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

Union Square’s 2024 Chanukah Festival: 25-Foot-Tall Menorah: Final Night

Wednesday, January 1, 2025 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE
Union Square Park | Geary and Powell, San Francisco, CA

Free / Learn More

Union Square’s 2024 Chanukah Festival: 25-Foot-Tall Menorah (Dec. 25-Jan 2)

Lighting it up since 1975! This is our 49th Year!  The First Giant Public Menorah outside of Israel has inspired thousands of Menorahs around the world!

Chanukah In Union Square Dec 25th – Jan 2nd

  • The 1st Lighting: Wednesday, Dec 25th
  • Bill Graham Menorah Day is Sunday, Dec 29th!

Union Square Menorah Lighting Schedule:
December 25th through January 2nd 2024 / 5785 Schedule

Wednesday, December 25th
3:30 pm Gathering & Live Music
5:00 pm 1st Lighting Ceremony

Thursday, December 26th
5:00 pm 2nd Lighting Ceremony

Friday, December 27th
2:30 pm 3rd Lighting Ceremony

Saturday, December 28th
8:30 pm 4th Lighting Ceremony

Sunday, December 29th 
“Bill Graham Menorah Day”
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm: 5th Lighting Ceremony
2:00-4:45 pm: Dreidel House Kids Crafts
2:00 pm: Children’s Entertainment
3:00 pm: Live Music TBA
4:45 pm: Menorah Lighting Ceremony honoring George Zimmer, Friends of Bill, dignitaries and special guests!
🎉 FREE EVENT!
4:30 pm Gathering & Music
5:00 pm 5th Lighting Ceremony

Monday, December 30th
5:00 pm 6th Lighting Ceremony

Tuesday, December 31st
5:00 pm 7th Lighting Ceremony

Wednesday, January 1st
4:00 p.m. Gathering & *Live Music*
5:00 pm 8th Lighting Ceremony honoring the Russian Speaking Jewish Community featuring live music

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

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

7:30 am   Free Admission Day at SF Botanical Garden for New Year’s Day 2025  FREE*
*Free on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and daily from 7:30-9 am
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   SF’s Holiday Ice Skating Session at Union Square (New Year’s Day)  $20*
*Tickets are $20 with skate rental included in the cost of admission
10:00 am   “Pay What You Can” Wednesday at SF’s Museum of Craft and Design  FREE*
*Pay What You Can. Visitors are welcome to pay what they can every Wednesday
10:30 am   New Year’s Day 2025 World Naked Bike Ride + Polar Plunge (SF)  FREE
11:00 am   2025 New Year’s Day “Hatsumode” Japanese Shrine Visit (SF)  FREE
11:00 am   Free Admission Day at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)  FREE
11:00 am   SF’s GLBT History Museum: Free First Wednesday  FREE*
*Free tickets are not available for reservation online on free days; all visitors will be welcomed to the museum as long as there is capacity on a first-come, first-served basis.
12:00 pm   New Year’s (& Final) Day 2025 at San Jose’s “Christmas in the Park”  FREE*
*Free, but donations are accepted
12:00 pm   New Year’s Day Ice Skating at San Jose’s “Downtown Ice”  $21*
*$21 includes skate rentals
2:00 pm   New Year’s Day Collaborative Huge Art at SF’s Ocean Beach (2024)  FREE*
*donations welcome, not required
2:30 pm   SF’s New Year’s Day 2025 Polar Bear Ice Skate (Union Square)  FREE*
*Free to watch; $25 to skate (Includes Skate Rental)
4:30 pm   New Year’s Day at Oakland Zoo’s “Glowfari” 2024 Lights Festival  $26.50*
*Adult admission tickets start at $26.50; The Zoo is using dynamic pricing, so ticket prices will vary based on date and time and purchase date. Buy early. Tickets do sell out in advance.
5:00 pm   SF’s “Photosynthesis” Light Show (Conservatory of Flowers)  FREE*
*Free to watch from outside the building.
5:00 pm   2024 Pier 39 New Year’s Day Christmas Tree Lighting Show  FREE
7:00 pm   Black Hammer’s Free “Hopped Up” Trivia Night (Every Wednesday)  FREE
7:00 pm   “Comedians with Criminal Records” Live in SF (7p + 8:45p)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP for first 50 people. Donations appreciatied
7:30 pm   “Wolfman Jeff Trivia” Night at SF’s Willkommen Beer Garden (Every Wednesday)  FREE
8:00 pm   $2 Taco Night + Happy Hour Comedy at Skylark (SF)  FREE*
*RSVP Required. 2 drink minimum. 21+
< Tuesday, December 31 Thursday, January 2 >