Hanukkah 2024 in Portland

Hanukkah is one of the “big four” holidays in winter, along with Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Yule/Solstice. And this year it starts the evening of December 25, an unusual timing with Christmas. We also know it as the Festival of Lights (read more about its origins), with the menorah that is lit for eight nights, and its accompaniments: the dreidel (on which its four sides is written “a great miracle happened there”), gelt (chocolate money), and foods cooked in oil, like latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts).

Here are places where you can enjoy Hanukkah food, drink, and celebration in Portland.

Hanukkah Menorah Lightings

There are two main public menorah lightings this year: one in Pioneer Courthouse Square, and one in Multnomah Village.

Portland’s Public Menorah

From the evening of Wednesday, December 25 and for a total of eight nights, join Portland’s Jewish community at dusk as they light Portland’s public menorah.

701 SW 6th Avenue, Portland

Multnomah Village Menorah

This will be the first time a public menorah lighting will happen in Multnomah Village. Head there on Sunday, December 29 from 2pm to 5pm to celebrate the Festival of lights. As the organizers say, “The event hopes to have the menorah lighting spread more light into the world for everyone.” There are two parts to the event (copy from the organizers):

• 2pm. Festivities begin at The Butterfly Effect Art Studio (7829 SW Capitol Highway) where people can paint ceramic Judaica, as well as a large selection of other pieces starting at $10 each and sample delicious festive Hanukkah foods, such as potato latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) while you paint. A klezmer band will play while you nosh and paint!
• 3:45pm. Attendees head to the traffic triangle on SW Capitol Hwy at SW 35 Avenue where Rabbi Motti Wilhelm of Chabad of Portland will share some inspirational words towards peace for all, the music will play, and we will light candles for the fourth night of Hanukkah!

Multiple locations. Multnomah Neighborhood Association website

Additional Hanukkah Events Around Town

The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland has a comprehensive listing of Hanukkah events around the city, which you can find on their website. Below are a couple of note that look particularly open and fun.

Light Up the Night

Head to Leikam Brewing, Portland’s own kosher brewery, for Light Up The Night in Portland! It’s billed a an “epic Hanukkah dance party” and takes place on Saturday, December 28. And it’s free to enter! From the organizers:

“Get ready to dance the night away as we kick off an unforgettable evening featuring a talk on the dreidel’s mysterious history, facilitated dreidel games, communal Havdalah and Menorah lighting, followed by an epic dance party with DJs fCD and Bambi spinning global beats from Mediterranean disco to electro-klezmer. Don your festive jumpsuit/ugly sweater, bring your light-up accessories, and enjoy specialty Hanukkah cocktails.

“Come immerse in a celebratory evening where tradition meets groove, sacred meets silly, and ritual and revelry unite under the glow of holiday candles! Bartenders will be standing by with specialty Hanukkah-themed cocktails and mocktails for purchase.”

Here’s the schedule. Children (under 18) are welcome until 9pm:

• 6pm to 6:30pm. “A History of the Dreidel & the Spirituality of Jewish Gaming,” A Talk by Dr. Yosef Rosen, Director of Jewish Life & Learning at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland.
• 6:30pm to 7pm. Drinks and dreidel games.
• 7pm to 7:15pm. Havdalah & Menorah lighting.
• 7:15pm to 10:30pm. Dance party (Sets by fCD & Bambi).

5812 E Burnside Street, Portland. Leikam Beer website

TischPDX

Join TischPDX for a free Hanukkah party at the Eastside Jewish Commons on Friday, December 27 at 6pm to enjoy the holiday of lights with an array of Jewish cultures. This is an all-ages, family-friendly event. Enjoy a variety of Hanukkah foods, drinks, and games, “all to showcase the wide spectrum of ways we celebrate the 8 nights of light!”

Appetizers, desserts, and drinks will be available. RSVP here and let them know if you have any dietary needs! This is a free event.

2420 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland. Eastside Jewish Commons website

Food-Focused Hanukkah

What’s Hanukkah without something tasty to eat? Latkes and sufganiyot are the most popular items in the US for the holiday, but there’s so much more to enjoy!

Kachka

Kachka is hosting a Latke Party from Thursday, December 26th to Monday, December 30 and Wednesday and Thursday, January 1 and 2. $95 per person.

You’ll get a platter of twelve crispy potato draniki (a traditional Ukranian latke) with an assortment of toppings. AND itincludes a dreidel (with instructions on how to play), gelt (chocolate money). “Just right for a meal for two or a nosh for four.” More specifically, the spread contains:

• 12 crispy potato cakes
• Maitake mushroom gravy
• Salmon Roe
• Eggplant Sunflower Seed Mutabol
• Smoked whitefish salad
• Beet & horseradish cured salmon
• Smetana
• Chives
• Fenugreek Apple Butter
• Winter Salad
• Add-ons include house smoked brisket, Tsar Nicolai Estate caviar, and pishki with red currant curd (Russian donuts)

Reserve via OpenTable.

960 SE 11th Avenue, Portland. Kachka website

Lepage Food & Drinks

You can order Hanukkah holiday foods now from Lepage Food & Drinks—below are your options:

Order on the Lepage Food and Drinks website. Pick up on Monday, December 23 in Northeast Portland (Address given after ordering).

Zupan’s

Zupan’s has plenty of Hanukkah yums for the holiday. Order now for pickup between Tuesday, December 24 and Wednesday, January 1. Ordering closes on December 23 at 5pm. Latkes, applesauce, and matzah ball soup are all options, but also sweet noodle kugel, roast salmon, chopped liver, and rugelach are also available, among other things.

Order on the Zupan’s website.

2340 W Burnside Street and 7221 S Macadam Avenue in Portland; 16380 Boones Ferry Road, Lake Oswego. Zupans website.

Updated December 22, 2024.