This year, the eight days of Hanukkah take place from Dec. 25, 2024 – Jan. 2, 2025, meaning they’ll also coincide with some of LA’s biggest Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations. There are hundreds of activities to sift through during the holiday season, but we found some special Los Angeles Hanukkah events, festivals, and seasonal activities that speak to the spirit of the holiday. Read on for your guide to Hanukkah in Los Angeles, from the best places to get sufganiyot and latkes to the city’s most highly-anticipated menorah lighting ceremonies.
The name of this holiday can be spelled multiple ways, including “Hanukkah” and “Chanukah.” We’ve spelled it below depending on how the respective events chose to spell it.
1. Attend one of these stunning menorah lighting ceremonies in Los Angeles
Los Angeles communities will light some dazzling public menorahs in public spaces from Beverly Hills to Newport Beach. Here are some of the biggest ceremonies on our radar right now, but you can see the full list of menorah lightings here.
Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Fashion Island
The Chabad Jewish Center will host an outdoor menorah lighting ceremony in the Fashion Island shopping mall‘s Atrium Garden Courtyard.
📅 Date: Dec. 29, 2024 (3-5pm)
📍 Location: Fashion Island, 401 Newport Center Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660
🕎 Learn more: Fashion Island
Downtown Santa Monica
Downtown Santa Monica will host ongoing holiday events through December, including menorah lightings featuring different groups and programs every night of Hanukkah.
📅 Date: Dec. 25, 2024 – Jan. 1, 2025
📍 Location: 1200 block of Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401
🕎 Learn more: Downtown Santa Monica
Venice Beach Boardwalk
Shul on the Beach is hosting a “Vodka Latke Ugly Sweater Chanukah Party” this Dec. 25. Wear your ugliest sweater and join a lively menorah lighting party on the beach.
📅 Date: Dec. 25, 2024 (5-9pm)
📍 Location: 505 Ocean Front Walk Venice Beach, CA 90291
🕎 Learn more: Shul on the Beach
2. Enjoy latkes, sufganiyot, and other traditional Jewish foods at a local restaurant
One of the best parts of the holiday season is all the delicious seasonal food available across LA’s restaurant scene. Where do you like to get your Hanukkah treats in Los Angeles? From latkes to challah, you can pick up all sorts of traditional foods if you know where to go.
- Canter’s Deli – This Jewish-style deli dates back almost a century in LA and is known for amazing pastrami, corned beef, matzo ball soup, challah, lox and bagels, latkes, and brisket.
- Charlie’s Kosher Delicatessen – Charlie’s is an old-school kosher restaurant in LA with classic mouthwatering dishes including kashe varnishkes, latkes, kugels, knishes, borscht, and much more.
- Langer’s Delicatessen – People think of Langer’s as a local authority on pastrami, especially in the form of their #19 sandwich. While sandwiches are the name of the game here, you’ll find all sorts of Jewish treats to indulge in this Hanukkah.
- Mensch Bakery – This kosher bakery in Hancock Park offers an amazing selection of specialty sufganiyot, challah, and over-the-top donuts.
- Schwartz Bakery – As the oldest kosher bakery in LA, Schwartz has spent decades crafting delicious mandel bread, hamentashen, and challah, all of which come in a ton of different flavors.
- Fred’s Bakery and Deli – Fred’s sells a fine array of carefully-crafted challah, sufganiyot, rugalach, and more baked goods that are often vegan-friendly.
3. Build Lego menorahs at the Original Farmers Market’s celebration
The Original Farmers Market will host a charming lineup of holiday events this season. Their Hanukkah event will bring some fun all-ages events to the Market Plaza, including performances by J Los Angeles, Lego menorah building, arts and crafts, and sing-alongs. They’ll also host a menorah lighting on January 1st.
📅 Dates: Dec. 19, 2024 (3:30-5:30pm)
📍 Location: Market Plaza, The Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90036
🕎 Learn more: The Original Farmers Market
4. Celebrate Hanukkah at The Shops at Santa Anita
The shops at Santa Anita will host a series of holiday events including Winter Wonderland Nights between Dec. 7-21, which will include face painting, complimentary hot chocolate, live art, and more. Their Hanukkah event will take place on the evening of December 30th on Macy’s Court, Level 1.
📅 Dates: Dec. 30, 2024 (5-6pm)
📍 Location: The Shops at Santa Anita, 400 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
🕎 Learn more: The Shops at Santa Anita
5. Attend Yeshivat Yavneh’s PTA Book Fair
Yeshivat Yavneh, or the Yavneh Hebrew Academy, is hosting a weeklong PTA Book Fair in the middle of the month. It’s a good opportunity to support local Hebrew students and faculty.
📅 Dates: Dec. 13-19, 2024.
📍 Location: Yavnet Hebrew Academy – 5353 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
🕎 Learn more: Yeshivat Yavnet calendar
6. Get tickets for the long-running Matzoball, a Jewish singles holiday party
This nationwide Jewish singles holiday event has been around for 38 years running, with events in 10 different US cities. Los Angeles’ edition will go down on Dec. 24th at POPPY on La Cienega. Bear in mind that the event is 21+ and general admission costs $50.
📅 Dates: Dec. 24, 2024 starting at 9pm
📍 Location: POPPY, 755 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069
🕎 Learn more: Matzoball
7. Check out Chabad of Malibu’s Point Dume celebration
Chabad of Malibu presents a huge celebration at Point Dume Plaza Shopping Center complete with kids’ activities and face painting, Jewish food and treats, and the popular Grand Gelt Drop.
📅 Dates: Dec. 26, 2024 starting at 3pm
📍 Location: Point Dume Plaza Shopping Center – Heathercliff Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
🕎 Learn more: Chabad of Malibu
8. Join the festivities at Jewish Silver Lake’s Chanukah Klez Fest
Jewish Silver Lake will host Klez Fest just a few days before New Year’s Eve. Enjoy a fire show, a menorah lighting, a balloon artist, pickle making, and a popular Gelt Drop at this afternoon celebration.
📅 Dates: Dec. 29, 2024 starting at 4pm
📍 Location: Silver Lake – 3700 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
🕎 Learn more: @jewishsilverlake on Instagram
9. Join the Community Chanukah Celebration in Hermosa Beach
Join a massive celebration on the Hermosa Beach Pier on the fifth night of Hanukkah. The festivities include delicious hot latkes and donuts, holiday crafts, live entertainment and music, and gifts for children.
📅 Dates: Dec. 29, 2024 starting at 3:30pm
📍 Location: Hermosa Beach Pier – 1 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
🕎 Learn more: Giant Chanukah Celebration on Facebook
10. Skate around a giant menorah at Chanukah on Ice
JCCMB presents a charming ice skating event at the Toyota Training Center this season. Admission costs $15, which includes ice skates, and there will be food and treats available to enjoy while you skate around a giant menorah.
📅 Dates: Dec. 25, 2024 (4-6pm)
📍 Location: Toyota Training Center LA Kings Practice Rink – 555 Nash Street El Segundo, 90245
🕎 Learn more: Jewish Community Center
11. Refresh your at-home celebration with a visit to these specialty Judaica shops
If you’re thinking it’s time to replace some items for your at-home celebration this year, LA has several Judaica stores that sell a nice selection of menorahs, dreidels, dishware, books, table decor, and plenty more. Here are a few to consider:
- The Mitzvah Store (Fairfax) – 7227 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
- Chabad on Fairfax/Atara’s Judaica (Fairfax) – 369 N Fairfax Ave #1, Los Angeles, CA 90036
- Ella Judaica (Beverly Hills) – 8322 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
- Mezuzah Gallery (Beverly Hills) – 1440 1/2 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
- Marigold House (Westwood) – 1733 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
12. Take a spin on LA’s most delightful ice rinks
Ice skating is definitely one of the most nostalgic activities to look for during the holidays in LA. From the 7,200-square-foot ice rink at DTLA‘s Pershing Square, to the popular ice rink that has popped up in Downtown Santa Monica, here are some of the best places to hit the ice all the way into January.
13. Pick up unique gifts at LA’s best holiday markets
We’ve already found over 40 LA holiday markets coming up in November and December, and that list is sure to grow. These events are fun to browse for all sorts of handcrafted items and keepsakes that make wonderful gifts for Hanukkah. Keep an eye on our running list of holiday markets in LA so that you can plan ahead.