UPDATED: The Wednesday December 21 event location and time changed!
Check out these three local Hands-On Hanukkah events in our area. All of these events are totally free and look like a great ways to celebrate the Festival of Lights.
The events will include activities like origami dreidel-making, Hanukkah story time, and calendar decorating featuring Elmo, Ernie, and other Muppet friends from Shalom Sesame! There will also be free raffles for families to win lots of exciting prizes. The goal of these events, part of a nation-wide campaign by The Jewish Outreach Institute, is for families to learn more about Hanukkah traditions and celebrate this beautiful winter holiday.
Sunday December 11 at Tyson’s
Hands-On Hanukkah (Free Family Event)
Sunday, December 11th 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Barnes & Noble at Tyson’s Corner Mall, McLean, VA
Hosted by the JCC of Northern Virginia
Sunday December 18 at The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Chevy Chase
Hands-On Hanukkah (Free Family Event)
Sunday, December 18th 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Chevy Chase, MD.
Hosted by B’Nai Tzedek
Wednesday December 21 at The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Chevy Chase
Wednesday, December 21st from 1PM to 4PM
The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Chevy Chase, MD.
Hosted by the Washington Hebrew Congregation
Head to the kid-tastic St. John the Evangelist Christmas Bazaar in Silver Spring this weekend!
Did I mention it’s totally free? And that Reptiles Alive will be there on Saturday at 11am? And the incredible local musician Sasha Bondarev will be performing with singers from his CD Sand Castle at 1pm on Saturday, as well as 11:30am on Sunday? And amongst these super shows, you and your kids can
- Shop for cool, artisan gifts featuring oodles of fabulous vendors
- Grab a yummy, reasonably-priced, kid-friendly lunch
- The kids can play games in the game room and make crafts
- Face painting!
- Peruse the on-site antique shop, The Treasure Trove
- Shop for books at rock bottom prices in the Book Shop
The Bazaar also has an Adult’s Only Night on Friday night November 12 from 6pm-9pm. There they’ll have delicious Italian food from Vicino Restaurante Italiano in Silver Spring available at discounted prices for dinner purchase, wine and beer and kid-free shopping.
The St. John’s Christmas 
Bazaar is where I get tons of my holiday shopping done for beautiful gifts that don’t cost me a bundle. It’s frugal-finds heaven! There are loads of vendors selling handmade handbags, hair bows, kids’ gifts, jewelry, candles, infused olive oils, stitchery, creative Christmas decorations priced waaaaay less than Smith and Hawken, and more. Other favorite areas of the bazaar are the Treasure Trove – antiques goods for thrift store prices – and the used book sale is chock full of finds for your family library.
And I always come hungry all days, because there’s breakfast, lunch, drinks, baked goods and treats! Hope to see you there!
St. John’s Christmas Bazaar
Friday November 11, Saturday November 12 and Sunday November 13
Adult Night Friday 6-9pm
Family Fun on Saturday 9am-4:30pm and Sunday 9am-2pm
10201 Woodland Avenue (in the School Auditorium)
Located right behind St. John the Evangelist Church
at 10103 Georgia Avenue at the intersection of August Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20902 blocks from the Forest Glen Metro
Charlie having a blast at the Bazaar
The PBS Kids pavilion at the National Book Festival will be located on the National Mall near 10th Street and the Smithsonian Castle.
The National Book Festival is completely free and open to everyone. Learn more!
