Hanukkah Events & Celebrations in Orange County

We are so excited to be bringing you a list of Hanukkah events and celebrations in Orange County, due to popular demand!

For ease of use, these Hanukkah events in Orange County list is organized by city in alphabetical order. Take a look and let us know if we missed one of your favorite Hanukkah holiday events! Email ([email protected]) or message us on Facebook.

In case you are not familiar with Hanukkah, it is a very important 8-day Jewish festival that takes place in December and is also known as the “Festival of Lights.”

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Every night, there is a menorah lighting, special prayers and eating special foods such as “latkes” (potato pancakes). It celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple and this year it will begin on the evening of Thursday, December 7, 2023, and end on the evening of Friday, December 15, 2023.

Hanukkah Events & Celebrations in Orange County

COSTA MESA

Menorah Workshop | The Home Depot- 2300 S Harbor Blvd
November 25, 2023 | 11:00am-1:00pm
Build your own Menorah, Free worker’s apron, Channukah treats, fun for the whole family. Please reserve your spot online.

IRVINE

Hanukkah | Pretend City
December 13 and 15, 2023 | All Day
Hanukkah Celebration with Rabbi Sender. Rabbi Sender directs sgi.camp and runs jcraftsoc.com with the mission of encouraging hands-on learning while building strong character and awareness of culture and tradition in students from all walks of life.   

LADERA RANCH

Menorah Lighting | Town Green, 28801 Sienna Pkwy
December 12, 2023 | 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Come join us as we celebrate Hanukkah as a community at the Ladera Ranch Festival of Lights on the last night of Hanukkah.  This year LARCS is partnering with local organizations to create an evening of community with music, dancing, dreidels, crafts, candle lighting, and traditional Hanukkah snacks! 

MISSION VIEJO

Jewish Festival of Lights |Village Green, 24932 Veterans Way
December 18, 2023 | 3:00pm – 5:00pm
The Chabad of Mission Viejo will celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights with Chanukah music and entertainment, games, activities, bounce house, creative crafts, face painting, cookie decorating and so much more! Come to experience all the wonderment of Chanukah with the lighting of the menorah, singing traditional holiday songs, eating latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (jelly donuts). Experience spinning the dreidel of joy at this citywide celebration of the winter holiday of miracles!

NEWPORT BEACH

JWC Menorahs & Mojitos
Nov. 27, 2023 | 7:00pm
Join us for an evening of inspiration and discuss Chanukah’s message of light, faith and hope as we craft a beautiful resin Menorah. Let’s come together to dispell the deep darkness and transform it to bright light.

Menorah Lighting | Fashion Island
December 7, 2023 | 5:30pm
Chanukah Entertainment, Chanukah Crafts, Dreidels and Doughnuts, Balloon Animals, Face Painting, Gifts and Treats for the Kids

SAN CLEMENTE

Chanukah at the Outlets | Outlets at San Clemente
TBA
Event includes:
– Stilt walker with Gelt and Dreidel parachute drop
– Balloon twisting
– Variety Show
– Hot Latkes
– Crafts for children
– Donuts
– Music
– and even more!

YORBA LINDA

Hanukkah Celebration at the Nixon Library | 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd
November 19, 2023 at 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Community Menorah Candle Lighting and Musical Performances by various community organizations.

OUTSIDE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Riverside

Chanukah Festival 2023 | Riverside County Historic Courthouse- 4050 Main St
December 11, 2023 | 6:00pm-8:00pm
Grand Menorah Lighting | Traditional Food
Live Music | Fun Activities for the Whole Family!Free Admission

Los Angeles

Hanukkah Festival | Skirball Cultural Center- 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd
December 10, 2023 | 12:00pm-5:30pm
Gather with family and friends to make new memories at the Skirball! Beloved klezmer rockers Mostly Kosher return to headline this year’s festival with support from dublab DJ Callie Ryan. Skirball Storytellers bring the Hanukkah story to life with a theatrical performance featuring music and puppetry.

Whether you identify as Jewish or not, we hope you take the time to learn about other cultures and their traditions because it is the appreciation of diversity that will make us a stronger community.

For more Jewish celebrations of Hanukkah, we invite you to visit this list of Orange County Jewish synogagues to inquire about how they’re celebrating. Happy Hanukkah!

Originally published on November 7, 2023. Last Updated on November 21, 2023 by Pattie Cordova