crafts, Jewish music and a dreidel house. www.chabadsf.org.
Dec. 20-27. The JCC of San Francisco, 3200 California St., will host celebrations every day beginning at 4:30 p.m., featuring holiday foods and music. An installation of high-intensity LED lights with color will also be illuminated on the roof each night. www.jccsf.org.
East Bay
Dec. 20-27. Chabad of Contra Costa will host menorah lightings every night of Chanukah at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek. The first-night lighting is a celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 20. It will include the lighting of the menorah, doughnuts, live music and face painting. Subsequent lightings will be at 5:30 p.m., except for Dec. 23 (4 p.m.) and Dec. 24 (6 p.m.). www.jewishcontracosta.com.
Dec 20. The sixth annual Piedmont lighting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in front of Piedmont Community Hall, 711 Highland Ave., Piedmont. Chabad of Oakland and Piedmont will be supplying hot drinks and doughnuts, and there will be live music. www.jewishoakland.com.
Dec 21. Chabad of Berkeley is heading to a hip shopping strip, Berkeley’s Fourth Street, for its community lighting. It is slated for 5 p.m. in front of the store CB2, 1730 Fourth St., Berkeley. Highlights include free menorahs and dreidels, and live music. www.chabadberkeley.org.
Dec. 21. Chabad of Contra Costa will host a second-night lighting in Lafayette. It will start at 7:30 p.m. at Whole Foods, 3502 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. www.jewishcontracosta.com.
Dec. 22. The Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, in collaboration with Chabad of Solano County, will host a free event from 4 to 7 p.m. The feature attraction: an 8-foot tall menorah filled with 100 pounds of Jelly Bellys. There will also be a latke and doughnut bar, face-painting, music by the Jubilee Klezmer Ensemble, a performance by bubble-blower Sterling Johnson and olive-tasting. www.jellybelly.com.
Dec. 24. “Chanukah on Ice” is slated for 7 to 10 p.m. at the Sharks Ice skating center, 519 18th St., Oakland. It is being co-presented by Chabad of Berkeley and Chabad of Oakland and Piedmont. Highlights include the lighting of a giant ice menorah, skating with Judah Maccabee and the Dancing Dreidel, make your own beeswax candles, a decorate-your-doughnut area, kosher food and a squeeze-it-yourself olive press. $12-$15. www.chabadberkeley.org.
Dec. 25. Chabad of Oakland and Piedmont is returning for a third straight year to Splash Pad Park, across from the Grand Lake Theatre, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland, to light the menorah at 5:30 p.m. With treats, music and crafts. Free. www.jewishoakland.com.
Dec. 25. “Chanukah on Ice” for skaters of all ages will be held at the Walnut Creek Civic Park Ice Rink, 1365 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek, from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be a menorah lighting, treats and ice skating to Jewish music. $14-$16. www.jewishcontracosta.com or (925) 937-4101.
Dec. 26. Chabad of Contra Costa will host a lighting at a third location, Whole Foods, 100 Sunset Dr., San Ramon. 7:30 p.m. www.jewishcontracosta.com.
North Bay
Dec. 20-27. The new public menorah in Lyman Park, 1460 Main St., St. Helena, will be “lit” (the menorah is electric) every night of Chanukah by members of local Jewish communities. Each lighting will be at 6 p.m., except these two: 7 p.m. Dec. 21 (with music, hosted by Rabbi Oren Postrel of Napa Valley’s Free Run Chavurah); and 7 p.m. Dec. 22 (led by Ellyn Elson, president of Congregation Beth Shalom in Napa). [email protected].
Dec. 20-27. The Village shopping center at Corte Madera, 1618 Redwood Highway, will host events in the Nordstrom wing at 5:30 p.m. every night of Chanukah, with leaders from various local Jewish groups: Dec. 21, Congre-gation Rodef Sholom and Cantor David Margules (with singing, dreidels and gelt); Dec. 22, Rabbi Hillel Scop of Chabad Mill Valley (with singing and children’s activities); Dec. 26, Marin chapter of Hadassah and Jewish Family and Children’s Services; Dec. 27, Kol Shofar will host the lighting on the final night of Chanukah. www.villageatcortemadera.com/Events.
Peninsula
Dec. 20. North Peninsula Chabad will host an event billed as “Tropical Menorah” in Washington Park, 850 Burlingame Ave., Burlingame (behind the train station). The event, which starts at 6 p.m., will include holiday music and treats, including doughnuts and latkes. Attendees are encouraged to make build their own menorah at home (out of any materials), then bring it for a chance at the grand prize, a remote-control helicopter. See the website for contest rules and signup form. www.chabadnp.com.
Dec. 21. The Oshman Family JCC is holding a Festival of Lights Party on the second night at its facility at 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. In addition to a lighting of the menorah, there will be songs, dreidel games and Israeli jelly doughnuts. www.paloaltojcc.org.
South Bay
Dec. 20. A host of Jewish organizations are putting on a first-night lighting at Santana Row, 3055 Olin Ave., San Jose. Taking place at 5:30 p.m. in the plaza in front of Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant, the event will include music, crafts, food tasting and a live enactment of a PJ Library book. PJ Library is the sponsor, and there are many participating organizations. (408) 357-7509 or www.santanarow.com/events.
Other Chanukah events,
Dec. 22 (third night) through Dec. 27 (eighth night)
thursday | 22
Chanukah festival. Music by local performer-songwriter Gary Lapow, children’s activities, candle making and vegetarian potluck. At Kehilla Community Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave., Piedmont. 5 p.m. $5-$10. http://www.kehillasynagogue.org.
Chanukah festival. Chabad of Redwood City presents food, music, arts and crafts and candlelighting ceremony with 9-foot menorah. At Courthouse Square, Redwood City. 5:15 p.m. Free. http://www.jewishredwoodcity.com/festival.
Chanukah musical celebration. Performances by Nigunim Chorus, Adama Band, Gerry Tenney and the Lost Tribe Bluegrass Band, and Yiddish singer Heather Klein accompanied by Achi Ben Shalom. JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. $15, children free. http://www.jcceastbay.org.
Latke Ball 2011. JCF Young Adult Division presents annual holiday dance party. At Ruby Skye, 420 Mason St., S.F. 8 p.m. $20-$40. http://www.jewishfed.org/yad.
Klezmer Brass and Orkestar Sali. Holiday party with music, candlelighting and nosh. Subterranean Arthouse, 2179 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. 9 p.m. $15-$30 suggested. http://www.subterraneanarthouse.org.
friday | 23
“Hanukkah Popup: Brisket and Latkes.” Traditional fare, spiced wine and live music. At Local 123 café, 2049 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. 1 to 5 p.m. $18. RSVP to [email protected].
Latke truck. Saul’s Deli will feature a latke and sufganiyot truck Dec. 23 to 26, plus a klezmer jam with local musicians Dec. 25. At Saul’s Deli, 1475 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. http://www.saulsdeli.com.
Chanukah potluck. Jews’ Next Dor host a holiday potluck. Bring a vegetarian/dairy dish to share. At private residence, Cupertino. 7 p.m. Free. [email protected].
saturday | 24
“Chanukah on the Farm.” Music, dance and kosher organic Chinese food. Bring your own eating utensils. At Urban Adamah Farm, 1050 Parker St., Berkeley. 7 p.m. $10-$22 plus a canned food item. http://www.urbanadamah.org.
Chanukah party. Chinese food, doughnuts and live music. Proceeded by half-hour “Creating New Holidays” class with Rabbi Avi Lebowitz. At Jewish Study Network, 3626 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. 8:30 p.m. $8-$10. http://www.jsn.info.
Chanukah party. Music, candlelighting, drinks and nosh. Sponsored by Nehirim, S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, Keshet, Congregation Sha’ar Zahav and Tikva Records. At Queens Nails art space, 3191 Mission St., S.F. 6 p.m. [email protected]. www.nehirim.org.
Chanukah potluck. D&S Events and Mensch Link present holiday potluck with optional gift exchange for singles ages 45-65. At private residence, Palo Alto. 6:30 p.m. $15. (650) 321-9213.
sunday | 25
“Hanukah Happening.” Family activities, food, movies and entertainment and candlelighting. Candles provided. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. http://www.jccsf.org.
Chanukah at Amba. Free sufganiyot for kids and communal candlelighting at Israeli kosher vegetarian restaurant. At Amba, 464 Moraga Ave., Oakland. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (510) 339-8000. http://www.ambafalafel.com.
“Shop and Shmooze.” Live reggae music by Queen Makedah and children’s concert by Octopreztel, kosher Chinese food and latkes for sale, menorah lighting at 4:30 p.m. At Afikomen Judaica, 3042 Claremont Ave., Berkeley. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.afikomen.com.
Bill Graham Menorah Day. Arts and crafts, Jewish music and a dreidel house. At Union Square, S.F. 3 p.m. Free. http://www.chabadsf.org.
Children’s Chanukah party. Pizza, big-screen movie, menorah lighting and songs. Ages 4-12. At Richmond Torah Center Chabad, 423 10th Ave., S.F. 4:30 p.m. $5 per child, parents free. http://www.rtchabad.org.
“It’s a Jewish Christmas.” Chinese food and dancing. At the Makeout Room, 3225 22nd St., S.F. 5 p.m. $10. RSVP for discount to [email protected].
tuesday | 27
Chanukah party. Dinner and music. At Richmond Torah Center Chabad, 423 10th Ave., S.F. $12-$24. 6:30 p.m. (415) 386-8123.