Celebrate Hanukkah Across Howard County With Ice Skating, Menorah Lightings

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The eight-day Jewish celebration, Hanukkah, starts Dec. 14 and runs through Dec. 22 this year. Residents will have numerous ways to immerse themselves in this year's festival of lights celebrations, which marks 40 years of Chabad and 39 years of public menorah lightings.

The annual Chanukah on Ice at Color Burst Park will be Dec. 14, a community gathering featuring ice skating, music, fresh doughnuts, a fire show and a public menorah lighting. New this year is the Can-Norah — a menorah built entirely out of canned food, which will be donated to a local food bank following the event.

Ice skating starts at 4:15 p.m. with the menorah lighting program starting at 5 p.m. The fire show begins at 5:20 p.m. RSVP here.

"We average 200 attendees at Chanukah on Ice," Rabbi Yanky Baron told Patch. "Guests enjoy the ice skating, latkes and doughnuts. In past years, we had a menorah made of ice and a chocolate bar menorah."

Chabad of Ellicott City also will host the Main Street Chanukah Celebration and menorah lighting at the log cabin in Ellicott City, 8358 Frederick Road, on Dec. 16, featuring a community menorah lighting and holiday program. People can RSVP for this event here.

In Howard County, there are now 12 public menorahs standing across the community — more than ever before, leaders say.

"Marking 40 years of Chabad in Howard County and nearly four decades of public menorah lightings is a reminder of how deeply the message of Chanukah has become woven into our community,” Baron said. “The menorah’s light represents the freedom of the human spirit and the triumph of good over darkness.”

There are two Chanukah Houses in Howard County that light up for the season. River Hill Chanukah House is located at 6424 Empty Song Road in Columbia and the Ellicott City Chanukah House is located at 9785 MD-99 in Ellicott City.

Other Hanukkah events across Howard County include:

● Inclusive Chanukah Celebration – Chabad Ellicott City - Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.
● Ellicott City 50+ Center Chanukah Party – Dec. 15 at 11 a.m.
● River Hill Menorah Parade & Lighting – Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.
● Turf Valley Menorah Lighting – Dec. 17 at 6 p.m.
● Dorsey Search Menorah Lighting – Dec. 18 at 6 p.m.
● Morningside House Chanukah Celebration – Dec. 18 at 6:45 p.m.
● Chanukah Strikes – Lucky Strike Columbia – Dec. 18 at 8 p.m.
● Hickory Ridge Menorah Lighting & Kids Program – Dec. 21 at 10:30 a.m.
● Gelt Drop & Menorah Lighting – Laurel Branch Library – Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.

For more information and a full list of events, visit www.howardcountychanukah.com.