Home » **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, Fairs & Festivals, Hanukkah, In Person, San Francisco, Tree + Holiday Lightings

2025 Union Square’s Chanukah Festival: 25-Foot-Tall Menorah: 6th Night

Friday, December 19, 2025 - 2:30 pm | Cost: FREE
NEMA – SF Luxury Apartments | 8 10th St, San Francisco, CAUnion Square Park | Geary and Powell, 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: Geary and Powell, San Francisco, CA

Friday, December 19, 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   Help Decorate SF’s First Rose Parade Float in Nearly 50 Years (Dec. 19-21)  FREE
11:00 am   “Pay-What-You-Can” Taco Day at SF’s Tato (Every Friday)  FREE*
*Every Friday pay anywhere from $0 up to $10. When a customer pays the full price of $10, TATO will give a free meal to someone in need in The City. Please note promotion might end at any time
12:00 pm   SF’s New “Fairmont Holiday Rooftop Faire” w/ Epic City Views (Dec. 19-21)  FREE
2:00 pm   Crazy Shades of Winter: An LGBTQ+ and Allies Holiday Art Show (Berkeley)  $5
5:00 pm   $1 Drink Fridays: “Battle of the Decades” DJ Party (North Beach)  FREE*
*Free admission with RSVP on Eventbrite
5:00 pm   Holiday Night Market w/ CASE (SF)  FREE
5:00 pm   “Bat Show 3.0” Art Holiday Pop-Up Party w/ Punk Rock Karaoke (111 Minna Gallery)  FREE
5:00 pm   Inner Sunset Winter Solstice Community Art Walk (SF)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP, and you'll receive updates and a link to the Google map of participating businesses.
5:00 pm   Winter Solstice Inner Sunset Art Walk (2025)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
6:00 pm   Floating Cinema: Outdoor Movies While Sailing on the Bay (SF)  $50*
*includes cruise, movie, popcorn and non-alcoholic hot drinks (cash bar is available for other drinks)
6:00 pm   A Sweet Nothing Holigay Party + Drag Bingo (Emeryville)  FREE
6:00 pm   Holiday Art-Making in The Mission: Craft Festive Gifts + BYOB (SF)  $5*
*This is sliding scale donation event. To participate, we ask that you contribute $5-25 to our organization. Thanks for your support!
6:30 pm   “Carols + Cocoa” Free Holiday Cheer Night on Balboa St. (Outer Richmond)  FREE*
*FREE Cocoa and cookies
7:00 pm   San Francisco POC Comedy Night (Fridays & Saturdays)  FREE*
*Use secret code FUNCHEAP for comp tickets, otherwise, $10 off with secret code FUNCHEAP
7:00 pm   Comedy Showcase at Bazaar Café w/ Danny Dechi  FREE*
*Free
7:00 pm   Free “Rush Hour Comedy Night” Friday Night (San Francisco)  FREE*
*RSVP Required
7:00 pm   Laugh GPT: SF’s First AI-Powered Stand-up Comedy Show (2025)  FREE*
*Use secret code HUMAN for comp tickets, otherwise, $10 off with secret code FUNCHEAP
7:00 pm   SF’s HellaSecret “Crazy Funny Asians” Friday Night Comedy Showcase (7p + 9p)  FREE*
*Free tickets, but RSVP Required. Donations ($5-$10) greatly appreciated. Otherwise, $15 adv / $20 door tickets also available
7:00 pm   FREE: Oakland’s HellaSecret Comedy & Cocktail Night 2024 (7p + 9p Shows)  FREE*
*Limited free tickets with code FUNCHEAP (donations appreciated). Otherwise use code FUNCHEAP5 for $5 off early bird and general admission tickets
7:00 pm   Special Taping: Viral Hit ‘The Writing on the Stall’ (SF)  $30
7:30 pm   “Home Alone” Film with Live Orchestra by the SF Symphony  $49.50*
*Ticket starts at $49.50 (while supplies last) | Kids’ Tickets Half Off!
8:00 pm   Bad Art: Creative Misery Loves Comedy  $15*
*$15 online; $20 at the door
8:00 pm   $5 Off: “The Confessional” SF’s Wild “Sins & Secrets” Improv Comedy Show  $11.94*
*$5 off with secret code FUNCHEAP (normally $17.12) No added ticketing fees. No Drink Minimum
8:00 pm   Dragoon’s Car Club Presents: “Gooneyes” Hot Rod Holiday Party  FREE*
*Entry is Free- 1 drink minimum
8:00 pm   “The Stoner Comedy Jam” Friday Nights (SF)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP (21+ with Valid ID) - One item minimum purchase per person required
8:00 pm   San Jose Bike Party  FREE*
*Meet at 7:30 pm, roll at 8 pm.
8:30 pm   SF’s “Roots Music Machine” w/ Sam Bettens (K’s Choice) at Plough & Stars  $10*
*$10-$15 sliding scale at the door
9:00 pm   $5 Off: “Your Fucked Up Relationship” Live in SF (Every Friday & Saturday)  $16.37*
*$5 off with secret code FUNCHEAP (normally $21.49) No added ticketing fees. No Drink Minimum
9:30 pm   Daft Punk Night – DNA Lounge  $12*
*Discount early bird tickets
10:15 pm   $5 Off: “The Ritual” Comedy Show in The Mission (SF)  $12.16*
*FUNCHEAP discount code for $5 off
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