featuring ice sculpting, miraculous bar crawls and spiritual shabbat dinners – these are the best Hanukkah Events in Chicago for 2018 #5779.
Read all the ChiTribe Hannukah Content
Ever since the Chicago Fire in 1871, Chicago has have shown that we are a city that can overcome many odds and rise through the flames. We will also persevere to make this Hanukkah as LIT as possible.
When is Hanukkah in 2018?
Sunday, December 2nd – Monday, December 10th
How can you celebrate Hanukkah in Chicago?
ChiTribe is ready to help you find the best places to celebrate Hanukkah in Chicago. So, get ready to spin the dreidel and light the menorah as you sing, drink and eat your way through Hanukkah Events in Chicago.
1st Night of Hanukkah | Sunday December 2nd 2018
Chabad River North and Fulton Market
Starlight Chanukah Spectacular – December 2nd at Montgomery Ward Park
Grand menorah lighting featuring latkes, donuts, hot drinks, music and more!
2nd Night of Hanukkah | Monday December 3rd 2018
Chanukah Party with a Purpose 2018– December 3rd at The Congress Plaza Hotel
Join the fabulous crew of Project 613 and let’s celebrate Chanukah in STYLE at the Congress Hotel overlooking Grant Park. Look forward to festive candle lighting, world championship dreidel spin-off, and shmoozing with latkes in hand.
We are keeping admission price low to encourage you to bring a toy for our annual Project 613 Toy Drive for the Chicago Chesed Fund.
Ticket Price: $25 includes open bar of wine & beer and dinner
3rd night of Hanukkah | Tuesday December 4th 2018
JGrads-Jewish Graduate Student Association at the University of Chicago
One (of Eight) Krazy Nights– December 4th at U of C
Come celebrate the third night of Hanukah with JGrads! Enjoy Hanukkah foods, themed cocktails, and some lit music while shmoozing with other UChicago graduate students, alumni and Chicago young professionals. $5 cover, canned food donation also recommended.
Center for Jewish Life and Chabad of Lincoln Park
Grand menorah lighting at Daley Plaza – December 4th at the Daley Plaza
JNFuture 5th Annual Dreidel Tournament – December 4th at Rock Bottom
Do you have what it takes to be a champion?
Celebrate Chanukah at JNFuture’s highly competitive dreidel tournament and trivia night! Enjoy latkes, donuts, a drink or two, and win amazing prizes! JNFuture Sabra and Root Society Members: $0 Non-members: $36
Event Chairs – Cara Goch & Zak Shapiro
Hanukkah Trivia – December 4th at Chicago Sinai
20s & 30s groups from Chicago-area Reform Temples (Chicago Sinai, Temple Sholom, KAM-Isaiah Israel, Emanuel Cong., and Temple Jeremiah) host a fun night of trivia, cocktails, a latke bar and more!
The event is free however registration is required. Please bring a new/gently used toy to donate!
Jewish Community for Peace – Chicago
Shine a Light for Safety Through Solidarity– December 4th at 637 S Dearborn
Through a ritual of kindling our Hanukkah lights, we face the darkness of fascism & white supremacy together, and shine a light on our strength and capacity for miracles. We are letting the world know that we are still here, and in the face of growing hatred and antisemitism, our creativity & resilience is overflowing. We are still here, and we are here in joy!
Donations of $5-$10 to cover food are welcome – no one will be turned away based on ability to pay! RSVP
4th night of Hanukkah | Wednesday December 5th 2018
Home for Hanukkah: An Interactive Hanukkah Experience December 5th-19th at ComedySportz
Don’t miss out on this hilarious Chicago comedy Hanukkah classic . Bubbe and Zayde are having a Hanukkah open house, along with their family and special visits from friends, featuring stories, songs and good old fashioned schmaltz! Come share the laughs and maybe a few latkes.
8pm $10
Read more about Meg Grunewald creator and her new classic Hannukah comedy
AVODAH Chicago Hanukkah Party December 5th at Sketchpad
Join Avodah participants, alumni, staff, and supporters for lights and latkes this Hanukkah
Wednesday, December 5 6:30– 8:30 PM at Sketchpad
Latkes and Libations – December 5th at LA Social
Celebrate with Chicago Young Leadership Division (YLD) and Back from Birthright Israel at a Chanukah happy hour with drinks, latkes, and dreidels.
Cost is $15 and includes one drink ticket and festive snacks.
Please make it a mitzvah and bring a cold weather clothing item or accessory to be donated to those in need this holiday season!
Chicago Chanukah Celebration – December 5th at AceBounce
All Miami alumni in the Chicago area are invited to celebrate the third night of Chanukah with fellow Miamians, Rabbi Yossi, Mushka and students from the Miami Chabad on campus. Look forward to a delicious dinner of Middle Eastern food, an open bar (21 and up) and a wonderful chance to network.
Cost to attend is $10 per person.
Vodkas and Latkes -December 5th at The L’chaim center located above DMV
Come celebrate the festival of lights at the annual J-Life Channukah Party! Featuring a delicious dinner, cocktails, music by DJ Mike, and various activities. Come see all your J-Life besties!
Tickets $15
5th night of Hanukkah | Thursday December 6th 2018
Light up the Night with YLD Pride’s Chanukah Party – December 6th in Lakeview
YLD Pride is giving back to Cradles to Crayons this holiday season with special guest Bernard Cherkasov, Cradles to Crayons National Chief Operating Officer
Learn about the needs of their organization, bring your favorite board game to play, and an item to donate to Cradles to Crayons. Stick around to light the
Chanukah candles and don’t forget to wear your ugliest holiday sweater! Recommended items to donate include winter boots, gloves, hats, coats (up to adult M), or infant hats and gloves.
Cost to attend is $15, which includes latkes and other kosher appetizers.
Chicago Young Alumni Chanukah Happy Hour – December 6th BASE Loop
Reshet Ramah party at Base LOOP for an evening of candle-lighting, drinks, and Chanukah nosh!
This event is co-sponsored by Silverstein Base Hillel and is for ages 21+.
JCUA – Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
Chai-Lights Hanukkah Party – December 6th Sketchpad
Join you r fellow members as we come together to light the Hanukkah candles and celebrate JCUA’s accomplishments over the past year.
Candle lighting ceremony at 7:00pm. Food and drinks will be served
Oak Park Temple and Moishe House Wicker Park
Hanukkah Party in Logan Square – December 6th at Revolution Brewing
A relaxed Hanukkah celebration in the heart of Logan Square. Meet new friends (and bring your current ones!) as we enjoy Hanukkah foods, maybe exchange a gift or two, and find a new way to celebrate the holiday! People of all backgrounds are welcome; bring your menorah or use one of ours. Nosh (snacks) provided; buy your own beer.
Read more about this event and Naomi Segal who is helping plan this event and launch a new Young Adult initiative in Logan Square and the greater West side with Oak Park Temple
SHABBAT 6th night of Hanukkah | Friday December 7th
JCC 20’s and 30’s and Anshe Emet
YAD and JCC 20s and 30s December Hanukkah Shabbat – December 7th at Anshe Emet
Services will start at 7:15pm followed by a Latke and Brisket dinner. In partnership with JCC 20s &30s, there will be drinks provided! As well as an Ugly Hannukkah Sweater Contest! So wear those ugly sweaters!
YAD First Friday night Shabbat Services are always open to those in their 20s and 30s, and are provided at no charge. If you plan on staying for dinner, you must register in advance so we can have an accurate count for food, to make sure that there is enough and are also not over estimating and therefore wasteful.
Chanukah Shabbat – December 7th at Sketchpad
Leave your kids at home and join us for a Shabbat Dinner and Hanukkah Gathering for the grownups! With food, music, and great company, the Workmen’s Circle is happy to offer adult programming for Chicago’s progressive Jewish community.
We are asking for a $5-10 sliding scale donation. Free for Chicago Workmen’s Circle Members.
Young Professional Hanukkah Shabbat Dinner – December 7th at BASE Loop
Celebrate Shabbat during the Festival of Lights!
21+ Grad Students and Young Professionals
Shabbos Chanukah Oneg ft. Rabbi Frankiel – December 7th at the Home of Alana and Dvora Gold
All young adults are welcomed to join us for a one of a kind Shabbos Chanukah oneg in West Rogers Park. This event will feature great food, divrei torah and friends! We will be privileged to hear words from Rabbi Yaakov Frankiel, who is a currently the executive director of the YU kollel in Chicago. RSVP is suggested but not required to attend.
First Friday December – Chanukah edition! iiiiIiiii – December 7th at Bucktown Wicker Park Chabad
Enjoy a four course, warm dinner with home-made Challah and dips, gefilte fish & salads, chicken soup w/ matza balls, delicious main course, drinks & a special CHANUKAH dessert!
$18/person, First-timers FREE, Chai Club Members FREE
Hosts – Carly Klau Wine and Nate Kahn
7th night of Hanukkah | Saturday December 8th 2018
2nd Annual Wine and Latke Tasting – December 8th at Base Hillel
Join us for havdalah, candle lighting and unique wine and latke pairings for 21+. Space is limited so make to register here.
Ugly Sweater Party – December 8th at Wicker Park Moishe House
The uglier you look, the better. Dig deep into your closets and sport your favorite and most hideous-looking sweater. We can’t wait to celebrate the festival of lights with you! BYOB.
Light & Heat: Interfaith Stories of Hope and Defiance – December 8th at Tied House
Join us for an interfaith story slam as we come together across traditions to eat great food, sing songs of the season, and to tell stories of hope and defiance. Event will include one hour of open bar and holiday nosh prepared by James Beard Award-Winning Chef and Top Chef Master Debbie Gold.
Tickets are $25/person $35 door
Also hosted by: Gilead Chicago, Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, Bodhi Spiritual Center
EBOCH – Eight Bars of Hanukkah
EBOCH 2018!!! – December 8th in River North
It’s almost that time of year again for the Eight Bars of Chanukah barcrawl (or better known as EBOCH 2018)! Last year EBOCH pulled off a Chanukah miracle by organizing an impromptu barcrawl in less than 36 hours with more than 50 people participating. This year, with some actual planning, EBOCH is going to be on a whole new level!
The bar list will be announced in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, mark your calendars, find your best Chanukah swag and invite all of your friends as we celebrate the festival of lights in style!
8th night of Hanukkah | Sunday December 9th 2018
Hanukkah Latke Fest – December 9 6-8pm at Central Synagogue Chicago
Candle Lighting & Latkes On the Menu… Traditional Potato Latkes, Sweet Potato Latkes, Salmon Latkes, Veggie Latkes, Apple Latkes accompanied by sour cream, and applesauce Along with a variety of hearty salads (veg/vegan friendly) and friendly people, and sufganiyot: סופגניות
Space Is Limited – Reservations Required: $15
Online Prepaid Reservations Only Reservations
A “Frozen” Hanukkah – Ice Menorah Lighting – December 9th at NewCity
Watch as a Menorah is carved out of a block of ice followed by its’ lighting. Live music, hot potato latkes and Jelly donuts to follow.
Featuring Hanukah songs performed by the Gan Gani/Moadon School choir.
Indoor festivities for kids include: Hot potato latkes and jelly donuts, face painting, balloon twisting, meet your favorite frozen characters, holiday crafts
More events to add? Submit any Hanukkah event to the ChiTribe Calendar
Find events like this and more on ChiTribe’s Event Calendar