Hannukah, also known as Chanukah or the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in the 2nd Century BCE. This year, Hannukah begins on Wednesday, December 25th, and ends on January 2nd, 2025. In honor of the holiday, there are plenty of events — from Menorah Lightings to block parties, in Montclair and beyond, from December 11th to December 26th. The Montclair Girl team has curated a whole list of Hanukkah events and some places serving holiday treats. Read on for a list of Hanukkah events happening in Northern New Jersey for 2024, and a guide to local restaurants and bakeries serving Jewish baked goods.

Events

Chanukah Fire + Ice | 3 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown

December 26th | 5PM

Located at Pioneer Park at the HQ Plaza in Morristown, this free event will feature doughnuts, hot drinks, chocolate gelt, Chanukah music, a Chanukah giveaway for children, and a free raffle. Guests can also look forward to a live sculpting and light of a menorah made of ice, stilt walkers, and a roving magician. See the website for more details.

Read More: Where to Find Passover Dishes in New Jersey

Hannakauh Celebration + Menorah Lighting in Verona | 600 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona

December 26th | 6PM

The free event, which begins at 6PM, will be held outside of Verona's Town Hall. Guests can look forward to live music from Rabbi Dan’s Midnight Nosh Band, arts and crafts for children, fried treats and refreshments, and more. See this link for more information.

Menorah Lighting in West Caldwell | 707 Bloomfield Avenue, West Caldwell

December 26th | 4PM

Essex County locals can look forward to a Menorah lighting at West Caldwell Civic Center on December 26th. Rabbi Lucas of Congregation Agudath Israel and Educational Director Susan Werk will light the Menorah. Refreshments will also be served. See the event flyer here.

Montclair Chanukah Fest + Menorah Lighting | 5 Seymour Street, Montclair

December 26th | 5:30PM

The Wellmont Arts Plaza will host a free Chanukah Festival and Menorah Lighting on Thursday, December 26th. There will be a live concert featuring Kosha Dillz, an LED robot, hot latkes and beverages, and gifts for children. RSVP for this event here.

The Annual Chanukah Soiree | 225 River Street, Hoboken

December 26th | 7:30PM

The Chabad Young Professionals of Hoboken + Jersey City community will host an event for young Jewish adults at the W Hotel, located at 225 River Street in Hoboken, on December 26th. The event includes a Menorah lighting, an open bar, a sushi bar, various hors d'oeuvres, and a latke + doughnut station. For more information about this event click here.

West Orange Hanukkah Menorah Lighting | 66 Main Street, West Orange

December 26th | 3:45PM

Essex County locals can head to West Orange this Hanukkah season. The annual West Orange Menorah Lighting will happen on December 26th at the Town Hall on Main Street.

Treats

Babka Bailout | 476 Central Avenue A, Jersey City

Babka Bailout is a Jewish bakery in Jersey City specializing in babka and challah bread. The menu includes innovative creations like Cereal Milk, made with marshmallow fluff and condensed milk and coated in fruity pebbles, and traditional Jewish treats like plain challah bread topped with sesame seeds. In addition to its expansive menu, this bakery has partnered with Butterfield Market + Catering in NYC to provide gelt babkas for Hanukkah. These treats are topped with chocolate coins and mini cutouts of the Star of David.

Choc O Pain | Multiple locations in Hoboken + Jersey City

This bakery, with all over Hoboken and Jersey City, is serving Bordelais Boule sourdough bread. For an additional cost, this treat can come with a specialized stencil, including a "Happy Hanukkah" design. To place an order for this bread, see here. 

Hank Schwartz’s Delicatessen | Jersey City

Jersey City locals can usually find this Jewish deli at the Riverview Farmers Market on Sundays. The weekly menu typically consists of options like vegan lox, whitefish salad, all kinds of sandwiches, and more. In previous years, Hank Schwartz's provided a separate menu for Hanukkah, which included items like crispy potato latkes, housemade crème fraîche, and applesauce. Details regarding a special holiday menu for this year have yet to be announced, so make sure to check out the business's Instagram for any future announcements.

Hobby’s Delicatessen + Restaurant | 32 Brandford Place #2723, Newark

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hobby’s Deli, located in downtown Newark near the Prudential Center, has been featured in documentaries, various media outlets, and publications like Food and Wine Magazine and the New York Times. This Jewish deli serves Eastern European delicacies like corned beef, chopped liver, potato pancakes, and homemade soups. See the menu here.

Kosher Nosh Deli Restaurant + Catering | 894 Prospect Street, Glen Rock

Kosher Nosh Deli Restaurant has served the Bergen County community since 1976 and provides Kosher Catering, Kosher Delicatessen, appetizers, and more. Aside from its everyday menu and selection of Jewish desserts, this spot also serves a Shabbat Special all day on Friday and Thursday nights. For $49.98, locals can enjoy one quart of the daily soup, an oven-roasted chicken, the choice of egg barley + mushrooms, kasha varnishkes, or orzo + mushrooms, challah bread, and more. See the full menu on the website.

Liv Breads | 275 Essex Street, Milburn

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Liv Breads in Milburn will take pre-orders for Hanukkah. Its menu consists of sufganiyot in either strawberry jam or Nutella, chocolate-Graham babka, and challah bread. Pre-orders are available from December 25th to January 1st. To order from Liv Breads, see this link.

Mikki + Al’s Noshery | 179 Glenridge Avenue, Montclair

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In addition to the usual hot and cold sandwiches, salads, beverages, and desserts, Mikki + Al’s in Montclair is serving a special menu for Hanukkah. From a holiday brisket with gravy to a savory noodle kugel, there are plenty of options to consider. The menu also includes sufganiyots filled with raspberry jelly and coated in cinnamon sugar. To see the full menu and place an order, see here. Also, keep in mind that orders must be placed 48 hours in advance.

Nana’s Deli | 27 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston + 210 Hudson Street, Jersey City (inside Harborside Building)

This deli has locations in Livingston and Jersey City and serves Jewish staples like matzoh ball soup and brisket. Along with assorted dessert and bread platters, Nana’s Deli is providing a Kiddush Catering Menu, which comes with Nana’s Famous Tuna, egg salad, cream cheese, vegetable cheese, sliced cheeses, and a tomato + onion platter. Customers can also choose various add-on options like homemade hummus + pita chips and salmon salad.

Sweet Kneads by Ridhma | 38 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sweet Kneads by Ridhma is a Kosher-certified boutique bakery in Livingston. For the Hanukkah season, this spot is providing Hanukkah dessert boxes, which are now available for pre-order. Customers can look forward to mini doughnut holes in flavors like jelly, lemon raspberry, Nutella rocher, and more. To place an order, call 973-320-9030.

See More: Where to Get Jewish Treats in Hoboken, Jersey City, + Beyond

Yuki’s Bakery + Coffee |  720 Monroe Street, Hoboken

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This Jewish and Israeli spot sells all kinds of treats, including babka, challah, and rugelach cakes. In years past, Yuki's Bakery featured a special Hanukkah menu, which included strawberry jam and chocolate sufganiyots. Make sure to visit the bakery's website for potential announcements regarding a Hanukkah menu.