Hanukkah 2026 in Sussex County NJ: Menorah Lightings and Events

Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends at sundown on Saturday, December 12, so the first candle in Sussex County is lit on a Friday evening, just before Shabbat. For public menorah lightings and community celebrations in the county, the main contacts are Chabad of Sussex County in Sparta, the Lake Hopatcong Jewish Community Center in Hopatcong and B’nai Shalom of Sussex County, and the Vernon menorah lighting has been held at the township fire department in recent years.

Our team checked each congregation’s and town’s own website for 2026 plans. As of our latest check, none of them had posted 2026 Hanukkah event times yet, so below we list who to contact, what has happened in past years and how to confirm. We will update this guide as dates go up. For the full holiday season around it, see our holiday events calendar for Sussex County.

Hanukkah 2026 in Sussex County at a Glance

• First candle: Friday, December 4, 2026, at sundown
• Last night: the eighth candle is lit Friday, December 11; Hanukkah ends at sundown Saturday, December 12
• Weekends: two Hanukkah weekends this year, December 4 to 6 and December 11 to 12
• Who to call for public lightings: Chabad of Sussex County, Sparta, 973-726-3333
• Congregations in the county: Chabad of Sussex County (Sparta), Lake Hopatcong Jewish Community Center (Hopatcong), B’nai Shalom of Sussex County
• Cost: Public menorah lightings are typically free community events

Hanukkah 2026 Night by Night

Candles are lit in the evening, so here are the eight lighting nights for 2026, whether you light at home or head to a public lighting:

• Night 1: Friday, December 4 (light before Shabbat candles)
• Night 2: Saturday, December 5 (light after Shabbat ends)
• Night 3: Sunday, December 6
• Night 4: Monday, December 7
• Night 5: Tuesday, December 8
• Night 6: Wednesday, December 9
• Night 7: Thursday, December 10
• Night 8: Friday, December 11 (light before Shabbat candles)

The dates come from My Jewish Learning, which lists Hanukkah 2026 as sundown December 4 to sundown December 12, and match the “Dec. 4 to Dec. 12” holiday dates posted by Chabad of Sussex County.

Community Menorah Lightings and Celebrations

Chabad of Sussex County (Sparta)

Chabad of Sussex County is the county’s Chabad center and the first call for public Hanukkah events here. Its website already lists Chanukah for December 4 to 12, and the Chabad Center of Northwest New Jersey’s own 2025 Chanukah page sent Sussex County residents to this same phone number for local events. When event times are posted, they will appear on the Chabad of Sussex County site.

• Address: 266 Woodport Road, Sparta, NJ 07871
• Phone: 973-726-3333
• 2026 events: not posted yet; call or check the website in late November
• Website: jewishsussex.com

Sparta has hosted a first night public menorah lighting in past years. In 2024, the Chabad Center of Northwest New Jersey lit a menorah at VFW Post 7248 on Main Street in Sparta on the first night, as reported by the Sparta Independent. A 2026 Sparta lighting has not been announced. Our things to do in Sparta guide has places to eat nearby if one is added.

Vernon Township Menorah Lighting (Vernon)

Vernon’s public menorah lighting has been held outside the Vernon Township Fire Department on County Road 515 in each of the last two years. In 2024 it was a Hanukkah Celebration of Lights on December 26 at 7 p.m., and in 2025 the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest calendar listed it on Monday, December 15 from 7 to 8 p.m. in front of the fire department.

• Location in past years: Vernon Township Fire Department, County Road 515, Vernon
• 2026 date: not posted yet. The township’s recreation news and events page did not list it when we checked.

Make an evening of it with our things to do in Vernon guide.

Lake Hopatcong Jewish Community Center (Hopatcong)

The Lake Hopatcong Jewish Community Center is a congregation in the Borough of Hopatcong. Its website lists Shabbat morning services at 10 a.m. through the winter but had no Hanukkah program posted yet.

• Address: 15 Durban Road, Hopatcong, NJ 07843
• Phone: 973-398-8700
• 2026 Hanukkah events: not posted yet; call for plans
• Website: lhjcc.org

B’nai Shalom of Sussex County

B’nai Shalom describes itself as a traditional yet progressive community reflecting both the Conservative and Reform movements. The Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest directory lists it in Franklin with a second address on Washington Street in Newton. Its website did not list 2026 Hanukkah events when we checked.

• Directory addresses: 15 Oak Street, Franklin; 13 Washington Street, Newton
• Phone: 973-827-5655
• Website: bnaishalomofsussexnj.org

Other Things to Do During Hanukkah Week

These Sussex County outings line up with the 2026 Hanukkah dates and work well for families between candle lightings.

Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show (Augusta)

• Address: 94 Championship Place, Augusta
• Dates: select nights November 21 to December 30, 2026
• Cost: $29 per carload, $79 VIP; tickets online in advance
• Website: skylandsstadium.com/lightshow

Our light show guide lists the open nights.

Peters Valley Handmade Holiday Event (Layton)

• Address: Peters Valley Gallery, 19 Kuhn Road, Layton
• Dates: November 14 to December 31, 2026, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mondays
• Website: Peters Valley Handmade Holiday

Handmade gifts from craft artists, a good stop for eight nights of presents. More in our Peters Valley Handmade Holiday guide.

For skating, see our ice skating in Sussex County guide, and for the whole month, our December things to do list.

Tip From Our Team: Confirm Before You Go

Public menorah lightings in small towns are often announced only a week or two ahead, and they are outdoors after dark in December. Call Chabad of Sussex County at 973-726-3333 in late November for the 2026 schedule, check the Vernon Township recreation page, and dress for the cold. If a public lighting lands on one of the two Friday nights, December 4 or 11, expect it before sundown, since the menorah is lit before the Shabbat candles.

FAQ

When does Hanukkah 2026 start?

Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends at sundown on Saturday, December 12.

Is there a public menorah lighting in Sussex County NJ?

Yes, in recent years there have been public lightings in Vernon, outside the township fire department, and in Sparta. 2026 dates were not posted when we checked. Call Chabad of Sussex County at 973-726-3333 for the current schedule.

Where is Chabad of Sussex County?

Chabad of Sussex County is at 266 Woodport Road in Sparta. The phone number is 973-726-3333.

Are there synagogues in Sussex County NJ?

Yes. The Lake Hopatcong Jewish Community Center is at 15 Durban Road in Hopatcong, and B’nai Shalom of Sussex County is listed in Franklin and Newton. Chabad of Sussex County is in Sparta.

Are menorah lightings free?

Public community menorah lightings are typically free and open to the whole community. Confirm with the host, since some celebrations add food or activities that ask for an RSVP.