DMV Hanukkah Guide 2024 / 5785

Updated 12:23 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4th

Dear DMV friends,

Happy Hanukkah! This guide, which we’ll be updating through the end of December, is your one-stop-shop for everything you need to gather together, find a little light as the days grow shorter, and celebrate Hanukkah all over the DMV. There are dozens of organizations putting on incredible Hanukkah experiences this year, but there’s only one spot to find them all in one place: right here!

We hope this guide can be a useful tool as you craft the just-right-for-you combination of community gatherings, happy hours, volunteering opportunities, seasonal menus, holiday markets, classes, menorah lightings, and much, much more that will make this Hanukkah season deeply meaningful (and fun!).

When you see us out and about in December, say hello! We can’t wait for the next chance to gather with you. And, if you’re looking to chat, you can always sign up to grab coffee (or hot chocolate, or boba, or something else) with us!

Chag Hanukkah Sameach – Wishing you a happy Hanukkah,

The GatherDC Team

PS: Not sure where to start? Check out the table of contents in the drop down menu at the top of the screen! And, if we’re missing something, please let us know by submitting your event to our online calendar or by emailing us. We’ll be updating the guide just about every day, so check back early and often!

Pre-Hanukkah Gatherings

Ongoing Experiences

• A Hanukkah Carol, or Gelt Trip! The Musical with Round House Theatre
  • Running through December 29th
  • Includes mask-required performances on December 10th and December 14th
• Chai-vy and Cohen-y Hanukkah Bar with Ivy and Coney
  • Running through January 1st
  • Menorah lightings around 7:00 p.m. each night of Hanukkah
• DC Holiday Market with Dupont Circle BID
  • Open through 8:00 p.m. 0n December 15th
• Holiday Market with DowntownDC BID
  • Open through 8:00 p.m. on December 23rd
• 8th Annual Holiday Fundraiser with Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia
  • Running December 7th to December 10th

Friday, December 6th

• 7:00 p.m. — Chanukah House Building & Shabbat Potluck with EntryPointDC Cooking Tribe

Saturday, December 7th

• 5:00 p.m. — Drag Queen Havdalah with GLOE

Sunday, December 8th

• 1:00 p.m. — Hesed Family Hanukkah Cookie Baking Event with Adas Israel
• 1:00 p.m. — Letters for a Cause with Rodef 2100

Tuesday, December 10th

• 6:00 p.m. — Gelt and Glow: A Chanukah Candle Making Workshop with Sixth & I
• 7:00 p.m. — D25 Community Gift Wrapping with the EDCJCC

Wednesday, December 11th

• 6:30 p.m. — Chanukah Holiday Market with EntryPointDC
• 7:30 p.m. — Latke Vodka Game Night with Moishe House Arlington

Thursday, December 12th

• 6:00 p.m. — CJM After Sunset: Light Up the Night with the Capital Jewish Museum

Sunday, December 15th

• 7:00 p.m. — Chrismukkah Celebration with Abrahamic House

Tuesday, December 17th

• 6:00 p.m. — Holiday Donation Drive with Sixth & I
• 6:30 p.m. — Annual (Pre)Hanukkah Party with National Museum of American Jewish Military History

Wednesday, December 11th

• 6:30 p.m. — Chanukah Holiday Market with the EDCJCC

Saturday, December 14th

• 5:30 p.m. — Chanukah Festival with Temple Rodef Shalom

Monday, December 16th

• 6:30 p.m. — Oh Gaydel Gaydel Gaydel Queer Chanukah Happy Hour and Comedy Show with GLOE

Wednesday, December 18th

• 5:30 p.m. — Hanukkah Party with Women of Washington Hebrew Congregation
• 6:00 p.m. — Chanukah Happy Hour: Fire and Ice with EntryPointDC
• 7:00 p.m. — Learning + Preparing for Hanukkah: On Miracles with the Den Collective
• 7:00 p.m. — Resin and Rosé: Pre-Chanukah Women’s Program with Chabad of Silver Spring

Thursday, December 19th

• 6:30 p.m. — LGBTQ+ Pre-Hanukkah Game Night with Washington Hebrew Congregation
• 7:00 p.m. — Illuminate: A Hanukkah Warm Up + Creative Arts Exploration with the Den Collective

Saturday, December 21st

• 6:00 p.m. — Vodka and Latkes with Beth El Hebrew Congregation

Sunday, December 22nd

• 5:00 p.m. — Chanukah Celebration for Jews of Color and their Families with the EDCJCC

Tuesday, December 24th

• 9:00 p.m. — Matzoball Washington DC with MatzoBall
• 9:00 p.m. — The Bagel Ball 2024 with DC Bagel Ball

Hanukkah Festivities

Wednesday, December 25th

• 10:00 a.m. — December 25 Day of Service with the EDCJCC
• 10:00 a.m. — History of Jewish Washington Walking Tour with Off the Mall Tours
• 4:00 p.m. — National Menorah Lighting with American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad)
• 6:00 p.m. — Drinks and Dreidels 2024 with Chabad YJP of Alexandria-Arlington

Thursday, December 26th

• 4:30 p.m. — Chanukah Menorah Lighting at Leisure World with Chabad of Silver Spring
• 6:00 p.m. — Chanukah Festival in Old Town Alexandria with Chabad of Alexandria-Arlington

Sunday, December 29th

• 11:00 a.m. — Chanukah Doughnut Shop with Chabad of Silver Spring
• 4:00 p.m. — Chanukah on Ice with Chabad of Silver Spring
• 5:00 p.m. — Light Up Arlington: Clarendon Menorah Lighting with Chabad of Alexandria-Arlington

Monday, December 30th

• 5:30 p.m. — Menorah Lighting at National Landing with Chabad of Alexandria-Arlington

Looking for Gifts?

• Challah Back Gift Taster from Challah Back Girls
• Everything You Need to Have the Coziest Hanukkah Ever from Hey Alma
• Good Grief! 16 Hanukkah Gifts for the Snoopy Lover in Your Life from Hey Alma
• Hanukkah Sweaters for the Entire Family: 2024 Edition from Kveller
• Kippot and Jewelry from Renaissance Woman Kippot
• Kosher Marshmallows from The PoshMallow
• Locally Made Goods from Shop Made in DC
• The Best Gifts for Families That Celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah from Kveller
• The Jewish Planner from Gold Herring
• The 2024 Ultimate Hanukkah Gift Guide for Everyone in Your Life from Hey Alma
• 8 Nights of Delight Tasting Collection from Sugarfina
• 21 Great Hanukkah Gift Ideas from Wirecutter
• 2024 Hanukkah Stamps from USPS

Local Spots to Eat!

District of Columbia

• Call Your Mother
  • Hanukkah menu available beginning December 4th
• Bread Furst Bakery
• Baked by Yael
• Donut Run
• Sababa

Maryland

• Call Your Mother
  • Hanukkah menu available beginning December 4th
• Duck Donuts
• Sunflower Bakery
• The Woodmor Pastry Shop

Virginia

• Call Your Mother
  • Hanukkah menu available beginning December 4th
• Celebrity Delly
• Duck Donuts
• RSVP Catering

How-To, Readings, and Other Resources

How-To, Guides, and Histories

• Hanukkah from Exploring Judaism
• Hanukkah Holiday Glossary from Chabad.org
• Hanukkah: The Basics from 18Doors
• Hanukkah 2024 from My Jewish Learning
• How to Light the Hanukkah Menorah from My Jewish Learning
• Shine A Light Shabbat Dinner Guide from OneTable
• Songs for Hanukkah from Exploring Judaism
• The Surprising Origin of the Dreidel from My Jewish Learning
• What You Need to Know About Hanukkah from My Jewish Learning
• Why Do We Eat Latkes on Hanukkah? by Aly Miller

Reflections and Other Fun Reads

• ‘Broad City’ Star Abbi Jacobson Reveals What She Got for Hanukkah as a Kid by Evelyn Frick
• Publicizing the Miracle: Jewish Pride, Hope, and Vulnerability This Hanukkah by Rabbi Ilana Zietman
• The Best Hanukkah Gift Won’t Actually Cost You Anything by Leila Sales