Hanukkah in Harford County 2026: Bel Air Menorah Lighting and Chanukah Events
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. Harford County's public menorah lighting, Chanukah at the Park, is Sunday, December 6 at 5:45 PM in Shamrock Park in downtown Bel Air. It's free. Harford Chabad also hosts Chanukah events for families, teens and adults from Dec 3 to Dec 12.
When is Hanukkah 2026?
Hanukkah lasts eight nights. In 2026, the first candle is lit on the evening of Friday, December 4. The last candle is lit on Friday, December 11, and the holiday ends Saturday, December 12.
Here are the candle-lighting times for Bel Air, per MyShul:
| Night | Date | Light candles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri, Dec 4 | 4:23 PM (before Shabbat candles) |
| 2 | Sat, Dec 5 | 5:25 PM (after Shabbat ends) |
| 3 to 7 | Sun, Dec 6 to Thu, Dec 10 | 5:25 PM |
| 8 | Fri, Dec 11 | 4:23 PM (before Shabbat candles) |
Customs differ, so follow your own family or rabbi.
Chanukah at the Park: Bel Air's public menorah lighting
This is the big one for the whole community.
- When: Sunday, December 6, 2026, 5:45 PM to 6:45 PM
- Where: Shamrock Park, Lee Way and Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014
- Cost: Free
- Host: Harford Chabad
The Town of Bel Air's holiday calendar calls it "an open air get together and a public display of light and warmth" as the community lights the menorah together. See the Christmas in Bel Air listing. Harford Chabad takes RSVPs on its Chanukah events page.
Harford Chabad's 2026 Chanukah events
Harford Chabad posted 8 events from December 3 to December 12. Confirm before you go: only Harford Chabad lists most of these, and the page doesn't give a place for each one. RSVP to get the location.
| Date | Event | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Dec 3 | Chanukah 101 | 7:30 PM | Not listed |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Latkes and Vodka | 7:00 PM | Not listed |
| Sun, Dec 6 | Chanukah at the Park (Shamrock Park) | 5:45 PM | Free |
| Mon, Dec 7 | JWC Chanukah Party | 7:00 PM | $25 per person |
| Tue, Dec 8 | Family Chanukah Party | 5:30 PM | $15 per person |
| Wed, Dec 9 | Weekly Torah Studies | 7:30 PM | Not listed |
| Thu, Dec 10 | CTeen Silent Disco and Chocolate Bombs | 7:00 PM | Not listed |
| Sat, Dec 12 | Mom's Night Out | 7:30 PM | Not listed |
I love this line from Harford Chabad's page: "Everyone is welcome, regardless of ability to pay." They say requests are handled in private. Just email rabbi@harfordchabad.org.
Harford Chabad is at 38 East Broadway in Bel Air. Call 443-353-9718.
Make a night of it in downtown Bel Air on Dec 6
December 6 is a packed day downtown. The Town's 36th Bel Air Christmas Parade starts at 3:30 PM on Main Street. The Hays House Museum hosts a free "Rise of Christmas Traditions" program from 1 to 3 PM. The Winter Wonderland Train Garden is open that afternoon too.
My tip: the parade and the menorah lighting both end up near Shamrock Park. Come early, park once and walk. Parking downtown is free on weekends, per the Bel Air Downtown Alliance. Read my full Bel Air Christmas Parade 2026 guide.
More holiday fun in Harford County
Find more ideas in my 2026 Holiday Hub, my Bel Air Christmas events guide and where to find Santa in Harford. Thinking about living here? Start with my Bel Air town page.
FAQ
When does Hanukkah start in 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4. The last candle is lit Friday, December 11, and the holiday ends Saturday, December 12.
Is there a public menorah lighting in Bel Air, MD?
Yes. Chanukah at the Park is Sunday, December 6, 2026 at 5:45 PM in Shamrock Park, Lee Way and Hickory Avenue, hosted by Harford Chabad.
Is the Bel Air menorah lighting free?
Yes. The Town of Bel Air holiday calendar lists it as free. Harford Chabad takes RSVPs on its Chanukah events page.
What time do you light Hanukkah candles in Bel Air in 2026?
Per MyShul: 4:23 PM on Friday, December 4, 5:25 PM on Saturday through Thursday, and 4:23 PM on Friday, December 11.
Are there Hanukkah events for kids in Harford County?
Yes. Harford Chabad lists a Family Chanukah Party on December 8 at 5:30 PM for $15 per person and a CTeen Silent Disco on December 10 at 7 PM.
Where is Harford Chabad?
Harford Chabad is at 38 East Broadway, Bel Air, MD 21014. The phone number is 443-353-9718.
About the author: Josh Tessier is a Harford County REALTOR® with the Lee Tessier Team at eXp Realty, based in Bel Air. He has 16+ years in real estate and has sold 600+ homes personally (5,900+ for the Lee Tessier Team). He lives in Harford County and is raising his family here. Call or text (443) 617-2099.
Josh Tessier, REALTOR® with the Lee Tessier Team. Call or text (443) 617-2099.
Watch more on my YouTube channel: Josh Talks Harford. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
Header photo: “Kennilworth Menorah lighting celebration” by BitterSweetHorror, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Taken in Kenilworth, Illinois. Cropped, with text added.
Sources
- Harford Chabad, Chanukah Events RSVP (host): https://www.harfordchabad.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/5282077/jewish/Chanukah-Events-RSVP.htm
- Christmas in Bel Air (Town of Bel Air calendar), Chanukah at the Park (second source): https://christmasinbelair.com/event/chanukah-at-the-park/?instance_id=1085
- Hebcal, Chanukah 2026 dates (second source for dates): https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/chanukah-2026
- MyShul, Bel Air candle-lighting times: https://myshul.com/zmanim/maryland/bel-air/chanukah-2026
- Town of Bel Air, Christmas Parade (host): https://www.belairmd.org/226/Christmas-Parade
- Historical Society of Harford County, events (host of Hays House programs): https://www.harfordhistory.org/events/
- Bel Air Downtown Alliance (weekend parking): https://downtownbelair.com/events/trick-or-treating-in-downtown/
- Josh Tessier, about: https://joshtalksharford.com/about
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