Find all the Hanukkah events for 2022 in Chicago all in one place. Hanukkah is… the Festival of Lights! Instead of one day of presents, we get 8 CRAZY NIGHTS. So if you feel like the only Jew in town looking to fill your night…Click through this guide to stay in the loop, and light all the LIGHTS!
When is Chanukkah
Start date: Begins sunset of Sunday, December 18, 2022
End Date: Monday, December 26, 2022
Jewish Eats 2022: Chicago Chanukah Edition
December 15th – ChiTribe Hanukkah Happy Hour 20 Something
Graystone Tavern with ChiTribe 6-8pm
Calling all 20 Somethings! Join us on December 15th at Graystone’s Hanukkah theme pop up with Dreidel tournaments for Tzedakah and prizes. Register Now
Perfume Making Women’s Event
December 15 @ 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM with Lakeview Chabad
A Pre-Chanukah Women’s event featuring a hands-on essential oil & aromatherapy workshop. Each person will create their own unique essential-oil based perfume.
Menorahs & Martinis
December 15 @ 7:00 PM with Chabad of Lincoln Park
Ladies, join us for a Pre Chanukah night out!
🍸Martini Bar & Gourmet Chanukah Bites
🍸Design a magnificent granite Menorah
JRC’s House Klezmer Band Helps Kickoff High-Energy Chanukah Celebrations, Welcoming the Wider Community
December 16 @ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
JRC invites the wider community to join the dancing, singing, laughter, and spiritual examination of the holiday, focusing not only on the miracle of oil lasting 8 nights, but also on the beauty of community coming together to make sure the lamp was lit in the first place. The entire ritual will be livestreamed on JRC’s Facebook page.
Suburban Hannukah Party
December 17 @ 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM at Congregation Beth Judea
ChiTribe + Jewllennialz
Register Now>>
Calling all 20 and 30 Somethings living in the Chicago suburbs – join ChiTribe in the burbs at Congregation Beth Judea for latkes, donuts, and dreidel competitions! Come eat, schmooze, and celebrate with ChiTribe and Jewllennialz this holiday season! Tickets are $5.
- Ages 21-39
- Snacks, Desserts, Prizes
- Dreidel Competition
- Board Games + Cards
Location: Congregation Beth Judea 5304 RFD Long Grove, IL 60047. Located at the corner of Hilltop Rd and Route S3. Register Now>>
Night 1
First Night, First Light at Gallagher Way
December 18 @ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM with JCC Chicago
Join JCC Chicago to kick off Hanukkah with a FREE celebration in partnership with Gallagher Way. Light the first candle and enjoy live entertainment, Hanukkah games, food and more. Teens can hit the ice inside Wrigley Field and adults in their 20’s and 30’s can enjoy a drink on the J. There’s something for everyone and all are welcome! Sun., December 18 from 3-6pm at Gallagher Way, outside Wrigley Field.
Chanukah Celebration in the West Loop
December 18 @ 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Chanukah Celebration in the West Loop Kids Hour 4-5pm Merit School of Music 38 s. Peoria St – Chanukkah Crafts & Bubble Show Menorah Lighting 5;15pm Mary Bartleme Park 115 S. Sangamon St – Fire Show, Hot Chocolate, Chanukah Treats.
RJD Chanukah Family Carnival
December 18 @ 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM with RJD
Join RJD Young Families Chanukah Carnival for carnival games, donut decorating, & face painting.
Festival Of Lights / Chaunkah @ The Old Post Office
December 18 @ 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
More Info>>
Top-Shelf Open Bar
DJ • Hors D’oeuvres
Menorah Lighting
With Esteemed Guests: Israel “Izzy” Starck A Survivor of Auscwhitz-Birkenau Lonnie Nasatir President & CEO of JUF Chicago This Chanukah, the Telegram Lounge in the newly renovated, historic Old Post Office will shine bright with another epic Chanukah celebration. Come celebrate the miracle of our nation’s rebirth and the miraculous resilience of the Jewish spirit in this iconic Chicago landmark.
Night 2 – December 19
Daley Plaza Grand Menorah Lighting
December 19 @ 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM with Gold Coast Chabad
Join us for the Lighting Ceremony of the Giant Menorah at Daley Plaza on Monday December 19th at 5:00pm, corner of Dearborn and Washington. Don’t miss the yearly Kiddush H’ at the Center of Downtown Chicago!!
Night 3 – December 20
Night 4 – December 21
December 21 – ChiTribe Hanukkah Happy Hour 30 Somethings +
6-8pm with ChiTribe
Calling all 30 Something’s + for a special Hannukah Happy Hour! Join us on December 21 @ Graystone Tavern’s Hanukkah pop-up! Register Now
Night 5
Latkes, Libations & Lo-mein | Young Adults (20s/30s)
December 22 @ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM $5 with YLD and JCC
J-Life Chicago Chanukkah Party
December 22 @ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM $5
Come celebrate Chanukkah with us at Chicago’s only specialty Chanukkah pop-up bar– Graystone Tavern’s Eight Crazy Nights! Sign up to receive a wristband at the door which grants you 2 crafted drinks from the bar. Enjoy food, a dreidel tournament, candlelighting, and tons of new people!
YJP Chanukah Party ft DJ Hasid & Violinist
December 22 @ 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM in Evanston
Join us on the 5th night of Chanukah for the best YJP party in Chicago for 20’s & 30’s
Featuring
– Violinist Yuriy Geyer
– Lights & sounds from DJ Hasid (Shlomo Kastel) & curated upbeat Jewish music
– Drinks, wine, & refreshments by Kol Tuv
– Great event space with couches, ping pong, foosball, & pool table
Free RSVP till dec 18th
$5 till day of event
$10 at the door
8 Tastes of Chanukah
December 22 @ 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM with RJD
Join RJD as we embark on a culinary journey with celebrity Chef Vlad from Hell’s Kitchen as well as our hosts Alex Kislov and Elan Modilevsky. Together the three have put together an eight course Chanukah meal (one in honor of each night) that will teach us about Jewish food, culture, and history. Participants are encouraged to dress business professional or in Chanukah themed gear. There will be live music and other surprises during this exclusive RJD Event. The event will be held on December 22, the 5th night of Chanukah, at 535 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL at 7:30 p.m.
Night 6
Sixth Night, Sixth Light: Dreidel Drop-in
December 23 @ 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
JCC Chicago invites you to drop-in for the ultimate dreidel competition! All are welcome to celebrate the sixth night of Hanukkah with arcade & lawn games, snacks, cookie decorating and arts & crafts. Fri., December 23 at 4pm.
Ugly Sweater Holiday Show
December 23 @ 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM with Moishe House
Join us and our friends from Lakeview and Lincoln Park MH’s for our last event of the year! We’re hitting late-night bar The Store for a not-so-silent night featuring our MH house band and more! Wear your best ugly sweater or festive wear, and get ready to groove and schmooze as we party the night away.
Night 7
December 24 @ 9:00 PM – December 25 @ 2:00 AM
Matzo Bash 2022: Chicago’s Christmas Eve Party
WHAT: The Matzo Bash, Chicago’s Christmas Eve Gala!
PRESENTED BY: ChiTribe, Chicago Twenty Something, Hubbard Inn and more hosts TBA!
WHY: It’s Christmas Eve. What else are you going to do? Plus a portion of the proceeds benefit great non-profits!
WHERE: Hubbard Inn is conveniently located on Hubbard Street in the heart of River North. Whether you want to schmooze in the bar or dance the club, Hubbard Inn has you covered!
Hanukkah Party with Base Loop
December 24 @ 9:00 PM – December 25 @ 12:00 AM
Wanna light a freakin’ menorah? Wanna dance to trendy Israeli and U.S. pop and hip-hop music (with a splash of vintage techno??) Wanna eat homemade sfinge (Moroccan donuts) and other food? Wanna drink a signature cocktail (or water)?? Then come to our Hanukkah party where all your dreams will come true!
Night 8
Hannukah Shacharit and Hallel
December 25 @ 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM with Base LNCLN
Stoop Menorah Lighting!
December 25 @ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM with Base LNCLN
Join us for our second annual stoop menorah lighting! We’ll proudly bring our light out into the darkness, and then enjoy hot drinks, doughnuts, and time together. See you there!
Christmastime for the Jews: Joel Chasnoff at City Winery
December 25 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM $28
Christmas comedy at City Winery is back, and this year there’s a Chinese Food Buffet! After a two-year hiatus, Joel Chasnoff, producer and longtime host of Christmas For the Jews, returns with a new show. Unlike years past, where Joel hosted a lineup of local comedians, Joel will be performing his own hour-long stand-up set. Passover candy sales, El Al security guards, his short-lived stint on the Solomon Schechter basketball team and his year as a tank gunner in the Israeli army. More info>>
Find all the Chanukkah Events In Chicago
Find all the Jewish Events in Chicago on the ChiTribe Calendar
