Hanukkah in Houston: Menorah Lightings, Latkes and Events
Date Published
Houston lights menorahs in places you wouldn’t expect: on the steps of City Hall, in the middle of the Galleria mall, courtside at Toyota Center during a Rockets game. The city’s Jewish community — roughly 50,000 people with a hub in the Meyerland area of southwest Houston — has built a Hanukkah calendar that runs from the first night through the eighth, indoors and out, family-friendly and adult.
This guide covers the recurring public lightings, community events worth the drive and where to pick up latkes and sufganiyot when the holiday arrives.
What is Hanukkah, and when does it fall in Houston?
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival of lights, marked by lighting a hanukkiah (a nine-branched menorah) each night — one candle the first night, adding one each night, with the shamash (helper candle) used to light the others. The timing shifts every year because the holiday follows the Hebrew calendar, typically landing somewhere between late November and late December. Check the official sites below for this year’s exact first night.
The quick list
- Most ceremonial: City Hall Grand Menorah Lighting, downtown — police escort, elected officials, sufganiyot on the first night.
- Most spectacular: Chabad Uptown Post Oak event — helicopter gelt drop, BMX or fire show, inflatables (program varies by year).
- Best for spectating at the mall: Galleria menorah lighting, second night of Hanukkah — free, indoors.
- Best for families with young kids: Children’s Museum Hanukkah Night, Museum District — olive press demo, dreidel crafts.
- Best for sports fans: Houston Rockets “Hoops & Hanukkah” at Toyota Center — on-court menorah lighting, post-game free throws.
- Best for a full Hanukkah dinner: Beth Yeshurun “Light Up the Night,” Meyerland area — latkes dinner, indoor roller skating, fireworks.
- For latkes without a party: Kenny & Ziggy’s holiday menu, Galleria/Uptown — pre-order by the dozen.
How we chose
We included events with documented multi-year track records, confirmed recurring through their own official websites or official Chabad event calendars. Single-year and private events were excluded. Dates shift every year because Hanukkah falls on different calendar dates — always check the official site before you go.
Public menorah lightings in Houston
City Hall Grand Menorah Lighting
Downtown Houston · First night of Hanukkah · Free
This is Houston’s flagship Hanukkah event, now in its fourth decade. Chabad Outreach of Houston organizes a police-escorted Mobile Menorah Parade from their southwest Houston location to City Hall at 901 Bagby Street in downtown. The ceremony at the steps includes remarks from elected officials, a dance party, Hanukkah gifts for children, dreidels and sufganiyot — all free and open to the public.
The parade has run for 30 years, predating many of the buildings now lining its route. Check chabadoutreach.org for the current year’s time and parade meeting point.
The Galleria Menorah Lighting
Galleria/Uptown · Second night of Hanukkah · Free
On the second night of Hanukkah, a 12-foot steel menorah takes center stage between Nordstrom and the Galleria’s indoor fountain. The sculpture is not a seasonal rental — it was handcrafted by Houston artist Isaac Cohen in the shape of the Magen Shlomo (Shield of Solomon) and returns every year. A children’s choir performs, elected officials speak and Hanukkah treats are distributed.
Arrive early: the Galleria draws crowds this time of year regardless. Our Galleria guide has parking notes and ice rink hours if you want to extend the evening.
Chabad of Uptown Post Oak Menorah Lighting
Sofa Park, San Felipe Blvd & S. Post Oak Lane · First night of Hanukkah · Free
Chabad of Uptown co-presents this event with the Uptown Houston District. Past years have featured a BMX bike show, fire performers, inflatables and — the detail everyone remembers — a helicopter that drops foil-wrapped Hanukkah gelt (chocolate coins) onto the crowd. It typically runs in the early afternoon, making it the most family-accessible of the three outdoor lightings.
Check chabaduptown.org for the current year’s program and time.
Aishel House Nightly Lightings (Texas Medical Center)
1955 University Blvd, Medical Center · All eight nights · Free
Aishel House provides housing and support for Jewish patients and families receiving treatment at the Texas Medical Center. During Hanukkah, they hold a community menorah lighting at 6:00 PM every night of the holiday — open to residents, patients, families and volunteers. It is a quieter gathering than the public events, and worth knowing if you have a connection to the Medical Center community. Details at aishelhouse.org.
Community celebrations and family events
Beth Yeshurun “Light Up the Night”
4525 Beechnut St, [Meyerland area](/areas/meyerland) · First night of Hanukkah
one of Houston’s largest Conservative synagogues throws one of the city’s biggest first-night parties, open to the community. The evening includes a Hanukkah dinner with latkes, indoor roller skating in Stein Hall, children’s crafts, candle lighting and a fireworks show in the parking lot. A concurrent Inclusive Hanukkah Program runs for all ages and abilities. Admission is charged; check bethyeshurun.org for tickets.
Children’s Museum Hanukkah Night
1500 Binz St, Museum District
The Children’s Museum Houston hosts an annual Hanukkah celebration during the holiday. The signature activity is a hands-on Olive Press Demo in the Science Station: children pit olives and press them into oil, recreating the miracle-oil tradition at the heart of the story. The evening also includes dreidel interactives, menorah suncatcher crafts and storytelling. Admission is included with regular museum entry. Check cmhouston.org for the current year’s date.
Houston Rockets “Hoops & Hanukkah” at Toyota Center
1510 Polk St, Downtown · During Hanukkah
Chabad Outreach partners with the Houston Rockets for an annual Hanukkah night game. The highlight is an on-court menorah lighting ceremony during the game, with a post-game free-throw opportunity on the court for ticket holders. Tickets go through the Rockets website using a Hanukkah promo code; the specific game and code change each year. This event is part of a national Chabad program that has brought menorah lightings to arenas across the country for decades. Details at chabadoutreach.org.
Jewish Federation “J Hanukkah Extravaganza”
JCC and community venues · During Hanukkah
The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston runs several family Hanukkah programs annually, including a free family Hanukkah event with games, crafts and holiday activities. The Federation also coordinates the PJ Library Family Chanukah Party for young families. Both are open to the wider community. Full calendar at houstonjewish.org.
Where to get latkes and sufganiyot in Houston
The Jewish delis and food guide covers Houston’s full roster of delis, bagel shops and kosher spots year-round. For Hanukkah specifically, one place stands out for holiday catering orders.
Kenny & Ziggy’s Annual Holiday Menu
1743 Post Oak Blvd, Galleria/Uptown · 72-hour advance order required
Houston’s most prominent Jewish-style deli publishes a Hanukkah catering menu every year: miniature potato latkes by the dozen, sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), stuffed cabbage, brisket, kasha varnishkas and full family dinner packages that feed up to eight people. Owner Ziggy Gruber is a third-generation New York deli man trained in Europe — this is not a novelty menu.
Orders require 72 hours advance notice. Check kennyandziggys.com for the current year’s menu and pickup windows.
Save this: Hanukkah week in Houston
- Order from Kenny & Ziggy’s at least 72 hours before Hanukkah starts.
- Night 1: City Hall lighting (ceremonial, evening) or Chabad Uptown Post Oak (family-friendly, afternoon) — they don’t overlap in time. Beth Yeshurun’s dinner and roller skating is also first night.
- Night 2: Galleria menorah lighting — combine with shopping or ice skating at the mall rink.
- Any night: Aishel House community lighting at 6:00 PM, Texas Medical Center.
- During the holiday: Check for the Rockets “Hoops & Hanukkah” game date and promo code — typically in the second half of Hanukkah.
- With kids: Book the Children’s Museum Hanukkah Night soon after it’s announced — the olive press demo fills up.
More December events in Houston
The Houston Christmas Events guide covers the full December calendar alongside Hanukkah. The Galleria ice rink and Discovery Green ice skating both run through the holiday season. For the full year-round event picture, Houston Festivals by Month is the running list. Other multicultural celebrations worth knowing: Diwali in Houston typically lands in October or November each year.
Last verified: October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When is Hanukkah in Houston?
Hanukkah falls on different dates each year because it follows the Hebrew calendar, typically landing somewhere between late November and late December. Check the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston (houstonjewish.org) or Chabad Outreach (chabadoutreach.org) for the current year’s exact first night.
Where is the public menorah lighting in Houston?
Chabad Outreach of Houston holds the city’s flagship menorah lighting at City Hall (901 Bagby St, downtown) on the first night of Hanukkah, with a police-escorted parade. A second public lighting happens at the Galleria on the second night, and Chabad of Uptown holds an event at Sofa Park on Post Oak, also on the first night.
Where can I get latkes in Houston during Hanukkah?
Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen (1743 Post Oak Blvd, Galleria area) publishes a Hanukkah catering menu each year with potato latkes by the dozen and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). Orders require 72 hours advance notice. The Jewish delis and food guide at /food-dining/jewish-delis-and-food-in-houston covers more year-round options.
Is the Galleria menorah lighting free?
Yes. The Galleria menorah lighting, held on the second night of Hanukkah, is free and open to the public. It takes place between Nordstrom and the indoor fountain inside the Galleria (5085 Westheimer Rd).
What is sufganiyot?
Sufganiyot (singular: sufganiyah) are deep-fried jelly doughnuts traditional to Hanukkah. Like latkes, they are fried in oil as a nod to the miracle oil that burned for eight days in the Temple. In Houston, Kenny & Ziggy’s makes them as part of their annual holiday menu.
Are there Hanukkah events in Houston for kids?
Yes. Beth Yeshurun’s “Light Up the Night” on the first night has indoor roller skating, latkes and parking-lot fireworks. The Children’s Museum Hanukkah Night features a hands-on olive press demo. Chabad Uptown’s Post Oak event includes a helicopter gelt drop, inflatables and crafts, typically in the early afternoon on the first night.