Holiday Fun in the Five Towns

The Holiday season is here and on Wednesday Hanukkah is coming to the Five Towns.

The fun will begin at 3:15 p.m. at 461 Central Avenue in Cedarhurst, at the corner of Central Avenue and Spruce Street (formerly the Gap), where the has rented the space for Hanukkah activities. This year the organization will host a 6-foot-tall candy menorah, which is a first for the community, so you are not going to want to miss it.  

There will be many different events each night, which promise to be fun for the entire family. You can make Hanukkah crafts, see a show, color cookies, make latkes, velvet art, sand art, candle making, face painting and much more.

Please note, there is a $5.00 per person minimum donation to the event, which will include one craft. Additional crafts are also available for purchase, if you would like to do more than one. Please bring wrapped (non-dairy) candy to fill the Candy Menorah.

Tickets will be sold at the door for one-hour time slots. 

Wednesday: 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., 8:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Sunday – Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Daily Fun (At 461 Central Ave.):

Wednesday: Maccabees and Music with Mr. Shabbos

Thursday: Magical Mirades with Magician Sam Jacobs

Friday: Dreidels N' Donuts, decorate a donut and dreidels for all children 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: Grand Dreidel Tournament! Prizes and chocolate coins for all participants from 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Sunday: Light up the Night - Join in the lighting of the tallest menorah in the 5 Towns at Cedarhurst Park, when children will receive glow necklaces.

Monday: Clowning around Hanukkah, balloon art for all children.

Tuesday: The story of Hanukkah comes to life, interactive story telling for all ages.

Wednesday: Hanukkah in Candyland - Join in to package the candy from the candy menorah for children in the hospital and receive a gift from Oh Nuts.

Grand Menorah Lighting at Park

The Chabad and Avi Feinberg will have the honor of leading the lighting on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Music, hot latkes and gifts will be available for children.

Lighting schedule (all days are at 6 p.m. except where noted):

Wednesday: Mr. Avi Feinberg

Thursday: Rabbi Moshe Weinberger

Friday (3:30 p.m.): Dr. Binyamin Muller

Saturday: David Friedman

Sunday: Benjamin Brafman

Monday: Dr. Jeffery Spivak

Tuesday: Uri Ottensosser

Wednesday: Mr. Cliff Erber

Breakfast With Santa

A Breakfast With Santa will be held at 's school cafeteria on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tickets will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the religious education office. The rectory will have tickets available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adult tickets are $5 and tickets for children under 12 are $3.

Non-Five Towns Events

The Village of Lynbrook has lined up some fun family events to also help get you in the holiday spirit.

Winter Celebration

The village's winter celebration will be held on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. on Atlantic Avenue. The tree- and menorah-lighting ceremonies will be held at 4:15 p.m. Stick around to visit the Santa House, enjoy some caroling, horse-drawn sleigh rides and much more.

Please bring a new unwrapped gift for a needy child

Blessing of the Creche

Blessing of the Creche will be held on Monday at 6:30 p.m., at the intersection of Merrick Road and Blake Avenue.

Holiday Crafts

The holiday crafts program will be held on Dec. 1, 8, 15, and 22 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lynbrook Recreation Center. This program is for children, ages 7-9, and costs $25 per person.

Performance of the Nutcracker

In the mood to see the traditional holiday classic the Nutcracker this year? Leggz Ltd. Dance Studios will be performing a full-length production for your enjoyment. This production includes the 70-piece South Shore Symphony Orchestra.

Times:  Friday – 7:30 p.m., Saturday – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday – 4:00 p.m.

Tickets: $24.00, $22.00 for seniors and kids under 12.

Place: 12 South Side High School, 140 Shepherd Street, Rockville Centre.

For more information and tickets call: (516) 766-7171

Valley Stream is also ready to bring some Holiday cheer to the town. 

The traditional Station Green Lighting of the Menorah will be held on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. You can join in with the Congregation Beth Shalom in the lighting of the Menorah for the Holiday Season. 

Location: Station Green Plaza (Fireman's Memorial) Corner of Sunrise Highway and S. Franklin Avenue at the Valley Stream Railroad Station.

Saturday, Dec. 18, at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Join in the Holiday Tree Lighting. Santa will be stopping by the administration building shortly after 5:00 p.m. Santa will be sticking around to meet all the children until 7:00 p.m., when it's time for him to head on back home to the North Pole. There will be cookies and juice provided by the board of trustees and the recreation department. Come early to see and hear the Central High School Tri-M Choral Society who will be singing Christmas Carols.

Location:  A J Hendrickson Park, Administration Building – West Path, Entrance on West Merrick Road. 123 South Central Avenue, Valley Stream. For more information call (516) 825-8570.