DMV Hanukkah Guide 2026 / 5787

Wednesday, November 18th

• 6:30 p.m. — Chanukah Holiday Market with the EDCJCC
  • “Shop handmade goods from independent artists from holiday cards to jewelry to baked goods. It’s Etsy IRL!”

Saturday, November 21st

• 2:00 p.m. — Opening Performance of “Hanukkah Spectacular” with Woolly Mammoth Theatre
  • “Set over a long weekend at a Midtown talent agency, Hanukkah Spectacular follows a group of Jewish theatre artists brought together to create a commercially viable holiday hit about Hanukkah.”

Tuesday, December 3rd

• 8:00 p.m. — Kintsugi with STa”M Studio
  • “We will study texts on breaking and repair, then mend ceramics with the traditional gold seams of the Japanese art of Kintsugi.”

Friday, December 4th

• 6:30 p.m. — Shabbat Hanukkah with Temple Micah
  • Livestream available
  • “Celebrate Hanukkah at Temple Micah! Be sure to bring your menorah and candles to light with us. Arrive by 6:15 p.m. to set up before services begin.”

Saturday, December 5th

• 2:00 p.m. — Hanukkah Spectacular at Woolly Mammoth with Sixth & I
  • “Take a trip to Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and sit with other Sixth & I’ers at their new play, Hanukkah Spectacular. Stick around for a post-show happy hour to chat about the performance.”
• 2:00 p.m. — Inclusive Family Chanukah Celebration with Temple Rodef Shalom
  • “The Inclusive Family Chanukah Celebration is for families with children ten years old and younger who might prefer a quieter celebration. The activities include crafts, games, singing and snacks. Parents, grandparents, and siblings of any age are welcome.”
• 4:00 p.m. — Chanukah Candle Lighting and Concert with Temple Rodef Shalom
  • “Join our youth musical groups to celebrate with a Chanukah Concert. Our Cantors, Shir Joy, Shir Harmony, and Rak Noar will prepare us for Chanukah through song!”
• 5:00 p.m. — Family Friendly Chanukah Festival with Temple Rodef Shalom
  • “As the sun sets earlier and earlier, all of us could use a little more light in our lives. Especially the joyful light of Chanukah. Pile the whole family in the car and come on over for our Chanukah Festival!”
• 6:30 p.m. — A Hanukkah Party featuring Michael Winograd and The Honorable Mentshn with the Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia
  • “Celebrate the second night of Hanukkah with a joyful, family-friendly dance party at The Barns at Wolf Trap! Klezmer clarinetist Michael Winograd and his band The Honorable Mentshn bring the festive musical traditions of the Eastern European Jewish diaspora roaring into the 21st century with sounds that are rousing, raucous, and deeply moving.”
• 6:30 p.m. — Hot Chocolate & Havdalah (& Zoolights!) with Reva and Adas Israel Congregation
  • “We gather first at Adas for warm drinks, meaningful connections, uplifting snogs, and information on how to get more involved at Adas. Then, those who would like to join will walk to the National Zoo to experience the holiday Zoolights.”

Sunday, December 6th

• 10:00 a.m. — Menorah Run 🕎 on the National Mall with Nice Jewish Runners DC
  • “Join us for the 3rd Annual Menorah Run on the National Mall with Nice Jewish Runners DC and Friends 🕎 🏃‍♂️ 🔥”
• 3:00 p.m. — Hanukkah Concert and Carnival with The LeeVees with Washington Hebrew Congregation
  • “Join us for an afternoon full of fun, Hanukkah food and music with The LeeVees, making their first appearance in the DMV in over a decade!”
• 3:30 p.m. — National Menorah Lighting with American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad)
  • “Perhaps the most prominent public Chanukah program in the world is the annual lighting ceremony of the National Chanukah Menorah on the Ellipse, just across from the White House in Washington, DC.”
• 4:00 p.m. — Hanukkah Celebration with Kol Ami
  • “Join us for an evening of light, music, community, and celebration. We’ll light the Hanukkah menorah together, enjoy festive food, sing, and celebrate.”
• 4:30 p.m. — Hanukkah Family Fun Night with the City of Gaithersburg
  • “Discover Jewish winter traditions at our community Hanukkah event. Enjoy the delicious smells and tastes of the season with fresh latkes and sufganiyot and explore interactive educational and craft tables that bring the story and symbols of Hanukkah to life.”
• 4:30 p.m. — Light and Laughter: JCC Hanukkah Celebration 2026 with the Bender JCC
  • “Kick off Hanukkah with an all-ages community celebration featuring music, candle lighting, and delicious sufganiyot tastings…then get ready to laugh with Ariel Elias, acclaimed comedian”
• 5:00 p.m. — Chanukah Extravaganza with Tifereth Israel Congregation
  • “Come celebrate Chanukah with the TI community! Join in activities including a communal candle lighting, eating delicious latkes and sufganiyot, festive drinks, adult learning, arts & crafts, dreidel tournament and so much more!”
• 5:00 p.m. — 13th Annual Capitol Hill Menorah Lighting with Hill Havurah
  • “Gather with friends, neighbors, and community members as we light up the night, celebrate the Festival of Lights, and bring a little extra joy and sparkle to the neighborhood.”
• 6:00 p.m. — Rebekah Lowin: Talk & Workshop with Sixth & I
  • Livestream available
  • “Author Rebekah Lowin—affectionately dubbed a ‘Jewish Martha Stewart’ by her readers—guides you through the traditions, blessings, and rituals that anchor Jewish life.”
• 6:00 p.m. — The Great Latke Bake-Off! with Rodef 2100
  • “Join us in Alexandria on the third night of Chanukah for latke-eating, candle lighting, and delicious dinner! Bring your best latkes ready to eat and we’ll vote on our favorite!”

Tuesday, December 8th

• 5:30 p.m. — Hanukkah Happy Hour with GatherDC
  • “We’ll light the menorah at 5:40 pm, so come a little early if you’d like to be part of that special moment. Otherwise, feel free to stop by anytime and enjoy the evening with us!”
• 7:00 p.m. — “Parting the Waters” Film Screening with Temple Rodef Shalom
  • “Please join us for the Washington, DC-area premiere screening of the award-winning documentary Parting the Waters, an inspiring tale of an Israeli Olympic swimmer’s grit and determination.”

Wednesday, December 9th

• 12:00 p.m. — Halfway Through Hanukkah Market with the Capital Jewish Museum
  • “Still searching for the perfect gift for yourself or others? Tired of looking at that gaudy purple cat shaped menorah that doesn’t match your vibe? Come shop from local vendors and enjoy tastes of the season.”
• 5:00 p.m. — Craft and Sip with the Capital Jewish Museum
  • “Join us for an art workshop inspired by the work of Esther Bubley! Bring your own printed photos for a guided photograph embroidery workshop. Or bring your own project and join other crafty folks for an evening of creativity and connection.”
• 6:00 p.m. — Latkes and Vodkas: Trivia Edition with the Bender JCC
  • “A little schmear of Hanukkah, a splash of vodka, and a whole lot of friendly competition. Join us for a night of crispy latkes, cocktails/mocktails, and trivia”
• 6:30 p.m. — Chag HaBanot: Festival of the Daughters with the Den Collective
  • “Join Rabbi Anna to take part in the celebration as we learn the story of Judith, other brave women of the Bible, and the women in our own families who came before us.”
• 7:00 p.m. — Mahj and Mingle Chanukah Party for Moms of Young Kids with Temple Rodef Shalom
  • “Join other moms of young children (elementary and under) for Mahj with a Chanukah twist, including latkes and DIY gelt! While we have some on-hand to borrow, we encourage you to bring your own 2026 Mah Jongg card.”
• 7:00 p.m. — Moon by Moon: A Community Integration of Spiritual Time Based on the Hebrew Calendar with At the Well and Adas Israel Congregation
  • “As the days grow shorter and the world around us slows down, we are invited to turn inward, listen deeply, and tend both the light and the fire within. This month encourages us to explore anger with curiosity and compassion, uncovering the wisdom it may hold about what matters most to us.”

Thursday, December 10th

• 5:30 p.m. — Good Company – Hanukkah Edition: Arlington with the Den Collective
  • “Come in out of the cold for a special Hanukkah edition of Good Company. Expect fried treats, something warm to drink, and a little Hanukkah learning with Rabbi Anna, who just might be wearing her cheesy Hanukkah sweater… yours is also welcome.”
• 6:00 p.m. — Hanukkah Celebration with SHIN-DC and the Embassy of Portugal
  • Invitations must be requested through the link above. Space is limited!
  • “This year, our annual Hanukkah program celebrates Portuguese Jewish heritage and honors Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who brought light into the world during the dark times of the Holocaust.”
• 7:00 p.m. — Disco Under the Dome: A Chanukah Party with Sixth & I
  • “Enjoy specialty cocktails and mocktails and a latke bar, light the menorah, and put your dreidel game to the test.”
• 8:00 p.m. — Collage with STa”M Studio
  • “We will study texts on mourning turned into dancing and assemble our own collages through images and text.”

Friday, December 11th

• 4:00 p.m. — Chanukah Shabbat Stay-cation Begins with Young Folks of Kemp Mill
  • “…a wonderful Chanukah Shabbat Stay-cation that will last from Friday December 11th at sundown until Saturday night December 12th (including a Saturday night activity), marking the end of Chanukah with a lovely celebration of light and fried foods!”
• 6:30 p.m. — Shabbat Chanukah Evening Service with Temple Rodef Shalom
  • “Join our clergy and Koleinu, our volunteer choir, as we light the Chanukiah for the 8th night of Chanukah and celebrate with a sermon-in-song featuring music from Chanukah around the world.”
• 8:00 p.m. — Dreidel After Dark with 2239
  • “Join 2239 after Shabbat services for Dreidel After Dark! Enjoy latkes, drinks, trivia, ugly sweaters, and friendly competition.”

Sunday, December 13th

• 1:30 p.m. — Hanukkah Party & Jewish Research in Galicia with the Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington
  • Virtual event
  • “Emily H. Garber will teach you about specialized resources and techniques for Jewish genealogical research in the province of Galicia, Austrian Empire. Emily’s discussion will include a review of the history and context of recordkeeping and examples of records useful for those seeking ancestors in the Austrian Empire.”
• 2:00 p.m. — Final Performance of “Hanukkah Spectacular” with Woolly Mammoth Theatre
  • “Set over a long weekend at a Midtown talent agency, Hanukkah Spectacular follows a group of Jewish theatre artists brought together to create a commercially viable holiday hit about Hanukkah.”

• Chanukah Collection from Judaica Plaza
• Dreidel and Gelt Plush Duo from Target
• Dreidel Revolution Game from Offbeat Judaica
• ‘Elka’ the Dreidel Bird from Target
• Hanukkah Collection from Challah Back Girls
• Hanukkah Gelt from See’s Candies
• Hanukkiah Embroidery Kit from Capital Stitch Co.
• How Jonathan Adler Saved the Hanukkah Aisle at Michaels This Year by Rabbi Yael Buechler from Kveller
  • An item-by-item breakdown of Michaels’ Hanukkah collection
• How to Have a Ralph Lifshitz Hanukkah by Evelyn Frick from Hey Alma
• Jewish Joy Journal from Luxe Jewish Life
• Kislev Moon Manual from At the Well
• Kosher Marshmallows from The PoshMallow
• Menorahs and Baked Goods from Baked By Yael
• The 2026 Ultimate Hey Alma Hanukkah Gift Guide from Hey Alma
• 2027 Wall Calendar from Pawsitively Jewish

DC

• Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
  • Available December 4th-12th
• Baked by Yael
• Bread Furst
  • Available December 4th-11th
• Call Your Mother
  • Catering including donuts and latkes available for December 4th-6th and December 11th-13th
• Georgetown Cupcakes
  • Available December 1st-15th
• Silver and Sons BBQ
  • Order by November 29th for pickup on December 4th
  • Order by December 5th for pickup on December 10th

Maryland

• Call Your Mother
  • Catering including donuts and latkes available for December 4th-6th and December 11th-13th
• Silver and Sons BBQ
  • Order by November 29th for pickup on December 4th
  • Order by December 5th for pickup on December 10th
• Sunflower Bakery
  • Available December 1st-24th

Virginia

• Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
  • Available December 4th-12th
• Call Your Mother
  • Catering including donuts and latkes available for December 4th-6th and December 11th-13th
• Celebrity Delly

DIY Tips and Tricks

• How to Celebrate Hanukkah At Home from My Jewish Learning
• How to Shabbanukkah from OneTable
• Last Minute Hanukkah Recipes by Rebecca Gold from OneTable
• Shabbanukkah Guide from OneTable

Hanukkah History

• Glossary for the Holiday of Hanukkah from Chabad.org
• Hanukkah: Meaning, Menorah, and Traditions from Exploring Judaism
• Hanukkah: The Basics from 18Doors
• Hanukkah 101 from My Jewish Learning
• Why Do We Eat Latkes on Hanukkah? by Aly Miller from the Nosher
• 5 Surprising Facts About Hanukkah You May Not Know by Leah Kadosh from Kveller

Other Interesting Reads

• An Iranian Jewish Hanukkah, made in America by Rachel Sumekh from eJewish Philanthropy
• December: Judith and the Hanukkah Story from Jewish Women’s Archive
• Fact-Checking The Rugrats Hanukkah Special by Emily Burack from Hey Alma
• I Can’t Stop Thinking About This Fever Dream of a Hanukkah Hallmark Movie by Varina Jones-Reid from Hey Alma
• The Best Hanukkah Gift Won’t Actually Cost You Anything by Leila Sales from Hey Alma
• You Need to Know About North Africa’s Feminist Hanukkah Tradition by Rishe Groner from Hey Alma