Hanukkah Celebrations for Kids and Families on Long Island 2012: Festive Parties and Menorah Lightings

The Hanukkah festivities on Long Island begin in earnest on Saturday, December 8th, and continue for eight crazy nights. Giant menorahs will be lit, dreidels spun, and latkes devoured, and there will be lots of music and dancing. You'll also find car parades, magic shows, and giant ice menorahs. Here are some of the most fun family-friendly celebrations I found. Happy Hanukkah!

Saturday, December 8

Great Menorah Car Parade and Menorah Lighting
Procession begins at the Merrick Golf Course, 2550 Clubhouse Rd.; Menorah lighting at the Merrick LIRR station
7-8pm
Free
Join the sixth annual Menorah Car Parade, led by two limos with car menorahs. The parade will be followed by a lighting of a 12-foot menorah. There will be hot latkes, music, and dancing.

Menorahcade and Menorah Lighting
Parade will leave from 13 Woods Lane, East Hampton; lighting at Herrick Park
Parade 6:30pm; lighting 7pm
Free
There will be hot latkes and dreidels.

December 8–15

Menorah Lighting
Triangle at Route 25A and Lake Avenue, St. James
December 8 at 4pm; all other nights 5pm
Free
The Menorah will be lit each night for eight nights. Refreshments will be served each night.

East Meadow Jewish Center Outdoor Menorah Lighting
1400 Prospect Ave., East Meadow
Free
Check website for times.

Sunday, December 9

Chanukah Wonderland
Clubhouse at the Merrick Golf Course
2550 Clubhouse Rd.
1-3pm
Suggested donation: children $7, families $18
Fill the world's largest "Coin-Orah," decorate doughnuts, check out a latke-making demo, make Hanukkah sand art, make edible dreidels, paint a wooden menorah, face painting, and more.

Fire on Ice
Whole Foods parking lot
429 North Broadway, Jericho
3:30pm
Free
Watch the carving of a 6-foot ice menorah by sculptor Mark Mckenzie; plus hot latkes, chocolate gelt, doughnuts, hot coffee, live music, crafts and activities for kids. Lighting of menorah at 4:15.

Chanukah at Hot Skates
14 Merrick Rd., Lynbrook
6-8pm
$10
A family Hanukkah party with skating, a menorah lighting, doughnuts, dreidels, and hot dogs.

Family Hanukkah Party
Jericho Jewish Center
430 North Broadway, Jericho
11am-1pm
Free
There will be food, crafts, and games; with a soundtrack provided by a DJ.

Festival of Lights
Long Island Children's Museum
11 Davis Ave., Garden City
1-3pm
$3 with museum admission (LICM members $2)
Learn about the history and traditions of Hanukkah and why people light candles on a menorah, and make your own hand-painted wooden spool menorah.

Menorah Lighting
Bay Shore Jewish Center
34 North Clinton Ave., Bay Shore
5-7pm
Free
Public lighting of menorah outside; services inside, and free latkes for the community inside. Lighting of personal menorahs inside as well. Open to the community. All are welcome.

Hanukkah Happening
Huntington Jewish Center
510 Park Avenue, Huntington
11:00am
Free          
Celebrate with your family at the Huntington Jewish Center Hanukkah Happening, Sing along with Cantor Gordan in the Main Sanctuary. Children’s crafts, teen fun, hot dogs, latkes, donuts, drinks, gift & book fair, raffle tickets, and much, much more.

Chanukah Spectacular
ShopRite of Plainview
444 Woodbury Rd., Plainview
5:15-7pm; 5:45-7:30pm
Free
Starring Xia Di, world-famous acrobat; and including a LEGO menorah-building contest, Hanukkah crafts, pizza, doughnuts, and more.

Grand Menorah Lighting
ShopRite Mall—Plainview Center
444 Woodbury Rd., Plainview
6:50pm
Free
All in attendance will enter a raffle for a grand prize.

Monday, December 10

Chanukah Celebration
Brookhaven Town Hall
One Independence Hill, Farmingville
6:30-8PM
Free
Featuring a grand menorah lighting, hot latkes, doughnuts, gelt, a raffle, and the Amazing Keith Leaf.

Chanukah Parade/Party for All
Chabad Hebrew School
318 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Commack
4:30pm
Free
Tuesday, December 11

Menorah Lighting
Veteran's Memorial
Corner of Broadway and Bedford Ave., Bellmore Village
6pm
Free
This year’s celebration will include the singing of traditional Hanukkah songs, led by students of the Hebrew and nursery schools. There will be chocolate Hanukkah gelt and giveaways compliments of the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores.

Kids in the Kitchen: Donuts Spectacular
Chabad House of Coram
87 Mt. Sinai Rd., Coram
4:45-6pm
$12
Make them chocolate covered, jelly filled, or sugar coated, just in time for Hanukkah.
Wednesday, December 12

An Evening of Dreidels and Kindness for Women and Girls
Clubhouse at the Merrick Golf Course
2550 Clubhouse Rd.
7:30pm
Free
Enjoy an evening of dreidels, latkes, and Hanukkah fun, while also thinking of others-- by helping to wrap "We Care" blankets for pediatric cancer patients.

Friday, December 14

Hanukkah Celebration with Special Guest Janice Buckner
Kehillath Shalom Synagogue
58 Goose Hill Rd., Cold Spring Harbor
6:30pm
Free
Welcome Shabbat and Hanukkah with blessings, songs, gelt, latkes, and dreidels. Bring your favorite latkes to share with ten people.

Sunday, December 16

The Maccabeats
North Shore Jewish Center
385 Old Town Rd., Port Jefferson Station
3-5pm
$18-$28
The Maccabeats, Yeshiva University’s a cappella group, have performed all over the world including a performance for the President at the White House. Their music has a very positive message and appeals to all ages. The opening act is Jester Jim, who performs his juggling and beat-box show at more than 200 venues each year.

Sunday FunDay: Luscious Latkes
Chabad Center for Jewish Life
2083 Seneca Gate, Merrick
9:30-11:30am
$10
Learn how to make gourmet latkes that will have your friends and family begging for more. For children 1-6 years old.