This year, area families will have a new opportunity to celebrate Chanukah with the wider northern Virginia community. From December 14 to 25, Chabad at Tysons is sponsoring 'Chanukah Wonderland,' where families can play computer games, design cards and watch puppet shows in honor of the Festival of Lights.
The inaugural, 12-day event allows Jewish families to commemorate Chanukah without having to travel to Maryland or the District. Besides scheduled activities, 'Chanukah Wonderland' will also have a store, a cafe serving kosher food and ongoing exhibits.
"There's nothing really in the area for kids to do," explained Rabbi Levi Deitch, who is organizing the event.
Admission is free, and the event will be held at Tysons Plaza Center, 8032 Leesburg Pike in Vienna. For more information, call 703-356-3451, or e-mail RabbiLeviD@aol.com.
Unless otherwise noted, 'Chanukah Wonderland' will be open Sunday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday, 10 a.m. to noon.
Chanukah, or the Jewish Festival of Lights, commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. The holiday lasts eight days, to signify the miracle that occurred when lighting the N'er Tamid, or the eternal light, in the temple. The oil lamp had only one day's worth of oil, yet the oil stayed lit for eight days.
--By Joanna Franco
Schedule of Events
Sunday Dec. 14th:
10:30 a.m. Olive Oil Press
12:30 p.m. Kaydee Puppets
2:30 p.m. Chocolate Draidel Pops
4:30 p.m. Wax Candle Dipping
6:00 p.m. Make your own latkes and doughnuts
Monday Dec. 15th:
10:30 a.m. Color-Me-Chanukah
3:00 p.m. Edible Menorahs
6:00 p.m. Chanukah sand art
Tuesday Dec. 16th:
10:30 a.m. Funky Chanukah Placemats
6:30 p.m. Decoupage Latke Plate
Wednesday Dec. 17th:
10:30 a.m. Chanukah Story Hour
6:00 a.m. Edible Menorahs
Thursday Dec. 18th:
10:30 a.m. Paint Your own Wooden Draidel
4:30 p.m. Chanukah Window Sparklers
Friday Dec. 19th:
10:30 p.m. Bake Me Chanukah: Challah Baking
Saturday Night Dec. 20th:
Wonderland opens 7 p.m.
Grand Menorah Lighting ceremony
Live music, free, hot latkes and doughnuts
Sunday Dec. 21st:
10:30a.m. Olive Oil press
12:30 p.m. Help Build a 6-foot LEGO Menorah
2:30 p.m. Make your Own Latkah
3:30 p.m. Comedy and Magic Show!
Monday Dec. 22nd:
10:30 a.m. Chanukah Sand Art
12:30 p.m. Papercutting for Chanukah cards
3:30 p.m. Chanukah Shrinky Dinks
6:00 p.m. Chocolate Draidel Pops
Tuesday Dec. 23nd:
10:30 a.m. Chanukah Key Chains
12:30 p.m. Decorate Chanukah "Gelt" Bags
3:30 p.m. Decorate Latkah Plate
Wednesday Dec 24th:
10:30 a.m. Chanukah bath buddies
12:30 p.m. Paint your own wooden draidel
3:30 p.m. Chanuka Mosaics
6:00 p.m. Chanukah Window Sparklers
Thursday Dec. 25th:
All-Day Chanukah Carnival
10:30-4:00 p.m.