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2025 Union Square’s Chanukah Festival: 25-Foot-Tall Menorah: 4th Night

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - 4:45 pm | Cost: FREE
Union Square Plaza | 300 Powell St., San Francisco, CA

Free / Learn More

Union Square’s 2025 Chanukah Festival: 25-Foot-Tall Menorah (Dec. 14-22)

Lighting it up since 1975, San Francisco celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first giant public menorah outside Israel, a landmark Bill Graham project that went on to inspire thousands of menorahs around the world. This year’s eight-night festival brings music, community gatherings, and nightly ceremonies honoring leaders and traditions across the Jewish community.

Union Square Menorah Lighting Schedule 2025

December 14-22, 2025


Sunday, December 14

Bill Graham Menorah Day

  • 2:00-6:30 pm – 1st Lighting Ceremony
  • 2:30-4:30 pm – Dreidel House Children’s Crafts
  • 2:00 pm – Children’s Chanukah Show by Isaac Zones
  • 3:15 pm – Shamati Live
  • 4:30-6:30 pm – Bill Graham All Stars featuring Jordan Feinstein (keys/vocals, Jordan and the Ritual), Byron Rynes (guitar, Grateful for the Blues), Aaron Kaplan (guitar), Ben Bernstein (bass), Michael Bogart (trumpet, formerly Tower of Power), and Greg Errico (drums, original Sly and the Family Stone)
  • 5:00 pm – Menorah Lighting Ceremony honoring SF Mayor Daniel Lurie, Rabbi Brian Lurie, State Senator Scott Wiener, Felix Vulis and Family, David Graham, Danny Scher, Friends of Bill, dignitaries and special guests

Monday, December 15

  • 5:00 pm – 2nd Lighting Ceremony


Tuesday, December 16

  • 5:00 pm – 3rd Lighting Ceremony honoring the Klaber and Krug Family
  • 6:30-8:00 pm – Chanukah Party at NEMA, 8 10th Street
    email to RSVP. Chanukah giveaways, festive holiday food, and DJ Malki.

Wednesday, December 17

  • 5:00 pm – 4th Lighting Ceremony honoring the SFPD and the Dryan/Bernstein Family
  • 8:00 pm – YJP Chanukah LUX @ Madarae (Tickets)

Thursday, December 18

  • 4:00-7:00 pm – Thrive City event (RSVP and more details)
  • 8:00 pm – 5th Lighting Ceremony in Union Square

Friday, December 19

  • 2:30 pm – 6th Lighting Ceremony


Saturday, December 20

  • 8:00 pm – 7th Lighting Ceremony
    Includes a Musical Havdalah Ceremony with Rabbi Shmulik Friedman, honoring the YJP Community.


Sunday, December 21

  • 4:00 pm – Live Music
  • 5:00 pm – 8th Lighting Ceremony (Grand Finale) honoring the Russian Jewish Speaking Community and the wider Jewish Community
    Co Sponsor: Shalom Bayit
  • 6:30 pm – SF Menorah Car Parade
    Email to RSVP, launch site info, and to get a menorah for your car or ride aboard the Mitzvah Cable Car straight from Union Square!

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE
Categories: **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, Fairs & Festivals, Hanukkah, In Person, San Francisco, Tree + Holiday Lightings
Address: 300 Powell St., San Francisco, CA

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

9:00 am   Japanese Tea Garden’s Free Admission Hour (Golden Gate Park)  FREE*
*Free from 9-10am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; otherwise non-resident admission is $12 - $16 depending on the season. San Francisco residents are always free with valid ID
10:00 am   Union Square’s Festive “Winter Walk” 2025 (Dec. 13-24)  FREE
11:00 am   “Biblio Bistro” Farmers’ Market Cooking School | UN Plaza  FREE
11:00 am   Free Admission Day at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)  FREE
11:00 am   Reindeer Games: People’s Circus Theatre  $23
2:00 pm   Free Art Workshop: Sanctuary City Print Shop  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
4:30 pm   $1 Wing Wednesdays at Underdogs Cantina (SoMa)  FREE*
*No admission charge. Wings are $1 each.
6:00 pm   SF’s “One City One Book” Author Showcase: AI Pioneer Dr. Fei-Fei Li  FREE
6:00 pm   “Wiener Wednesday” Free Hot Dog Night at Rye (SF)  FREE*
*Every Wednesday, Free Hot Dogs with every Hornitos Cocktail purchase
6:00 pm   New for 2025 “Unsilent Night” SF’s Boombox Xmas Parade (Pacific Heights)  FREE
7:00 pm   Bird Ukulele Society: Free All-Levels Ukulele Class (SF)  FREE*
*All meetings are free but, donations are accepted and encouraged.
7:00 pm   “Hook-Up Horror Stories” Stand-Up Comedy Show (SF)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
7:00 pm   Black Hammer’s Free “Hopped Up” Trivia Night (Every Wednesday)  FREE
7:30 pm   “Holiday Gaiety” Adult Holiday Show w/ SF Symphony  $39*
*Starts at $39 (while supplies last) 
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