Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Bethesda: Tree, Menorah Lightings, More

BETHESDA, MD — There are plenty of things going on around Bethesda to celebrate the 2023 winter holidays.

Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, starts at sundown on Dec. 7, and ends at nightfall on Dec. 15. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the season.

Menorah lightings:

• Kentlands Tree & Menorah Lighting, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• National Menorah Lighting, Thursday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Hanukkah Celebration with the Chabad of Potomac, Westfield Montgomery Mall, Thursday, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m.

Christmas tree lightings:

• National Christmas Tree Lighting, Thursday, Nov. 30
• The Annual Jingle Jubilee at Chevy Chase Lake, Thursday, Nov. 30, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Rockville Town Square Tree Lighting, Friday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Gaithersburg 97th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 2, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Community events:

• Photos with Santa at Westfield Montgomery, now through Sunday, Dec. 24.
• Bethesda's Winter Wonderland, Saturday, Dec. 2, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair, Sunday, Dec. 3, noon to 4 p.m.
• Chanukah Fire Truck Parade, Rockville, Monday, Dec. 11, 6 p.m.
• A Candlelight Christmas at Strathmore, Friday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m.
• Cookie Decorating with Santa at Westfield Montgomery Mall, Saturday, Dec. 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens, open daily through Dec. 31
• Winter Lights Festival in Gaithersburg, open daily through Dec. 31
• Santa Claus is coming to Dave & Buster’s Silver Spring, Sunday, Dec. 10, 9 a.m.