6 Hanukkah Celebrations and Events in Charlotte 2025

Every year, several organizations present Hanukkah celebrations for the community in the Charlotte area. These events are  family friendly and most are free.

Events include Menorah lightings, festivals and other celebrations.

Some of the events include free food. Traditional foods to eat on Hanukkah are potato latkes (potato pancakes), doughnuts (especially jelly-filled) and chocolate gelt (chocolate candy.)

Hanukkah begins the evening of Sunday, December 14, 2025, and the final evening to celebrate is Sunday, December 21, 2025.

Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) is a Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt. It’s also known as the Festival of Lights. 

We’re adding events as they’re announced, so please keep checking back.

The central symbol of Hanukkah is the Menorah (or more specifically, a Hanukkiah), a candelabrum with 9 branches, each holding a candle.

On each of the eight nights, an additional candle is lit, so that on the first night, just one candle is lit, an on the last night, all eight are lit. The ninth branch holds a candle called the “shammash” (“helper” or “servant”) which is used to light the others, and also remains lit each night.