Hanukkah 2025 in Greater Philadelphia: 16 Ways to Celebrate

Created with tiny tots (ages 2 to 8) in mind, the Shine a Light event at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History celebrates Hanukkah with creativity and community to mark the beginning of the holiday.

Sing and dance along with a Hanukkah-themed live performance at the fourth annual event, which also features sensory play and an optional book exchange. The event is free but you must register ahead of time.

It’s a late afternoon of festivities at the community-wide Yardley Chanukah Village. Starting at 3 p.m., Main Street Yardley in Bucks County transforms into a Hanukkah bazaar with crafts, games and activities, plus a handful of vendors.

The party moves to Buttonwood Park at 4:15 p.m. for the lighting of the grand menorah with live music, giveaways, latkes and the “Giant Fire Truck Gelt Drop.”

The Chabad Lubavitch of Yardley-hosted event is free with RSVP (donation suggested).

During colonial times, the Philadelphia Jewish community was starting to grow, with the establishment of Congregation Mikveh Israel and leaders like financier Haym Salomon. So what better gathering place for Old City’s Community Menorah Lighting than the landmark Betsy Ross House?

Join Historic Philadelphia Inc. in partnership with the Old City Jewish Arts Center for a sunset lighting of the giant electric menorah. Music by DJ SRUL kicks off the event at 4 p.m., with the menorah lighting set for 4:30 p.m. and latkes and doughnuts to snack on throughout the event.

Montgomery County shopping destination Suburban Square invites families to gather around the giant menorah on the first night of Hanukkah for a traditional candle lighting along with Hanukkah-themed activities.

Help decorate the giant menorah or try your hand at some crafts; sip on apple cider; and snack on treats like doughnuts (that you decorate yourself!), hot dogs and pretzels.

The event takes place on the lawn at Suburban Square, near the fountain by the entrance at Anderson and Coulter avenues.

The good people of Lansdale join the Hanukkah fun with a special, family-friendly candle lighting of their own on the first night of the holiday. Head down to Railroad Plaza for the all-ages celebration featuring a traditional menorah lighting, snacks, crafts and live musical performances.

Landsale’s Hanukkah tradition started in 2000 when the borough installed the menorah for its first celebration, and the community has been gathering together ever since, with 2025 marking the 25th year.

Trimmed in thousands of sparkling lights, Philly’s iconic strip of charming 19th-century boathouses sets the Schuylkill River aglow to celebrate the Festival of Lights all eight nights of the holiday.

Viewable from several spots across the river, including Martin Luther King Drive and the Schuylkill Expressway, Boathouse Row’s 6,400 LED bulbs light up in blue and white during select hours between sunset and sunrise from December 14 through December 21, 2025. The lights have been an integral part of Philly’s landscape since their debut in 1979, with a stunning makeover in 2024.

Hanukkah comes to Manayunk in a big way, with the northwest Philadelphia neighborhood offering activities throughout all eight nights of Hanukkah:

• Eight Crazy Nights: Each year for Hanukkah, restaurants and businesses throughout the neighborhood participate in Eight Crazy Nights of giveaways on Instagram. Each night features different prizes (December 14 to 22, 2025).
• Hanukkah Candle Lighting at Canal Park: As part of the neighborhood’s Festival of Lights celebration, join friends and neighbors at Canal View park for the Hanukkah Candle Lighting. Nibble on some latkes and enjoy the lights starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2025. Stop by the Manayunk Welcome Center that night for tasty treats, gelt and more giveaways.

Strap your menorah to your hood and hop in line — we’ve got a Hanukkah parade to get to.

The streets of the Main Line shine bright for the third night of the Festival of Lights as a procession of cars donning menorahs makes its way way from the Chabad of the Main Line to Wynnewood.

The grand finale? A community menorah lighting and Hanukkah celebration featuring holiday-themed food and activities. Participation is free, and participants can either BYO a menorah or borrow one for the event.

Honor the fourth night of the Festival of Lights with the Center City Chanukah Celebration in gorgeous Rittenhouse Square. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and Center City Kehillah host the festive evening at one of Philly’s favorite neighborhood green spaces.

Participants are invited to join the prayer ceremony and candle lighting surrounding the annual lighting of the massive menorah in the square. And don’t miss out on the sufganiyot (jelly donuts)!

The event happens rain or shine, but in case of severe weather, check the website for updates. RSVP to the free event by Monday, December 15, 2025, so organizers can make sure there are plenty of donuts for all, but walk-ins are also welcome.

Join The Chevra social club to celebrate Hanukkah with hundreds of young Jewish Philly professionals and grad students during One Crazy Night Hanukkah Bash featuring international Jewish pop-rock star Jeryko.

One of the city’s largest Hanukkah fests, the annual Rittenhouse Square celebration includes cocktails, doughnuts, gelt, an ugly Hanukkah sweater contest and a menorah lighting.

The event welcomes singles and couples, professionals and students in their 20s and 30s (21-plus only, tickets required).

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with the Sesame Street crew at Bucks County’s Sesame Place for four packed days of Hanukkah fun for the littles.

Light the menorah, sing songs and learn about the holiday with a local cantor and Baby Bear. Play a game of dreidel, make a Hanukkah-inspired craft and join your favorite multicolored monsters and muppets on the dance floor at the Furry Friends Dance Party.

Check the daily schedule of activities at Sesame Place for that day’s time slots for storytime and the menorah lighting.

Temple Judea in Doylestown invites families, friends and neighbors in Central Bucks County to join together for an afternoon Hanukkah celebration before sundown on the last night of the eight-day holiday.

The family-friendly event features plenty of singing, craft-making and donut-eating. The Festival of Lights celebration is free and open to all.

For a family-friendly celebration in Philadelphia’s Countryside, head to the first-ever Bryn Mawr Chanukah Festival at the Bryn Mawr Gazebo.

The event features music from DJ Rak-Dan Entertainment, with crafts, face painting and inflatable fun for the kids. Nosh on some tasty latkes and donuts and watch the park light up when the giant menorah gets lit. Don’t miss the Great Chanukah Gelt Drop, which promises to be delicious.

The event is free to attend, but RSVPs are required.

Sunday, December 21, 2025 | 4-5 p.m. & 6-8:15 p.m.

West Philadelphia’s Kol Tzedek synagogue celebrates the holiday’s eighth night with its annual Hanukkah Party. If you’ve got tots (ages 0 to 5), join the celebration early for the Little Latke Party from 4 to 5 p.m., and then stick around for the bigger party starting at 6 p.m.

The hybrid event (in-person or virtual) features latkes, candle lighting, a community sing-along, dancing with house band KT Simcha, crafts, games and a Hanukkah Week Great Jewish Bake-Off event (which you can enter!). You’ll need tickets to join in or participate in the bake-off.

Historic Franklin Square transforms into a haven of holiday happenings each winter with festive activities galore. The square hosts its annual Hanukkah Celebration on the last night of Hanukkah this year with singing, craft-making and other free activities.

While there, visitors can also take in the Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO, Franklin Square’s free nightly light show that illuminates the square with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights. There’s also Chilly Philly Mini Golf, street curling and snacks galore at the new Frosty’s Fireside Lounge.

Hanukkah may be officially over by December 23, but klezmer band The Klezmatics is celebrating its Happy Joyous Hanukkah Tour during this stop at City Winery.

Nearly 20 years ago, The Klezmatics collaboration with Woody Guthrie produced the album Happy Joyous Hanukkah. This year, the band brings all those songs back to the stage along with a newly reissued and remastered vinyl edition of the album.

Tickets are required to see the show, and City Winery asks that all guests purchase two food or drink items while enjoying the show.

The 100,000-square-foot, five-story Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History tells the story of Jewish life and culture in the United States beginning with the first permanent Jewish settlers’ arrival in the early 1600s through to present-day.

With 1,200 artifacts and documents ranging from everyday objects like dolls to the belongings of notable Jewish Americans like Irving Berlin’s piano, the museum brings to life the diverse experiences, perspectives, challenges and triumphs of American Jews.

Hours do vary, so be sure to check the official website before heading out.