Light Up East Hampton will celebrate the first night of Hanukkah on Sunday, Dec. 14, with the lighting of a giant menorah and entertainment for all ages. The event begins at 4 p.m. at Herrick Park, 67 Newtown Lane.
The free event is presented by Chabad of the Hamptons.
“There’s always exciting entertainment,” said Program Director Musia Baumgarten, the wife of Assistant Rabbi Aizik Baumgarten. “This year it’s a bike show. They set up really high steps and ramps and do stunts.”
The Dialed Action Sports Team will perform cycling stunts. Its website says it features “some of the brightest stars of cycling sports pushing the boundaries of what is possible on a bike” and has done more than 10,000 performances across North America over 15 years.
Dialed Action Sports is led by Brian Cunningham, who has competed in BMX events including the X Games and Gravity Games, and Chris Clark, who competed with Team USA in Europe and was the youngest mountain bike professional in the U.S. at age 15.
Baumgarten said, “One of the highlights for sure is the gelt drop. That’s definitely a highlight for everyone of all ages,” when chocolate coins are dropped for participants to collect.
The event also features the giant menorah, which is lit with the help of a fire department bucket truck.
“Having the menorah out in public originated thousands of years ago,” Baumgarten said. “All across the world there are similar events taking place. The spirit of the holiday is all about spreading the light. It’s a holiday we definitely celebrate in public.”
The Herrick Park event—one of many menorah lightings across the Hamptons this season—usually draws more than 100 people. Children who register in advance will receive a free holiday gift. Donations help offset the cost of the event, Baumgarten said.
Attendees can also look forward to latkes, donuts, hot cocoa, and chocolate coins.
Chabad of the Hamptons, which will mark its 40th year this summer, is a year-round organization providing an “authentic, meaningful, personal Jewish experience for everyone who needs it out in the Hamptons,” Baumgarten said.
In addition to the annual menorah lighting, the organization provides Hebrew school, adult education, and special events.
“We are a non-membership community, so everyone is welcome,” she said.
For more on Light Up East Hampton, visit the website.