Four days remain to celebrate Hanukkah, an eight-day winter “festival of lights” highlighted by the nightly lighting of a menorah and gatherings with friends and family. Here are ways to celebrate around Montgomery County before Hanukkah ends Thursday.
Watch a fire truck parade Monday night
On Monday evening, the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department is holding its annual fire truck parade. The event consists of a parade of fire department vehicles, with a fire truck boasting a giant menorah, as well as music, singing and fire jugglers, according to Eric N. Bernard, the department’s president.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. at Rockville Fire Station 3 at 380 Hungerford Drive and will make stops at Potomac Glen, Fallsgrove, Crown Farm, Kentlands, Washingtonian Woods and Chanukah Wonderland, according to an event flyer. For details on the parade route and timing, check out this link.
Bernard told MoCo360 on Friday that this year’s parade marks the 24th year of the celebration. He explained that in 2000, Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum, who recently moved to the area, came to the department with the idea of holding the fire truck parade after seeing parades celebrating Hanukkah held in New York City.
“We have quite a few Jewish faith members, myself included — we thought it was a great idea. It was so good for that rabbi — he actually joined our fire department and today still serves as a chaplain,” Bernard said. “And we’ve been doing it ever since.”
A Hanukkah party
The Montgomery County team from Jews United For Justice, a nonprofit organization focused on advancing economic, racial and social justice in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., region, is hosting a Hanukkah party on Thursday evening – the last night of the holiday. The event, which will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m., will feature a food potluck and celebrations.
Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, 7727 Persimmon Tree Lane, Bethesda
