Hanukkah events for families in Oakland, Berkeley, and surrounding areas.

Our Hanukkah Guide for East Bay kids is sponsored by the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund. This year Hanukkah runs December 22 – December 30, 2019.

guide to Chanukah events for Oakland, Berkeley families — Light the menorah | Photo: Heather Flett

Hanukkah is a time for family, friends, joy, and of course, light. We are sharing this list of events taking place in the East Bay and hope your family enjoys eight days of celebrating miracles and connecting to one another.

Shop local! Afikomen on Claremont Ave. is a terrific local store in the Elmwood district with everything you need to celebrate at home — we are lucky to have it in our neighborhood. This Judaica shop offers wonderful customer service and so many great Hanukkah products for your family. Need a special gift? They have Hanukkah gelt, candles, menorahs, and toys too.

chanuka books for kids from PJ Library — Here are some great Hanukkah books from PJ Library to get you in the mood for latkes and lights.

Save on Chanukah Wonderland! Unlimited passes now 50% off until December 21! Use code LATKE for discount. Get the discount >

Friday, December 13, 2019

Hanukkah Toddler Kindergym PlayDay with Dawn for Under 3s

Location: Temple Beth Abraham – 327 MacArthur Blvd Oakland
Come join for 2 wonderful classes from 9:30-10:30am and 10:45-11:45am at the Toddler Kindergym play and celebration of Hanukkah for ALL families with Under 3s!!…
Time: 9:30 am - 11:45 am
Cost: $12 per family for each 1 hour class/Cash only

Friday Nights @ OMCA | Winter Fest

Location: Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) – 1000 Oak Street Oakland
Celebrate diverse winter traditions reflected in the Bay Area, including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Enjoy storytime with the Oakland Public Library, winter-themed activities, and more.…
Time: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost: Included in museum admission. $15.95/adult; $6.95/youth (9-17 yrs); Free children under 8. $7 flat parking

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Holiday Ornament Craft

Location: Dimond Branch | Oakland Public Library – 3565 Fruitvale Ave Oakland
Make your own holiday decorations out of modeling clay, glitter glue, and sequins! All materials will be provided; best for ages 3 and up.
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Cost: Free

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Family Chanukkah: Shadow Puppets with Daniel Barash

Location: JCC East Bay, Berkeley – 1414 Walnut St. Berkeley
Join educator and longtime East Bay Jewish community member and artist Daniel Barash for an event that invigorates Jewish holiday traditions through the ancient art of shadow puppetry. As…
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: General: $15; includes braid-and-take-home challah dough to bake and a donation to Challah for Hunger Kids (2–13): $8, Kids (<2): Free

Wilderness Torah Chanukah Maker Faire

Location: Joaquin Miller Park – 3600 Joaquin Miller Rd. Oakland
Join Wilderness Torah for the first-ever Chanukah Maker Faire; bringing together nature-based exploration with the Jewish Festival of Light for kids in grades K-5. Kids and…
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Cost: $60

Hanukkah Party with the Temple Israel Kids

Location: Temple Israel & Community Center (Alameda) – 3183 Mecartney Road Alameda
Join the Temple Israel Alameda community for a Sunday kids party Hanukkah celebration! Latke frying, jelly doughnut decorating, potluck, celebrations and more. All ages welcome.…
Time: 11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Cost: FREE

Temple Beth Hillel’s Annual Hanukkah Celebration and Latke Luncheon

Location: Temple Beth Hillel – 801 Park Central Richmond
Temple Beth Hillel invites the community to its annual Hanukkah Celebration, traditional latke luncheon, and celebratory candle lighting ceremony. Bring your favorite Hanukkah Menorah and…
Time: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Cost: Free to attend, food and gifts for sale.

Menorah Painting Party

Location: Color Me Mine of Alameda – 2205 South Shore Center Alameda
Kids and Adults are all welcome to paint with on this special night. Choose which Menorah you would like to paint: Traditional Menorah 9"x8" $35…
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost: $28-$35

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Chanukah Storytime

Location: Kensington Library – 61 Arlington Ave Kensington
Join for Chanukah story, songs, crafts and Dreidels.
Time: 4:15 pm - 5:15 pm
Cost: FREE

Friday, December 20, 2019

Temple Sinai Community Hanukkah Celebration, Dinner, and Service

Location: Temple Sinai – 2808 Summit St Oakland
Join the fun for community celebrates Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. The evening includes music with Joel Siegel, latkes, and art projects. This is a…
Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost: $18/adults and children age 9 and older, $10 for children 8 and under

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Hanukkah Concert/Singalong

Location: JCC East Bay, Berkeley – 1414 Walnut St. Berkeley
Celebrate Hanukah with Nigunim Chorus and guest performers! The program will include candle lighting, singing and performances by Nigunim Chorus and guest performers vocalist Noa…
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Cost: $15 advance, $20 at the door. Children: $10.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Hanukkah Celebration for Families with Young Children

Location: Albany Community Center – 1249 Marin Ave Albany
Join other families with young children to celebrate the festival of lights with Rabbi Bridget and musician Joel Siegel. Enjoy Hanukkah songs and dancing, the…
Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: $12/adult, $5/child, children under one year free

Drop-in Art Studio: Spin Studio

Location: Contemporary Jewish Museum – 736 Mission St San Francisco
Build a miniature model of a house you’ve seen in your dreams! This workshop is inspired by the exhibition Daria Martin: Tonight the World. About…
Time: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Cost: Included in museum admission: $14/Adult; Free under 18

Family Hanukkah Sing Along w. Isaac Zones

Location: Urban Adamah – 1151 Sixth Street Berkeley
Bring in the first night of Hannukah with your family and favorite farm friends. To kick off this festival of lights, Urban Adamah brings you…
Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Cost: $15 per family

Chanukah Wonderland

Location: Albany Veterans Memorial Building – 1325 Portland Ave. Albany
Save on Chanukah Wonderland! Unlimited passes now 50% off until December 21! Use code LATKE for discount. Get the discount > One stop for Chanukah…
Time: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Cost: $7.50 with code LATKE until Dec. 21 & $15 at the door

Pop-Up Glowing Hanukkah Party at Ghirardelli Square

Location: Ghirardelli Square – 900 North Point Street San Francisco
Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah by dressing up in your favorite light-up, glittery and glowing clothes! Over eight days, the candlelight glows more and…
Time: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Community Chanukah Concert and Celebration

Location: City Center Bishop Ranch – 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road San Ramon
Join for a community menorah lighting at City Center Bishop Ranch! Live Music, Latkes, Doughnuts, Dreidels, Chocolate Gelt Drop, Virtual Reality Experience and many surprises!…
Time: 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Cost: Free

Broadway Plaza Menorah Lighting

Location: Broadway Plaza – 1275 Broadway Plaza Walnut Creek
Join at the Event Center for The Annual Menorah Lighting featuring live music with Jonathan Bayer, a Bubble Show, Face Painting, Donuts, Latkas and More.…
Time: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Kandelikas: A Sefardic-Klezmer Hanukah

Location: Chochmat HaLev Synagogue – 2215 Prince St Berkeley
Craft fair, storytelling, cookie decorating, cocktails, latkes, and more! with the Aaron Katz Klezmer Band feat. Peter Bonos Join for a post-modern, inclusive spin on…
Time: 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Cost: General Public - $20 adults, $5 kids

Menorah of Warmth Annual Chanukah Lighting

Location: Fremont City Hall – 3300 Capitol Ave Fremont
Did someone say SNOW? Join for the 7th Annual Chanukah Lighting at Fremont City Hall. Delicious Donuts, Hot Chocolate, Coffee & Cotton Candy Craft Corner…
Time: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Grand Chanukah Celebration on the Lake

Location: Lake Merritt Amphitheater – Between 12th Street and 1st Ave Oakland
“Show your Jewish Pride! Shine away hate with Love” Join for the 14th annual Grand Menorah Lighting Ceremony to celebrate the spirit of love and…
Time: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Cost: FREE

Grand Menorah Lighting - Chabad Alameda

Location: Nob Hill Foods (Alameda) – 2531 Blanding Ave Alameda
Chabad of Alameda invites you to the 3rd annual Public Menorah lighting and Chanukah Celebration! Donuts, latkes, more food and of course chocolate gelt... Watch…
Time: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Hanukkah Mitzvah Night for Families with Young Children (RSVP)

Location: Congregation Beth Emek – 3400 Nevada Court Pleasanton
Come join for the first night of Hanukkah to celebrate the Festival of Light and observe the mitzvah of giving back to the community. The…
Time: 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Cost: FREE

Menorah Lighting at Claremont Club

Location: Claremont Club & Spa, a Fairmont Hotel – 41 Tunnel Road Berkeley
Gather your friends and family and join in on lighting the first candle in honor of Hanukkah with light snacks and drinks.
Time: 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Monday, December 23, 2019

Drop-in Art Studio: Spin Studio

Community Hanukkah Celebration at Alameda South Shore Center

Location: Alameda South Shore Center, Center Court – 523 South Shore Center West Alameda
Join Temple Israel of Alameda in the center of South Shore Shopping Center for a celebration featuring the huge menorah, jelly donuts, latkes, and song.…
Time: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Kehilla Synagogue Hanukkah party

Location: Kehilla Community Synagogue – 1300 Grand Avenue Piedmont
Celebrate Hanukkah with songs & puppets for the littles (with Jen & Alon Altman @ 5:15pm), Candle-lighting and potluck dinner for all (@ 6:00pm) with…
Time: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost: Sliding scale $5-20 per family (no one turned away for lack of funds)

Community Hanukkah Menorah Candle Lighting

Location: Downtown Martinez – 700 Main Street Martinez
Congregation B'nai Shalom invites everyone to celebrate the 2nd night of Hanukkah in a Community Grand Menorah Candle Lighting in downtown Martinez (700 Main Street,…
Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Drop-in Art Studio: Spin Studio

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Drop-in Art Studio: Spin Studio

Friday, December 27, 2019

Drop-in Art Studio: Spin Studio

4th Friday Shabbat in the Round Latkefest

Location: Congregation Beth El – 1301 Oxford Street Berkeley
Come experience an extra lively, musical, rejuvenating and instrumental Shabbat, on the 4th Friday of each month! In December, share a soup, salad, and latke…
Time: 5:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Cost: $9-$12

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Drop-in Art Studio: Spin Studio

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Drop-in Art Studio: Spin Studio

Grand Menorah Lighting Ceremony

Location: Bay Street – 5616 Bay Street Emeryville
Chabad Emeryville presents Chanukah Celebration Grand Menorah Lighting Ceremony. Enjoy a Giant 12ft Menorah, Live music, Latkes, face painting, Raffle, Arts & Crafts for Kids…
Time: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Hanukkah Latke Party

Location: Congregation B'nai Shalom – 74 Eckley Lane Walnut Creek
Celebrate Hanukkah with special art projects, delicious food, and so much more! Everyone is Welcome!
Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Cost: $11/Adult and Children 13 and over; $6/Children Ages 5-12 years; Under 5 Free

Menorah and Sufganiyah for Hanukkah — The Hanukkah menorah and Sufganiyah deep-fried jelly doughnuts. Yum yum.

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