Celebrating Hanukkah in the Bay Area

Hanukkah 2011, which falls on Dec. 20, is coming up fast, and there are many ways of celebrating throughout the Bay Area.

Here is a list of Bay Area events coming up soon:

Dec. 20, 5:30 p.m.--Celebrate the First Night of Chanukah at Santana Row

The third annual holiday event at Santana Row, presented by the PJ Library, will feature the stars of the Retro Dome.

The festivities include music, singing, crafts, Hanukkah treats and children’s activities. The event is presented in collaboration with community synagogues and agencies, including Congregation Beth David, Congregation Sinai, Temple Emanu-El, Yavneh Day School, Sharone Hadassah, the South Peninsula Hebrew Day School, the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center and The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley.

There is free parking in the garages at Santana Row throughout the shopping complex. For more information, call 408-357-7512.

Cost: Free

Dec. 20, 6:30 p.m.--Grand Menorah Lighting Celebration at Chabad Jewish Center of Cupertino

This event takes places at the Cali Mill Plaza in Cupertino (corner of Stevens Creek Blvd. and De Anza Blvd., next to the Cypress Hotel).

Festivities include the annual community toy drive (bring a toy for a child with cancer), Hanukkah music, refreshments and Sufganyot.

Cost: Free

Dec. 20, 4:00 p.m.--San Francisco Hanukkah Festival

If you're in the mood to get out of town, head over to San Francisco to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with the lighting of the 25-foot tall mahogany Bill Graham Menorah in Union Square.

Festivities include skating in the square, donuts and latkes. Call 415-668-6178 for more information.

Cost: Event is free to attend. Festivities may include additional fees.

Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m. --Nigunim Chorus Hanukah Celebration at JCC East Bay in Berkeley

This event, cosponsored by JCC East Bay, The Jewish Music Festival, Temple Sinai, Aquarian Minyan, Beyt Tikkun, KlezCalifornia, Urban Adamah, and Wilderness Torah includes candle lighting, performances, singing, dancing and traditional Hanukkah food. For more information, call 510-528-8872.

Cost: $15 for adults, children 16 and under free.

Dec. 25, 9:00 a.m. --Hanukkah Hoops 5-on-5 Basketball Tournament in Hayward

Billed as a "Basketball Tournament for the Rest of Us," and "a true tournament for the ages," the Hanukkah Hoops 5-on-5 Basketball Tournament is a competition that welcomes all races and religions This inaugural event will take place Dec. 20-24. There are various age groups, and if you don't have a full team of your own that is ready to sign up, the organization will do its best to place you on a compatible team. For more information, click here.

Cost: $180 for a team of 8-12, or if they place you on a team, your cost will be your share of the $180 based on how many people are on the team you are placed with.