Happy Hanukkah! Here’s Where To Take The Kids

Happy Hanukkah! Here’s Where To Take The Kids
Source: iscazon/Flickr
Source: iscazon/Flickr

Happy Hanukkah to all of our Jewish readers! The Festival of Lights officially begins tomorrow night, December 16. In other words, it’s time to break out the old menorah, a frying pan, the potato grater, and dive into eight days of gifts, gelt, heroic tales, deep-fried foods, and song.

But Hanukkah is not complete without a Hanukkah bash, and luckily there are several venues for communal latke-eating and games right in our neighborhood. So, without further ado, here’s our roundup of neighborhood parties to take the kids to this Hanukkah:

1. Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst

Location: 7802 Bay Parkway

Date: Sunday, December 21, 12pm – 3pm

You can cook latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), sing songs, make crafts projects, and more at this annual Hanukkah festival.  The center’s gym will be set up to look like a Hanukkah wonderland.

Activities include:

  • Making menorahs out of clay.
  • Experimenting with an oil lava lamp.
  • Making stained glass art.
  • Making edible dreidels.
  • Maccabi Gaga, Hanukkah Twister, and other fun races.

Kids can also win prizes just for playing!2. Shore Parkway Jewish Center

Location: 8885 26th Avenue

Date: Saturday December 20, 2014, 9am

The synagogue will be hosting a special Hanukkah service this Shabbat followed by a Kiddush-meal, with plenty of latkes, applesauce, sour cream, and jelly donuts to go around.

3. Green Apron Kitchen

Location: 7122 Bay Parkway

Date: Thursday, December 18, 5pm and Saturday, December 20, 11pm

Drop the kids off at a Hanukkah-themed cooking class with Green Apron Kitchen. They will learn how to make latkes, sufganiyot (jelly donuts) and other deep-fried goodies to celebrate the miracle of oil. It’ll cost $45 for a 2-hour session, but your kids will be in good hands, so you can run out get some of that last-minute holiday shopping done.

Green Apron Kitchen also offers gingerbread house decorating, Christmas cookie-making, and other kids’ classes year-round, so don’t forget to check out their website.