Plenty of Hanukkah Fun in the Park

Looking to celebrate Hanukkah with something for the whole family? In St. Louis Park, two events fit the bill perfectly.

Tonight, the Minneapolis Jewish community group Chabad Lubavitch — which also put up a 30-foot tall menorah on Minnetonka Boulevard near Highway 100 that's worth checking out — is holding an annual menorah lighting event in St. Louis Park that promises to be kid-friendly. The event, which will be at the , will feature a large, plastic-tube menorah that kids can fill with jellybeans beginning at 5:15pm. Rabbi Mordechai Grossbaum said 150 pounds of jellybeans will fill the menorah before it is lit at 6:15pm.

"It should be interesting," Grossbaum said with a chuckle.

It wouldn't be the first interesting menorah lighting event in Chabad Lubavitch's history. In what has been about 15 years of holding such events, Grossbaum said various approaches have been taken, including using an ice sculpture menorah one year when the event was held outside.

This year's much warmer event will be inside the Byerly's and will feature other kids activities in addition to the jellybean menorah. The event is free.

On Sunday, the is also holding a family-friendly Hanukkah event. From 3:30 to 5pm, the center will be showing Chanukah: The Missing Menorah, which is part of the Shalom Sesame series. Along with the movie presentation, the center will offer crafts, snacks and candle lighting to kids of all ages.

Jill Madsen, Sabes' early childhood learning director, said the movie presentation is especially neat because more than 100 Jewish community centers around the world will also be showing the movie during the holiday.

"It's nice to be able to do something coinciding with other organizations around the world," Madsen said.

The program is free, but attendees are asked to RSVP by contacting Madsen at jmadsen@sabesjcc.org or 952-381-3430.

Looking for more information about Hanukkah, or for more ways to celebrate? Rabbi Grossbaum recommends this site as your one-stop shop.