Holiday Lights, Festivals And Celebrations Fill The Hamden Calendar

HAMDEN, CT — With holiday festivities filling the December calendar, the problem may be deciding which events in Hamden to attend.

There are plenty of holiday light shows, parades, fairs and festivals to attend in the Stratford area. Here are some to consider:

Hamden Christmas Tree Lighting: Wednesday, Dec. 10. The Christmas Tree Lighting event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Town Center Park. The event will feature holiday songs, hot cocoa, caroling, Christmas tree lighting and Santa’s arrival by firetruck.

Silverbells Winter Workshop: Friday, Dec. 12, at Miller Cultural Center, 2901 Dixwell Ave. The event will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. At 5 p.m., there will be Cookies and Crafts with Claus (with light refreshments) and a Gingerbread House Workshop at 5:30 p.m. (there is limited space and registration is $5).

Hanukkah Family Night: Wednesday, Dec. 17. The event is from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Whitney Center Cultural Arts Center, 200 Leeder Hill Drive. The night features games, singing, and fun.

Hamden's Kwanzaa Celebration: Friday, Dec. 6. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Thornton Wilder Hall. There will be music, food, and activities for the whole family.

For more local events, visit the Hamden Patch Events Calendar here.

As you plan your calendar, here are some key dates to consider:

• Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods, begins at sundown on Dec. 14 and continues until sundown on Dec. 22. The dates vary every year.
• Christmas, of course, is always Dec. 25.
• Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration primarily held in the United States to honor African heritage and African-American culture, is observed from Dec. 26-Jan. 1, culminating with gift-giving and a lavish feast. The dates of this holiday do not change.