Sundown on Sunday, Dec. 14, marks the first night of Hanukkah.
And the South Bay and Long Beach areas will celebrate the Jewish holiday — which is also known as the festival of lights, and lasts eight days and nights — throughout the next week with menorah lightings, latkes, gelt and even the building of a giant Lego menorah.
The Jewish Community Center in the South Bay, in particular, will trek from Hermosa Beach to Torrance — lighting up menorahs.
Here is a roundup of Hanukkah celebrations happening in the South Bay and Long Beach areas.
Surrounded by onlookers, Redondo Beach Councilmember Todd Loewenstein lights a candle on a giant menorah to celebrate Chanukah at the Redondo Beach Civic Center on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
A woman is served a donut during a menorah lighting ceremony to celebrate Chanukah at the Redondo Beach Civic Center on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Rabbi Mendel Mintz, from the South Redondo Synagogue, leads a menorah lighting to celebrate Chanukah at the Redondo Beach Civic Center on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Mr. Dreidel, aka Rabbi Shlomo Sirota with the Redondo Beach Jewish Community Center, dances after a menorah lighting ceremony to celebrate Chanukah at the Manhattan Village Mall on Sunday, December 5, 2021.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Menorah is seen lit after sunset during the Chanukah Extravaganza Ice Menorah Lighting hosted by Shul by the Shore on Second street in Long Beach on Sunday, December 02, 2018. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors at PCH & 2nd. watch as giant menorah is lit during Shul by the Shore’s Grand Chanukah Extravaganza on the first night of the holiday in Long Beach, CA, on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Maureen Lawrence of the Jewish Community Center teaches youngsters how to play the traditional game of Dreidel on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021 during a Hanukkah storytelling session at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Beatrix Nahigyan, 5, tries to play dreidel, a traditional Jewish game, during a Hanukkah storytelling event at the Aquarium of the Pacific on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by William Liang, Contributing Photographer)
Maureen Lawrence, left, explains how to play dreidel, a traditional Jewish game, to children at a Hanukkah storytelling event at the Aquarium of the Pacific on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by William Liang, Contributing Photographer)
Maureen Lawrence plays an autoharp to draw in aquarium visitors at a Hanukkah Storytelling event inside the Aquarium of the Pacific, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by William Liang, Contributing Photographer)
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Surrounded by onlookers, Redondo Beach Councilmember Todd Loewenstein lights a candle on a giant menorah to celebrate Chanukah at the Redondo Beach Civic Center on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
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Sunday, Dec. 14
Giant Chanukah Celebration: 3:30 p.m. at the Hermosa Beach Pier, 1 Pier Ave. The Giant Chanukah Celebration, held by the South Bay Jewish Community Center, will kick off the first night of Hanukkah with a giant menorah lighting, hot latkes and donuts, live music and a gelt drop from a fire truck. Cost: Free. Information: jccmb.com.
Grand Menorah Lighting at 2nd & PCH: 4 p.m. at the 2nd & PCH shopping center, 6480 Pacific Coast Highway, in Long Beach. The event will feature live performances, crafts, festival music and the menorah lighting. Cost: Free. Information: jewishlongbeach.org.
Hanukkah Storytime: 3 p.m. at the Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, in Long Beach. The aquarium will present the story of Hanukkah through songs, games and engaging stories. General admission to the aquarium also grants entrance to the event. Cost: $44.95 for adults, $34.95 for children (3-11) and $41.95 for seniors (62 and up.) Information: aquariumofpacific.org.
Monday, Dec. 15
Chanukah Family Fun Festival: 5:30 p.m. at the Ken Dyda Civic Center, 30940 Hawthorne Blvd, in Ranchos Palos Verdes. The Chanukah Family Fun Festival, held by the Chabad of Palos Verdes, will include a menorah lighting, gelt drop from a fire truck, snow and sledding, and ventriloquist Chuck Field. Cost: Free. Information: jewishpv.com.
Tuesday, Dec. 16
Chanukah at Del Amo: 5 p.m. at the Del Amo Fashion Center, 3525 W. Carson St., in Torrance. The Chabad of South Bay invites the community to build a giant menorah out of Lego bricks at the Del Amo Fashion Center. There will also be latkes, donuts, face painting and live music. Cost: Free. Information: chabadsb.org.
Redondo Beach Menorah Lighting: 5:30 p.m. at the Redondo Beach Civic Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. The Redondo Beach Menorah Lighting, held by the South Bay Jewish Community Center, will also include music, dancing and hot latkes. Cost: Free. Information: jccmb.com.
Torrance Menorah Lighting Ceremony: 4:30 p.m. at Torrance City Hall, 3021 Torrance Blvd. Torrance will hold its annual menorah lighting in front of City Hall. Cost: Free. Information: templeemet.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Grand Menorah Lighting: 5 p.m. at Malaga Cove Plaza, in Palos Verdes Estates. The Chabad of Palos Verdes will host a grand menorah lighting at Malaga Cove Plaza, near the Neptune Fountain. Cost: Free. Information: jewishpv.com.
Thursday, Dec. 18
Chanukah at the Promenade: 5 p.m. at the Promenade PV, 550 Deep Valley Drive, in Rolling Hills Estates. Chanukah at the Promenade, held by the Chabad of Palos Verdes, will include a community menorah lighting, latkes, crafts, gelt and bowling. Cost: Free. Information: jewishpv.com.
Chanukah Celebration at Metlox Plaza: 5:30 p.m. at Metlox Plaza, 451 Manhattan Beach Blvd., in Manhattan Beach. The Chanukah Celebration at Metlox Plaza, held by the South Bay Jewish Community Center, will include a menorah lighting, music, dancing, donuts and latkes. Cost: Free. Information: jccmb.com.
Chanukah Latke Bar Dinner: 5 p.m. at the Alpert Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Willow St., in Long Beach. The event will feature a candle lighting, a latke buffet, and bounce houses and a menorah-making contest for kids. Cost: Presale, $36 for families and $10 for individuals; at the door, $45 for families and $14 for individuals. Information: alpertjcc.org.
El Segundo Menorah Lighting: 5:30 p.m. at the El Segundo City Hall plaza, 350 Main St. The El Segundo Menorah Lighting, held by the South Bay Jewish Community Center, will also include music, dancing and hot latkes. Cost: Free. Information: jccmb.com.
Saturday, Dec. 20
Hanukkah Celebration at BJK Library: 3 p.m. at the Billie Jean King Main Library, 200 W. Broadway, in downtown Long Beach. The event will feature Cantor Kelly Cooper from Temple Israel, a family storytelling circle about Hanukkah’s history, arts and crafts, and more. Cost: Free. Information: longbeach.gov/library.
Sunday, Dec. 21
Chanukah Wonderland: 10 a.m. at Shul by the Shore, 4545 E. Fourth St., in Long Beach. Shul by the Shore’s Chanukah Wonderland will feature various activities for families, particularly children, to enjoy, including donut decorating and chocolate coin making. Cost: $25. Information: shulbytheshore.org.
Giant Menorah Lighting at Miramar Park: 5:30 p.m. at Miramar Park, 201 Paseo De La Playa, in Redondo Beach. The Giant Menorah Lighting at Miramar Park, held by the South Bay Jewish Community Center, will also include music, dancing, donuts and latkes. Cost: Free. Information: jccmb.com.
Giant Menorah Lighting at Manhattan Village: 5:30 p.m. at the Manhattan Village shopping center, 3200 N. Sepulveda Blvd., in Manhattan Beach. The Giant Menorah Lighting at Manhattan Village, held by the South Bay Jewish Community Center, will also include music, dancing, donuts and latkes. Cost: Free. Information: jccmb.com.