Chanukah 2016 starts on the evening of 24th December until the last day on 1st January. What’s more…the children will
be off school as well so here is a list of some really fun events and ideas of what you could do with them over that week!
1.Shows!!
Click here to see the LoveLoveIsrael guide to shows for adults and children in December!
2. Make some Doughnuts or get creative with food!
Saidels Artisan Baking Institute run a fantastic doughnut workshop which is great for all ages. Book in soon before spaces fill up!
You can also book in for the Roladin workshop if you are quick enough – this is aimed at ages 5-10 years. They don’t allow children under 5.
Kiftzuba
Also check out Pat Bamelach workshops over the chanukah period.
And in Raanana these new creative art workshops designing candles, art with fruit and veg, or cake decorating may be what you are looking for and not all require adults to be there so that you can get some work done while the kids are entertained! There are a few workshops to choose from so book up now…!
At Galita by Tzuba you can make chocolate in the spirit of Chanukah. At 16:45, both Galita and Kiftzuba ticket holders will be invited to join a special march suitable for all ages with real flame torches, and every child will receive a little gift from Kiftzi as well as yummy doughnuts at a combined chanukah lighting.
3. Experience the Old City during Chanukah!
ScaVentures will be running some fantastic Scavenger hunts during Chanukah – in the old city and elsewhere. Apart from private groups that you can arrange any day of Chanukah, they will be running open groups for anyone to join: 23rd Dec at 9:30am – Old City Scavenger Hunt, 26th Dec at 5:15pm – Candlelit ScaVenture, 27th Dec at 9:30am – Tel Aviv Scavenger Hunt, 28th Dec at 10:00am – Old City Scavenger Hunt.
Free tours of the old city – including all the famous sites, joining in the public lighting ceremony and hopefully meeting some of the lovely people who live in the old city. More details can be found on the Old City website. Or call *4987. Tours will run 24-29th December 16:00-18:00.
Creative activities in the old city – running 26-29th December, 10:30, 12:00 and 14:00. Cost is 20 shekel per child, 10 shekel per adult. Family ticket 145 shekel includes entrance to all the old city sites. More details can be found on the Old City website. Or call *4987.
Other tours include, touring new and old homes in the old city and lighting candles with the owners, and archaeological tours.
4. Workshops
Some of LoveLoveIsrael’s most popular workshops will be running over Chanukah. What makes these so great is that many of them work for all ages and they always make for fantastic family bonding time and you always come back with something great that you have made yourselves.
Click here for LoveLoveIsrael’s full list of workshops. You need to book in advance!
There will be some stunning workshops here over Chanukah. Make unique chanukiot or scented candles, or latkes using spices you have hand picked and ground! 24.12.16-01.01.17. Entrance is free but some of the crafts have a nominal charge.
Right where the Chanukah story happened Chevel Modiin is running all sorts of great events, many of which are free. Events include a Macabbee treasure hunt, making unique candles, lantern tours of Ben Shemen forest, archaeological tours, a glimpse into the world of monkeys and many other crafts and activities. See the full list here (in hebrew)
Nothing to do with Chanukah really but the Kinneret region is going bananas from 22nd-31st December! There will be a Banana race, with 3 different routes, a King of the Poike competition and many restaurants including the well known Roberg Restaurant will add special banana themed dishes to their menus. At Galita chocolate factory there will be a special workshop just or adults making chocolate bananas and for more info click here or check out the bananas facebook page!
7. Museums
All around Israel the museums are running special events for Chanukah week.
In Jerusalem’s Science Museum, the December theme is LIGHT. They are running FREE ‘White Nights’ every Thursday 21:00-1:00 in December with special programs offered for adults and youth which include the new exhibit – Light outside the box, a light box workshop, tours, gallery-talks and more. There will be an amazing FIRE demonstration with audience involvement. During the whole week of Chanukah all children under age 18 go FREE as well! Special events include a fire demonstration, making light boxes, a magic gloves workshop (showing how sunlight can change colors – you get to make your own gloves to take home!), a flashlight workshop, dreidel illusion table and guided tours of the Games in Light and Shadow exhibit. Just get there as early as you can to avoid the crowds!
Other museums worth checking out over Chanukah are Madatech in Haifa, Carasso Museum in beer Sheva, Mahuti Museum in Tel Aviv, Technoda in Hadera, Ein Yael hands on museum in Jerusalem, Hamachsan Shel Saba in Beit Meir (please support this fantastic small museum where fires have damaged a lot of the town).
8. National Heritage week
Special interactive events are being run to commemorate National Heritage week over Chanukah at 25 heritage sites across Israel. It will be possible to hear and experience some of the stories with many exciting activities including banners, letters and symbols that made history, excursions into the past, quizzes from a different time, detective games and deciphering codes, a spectacular Menorah exhibit and surprising archaeological finds. Together, all the findings, every letter, every site and every picture sketch out the history of our country. Click here for a full list of the events. Activities are at no extra cost apart from admission.
Have a great Chanukah!
Please tell us what you end up doing
and join our amazing Facebook group to follow more ideas
and ask your questions about things to do in Israel!
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