For many children, Hanukkah is basically eight days off from school, you can do a lot of fun activities and devour an inexhaustible amount of donuts - and who are we to tell them they're wrong.
Many local authorities hold free events, so you should search and find activities there that are suitable for the family.
Also, the malls also want you to make your purchases with them and offer a variety of activities for free.
Those who would like to follow all the free activities throughout the country can do so through the site free-il.com which brings together all the municipal events and open concerts free of charge.
We checked what are the prominent events that are offered during the Hanukkah holiday in various places in Israel, and how much you will have to spend out of your pocket - if at all - to visit them.
Menorah made of Lego at the "Lego Center", photo: Gideon Markowitz
partying for free
The Port of Tel Aviv invites the children during Hanukkah week to an interactive Hanukkah installation that includes 18 2.5 meter high wooden menukahs, with lights and sounds.
The candles are used as xylophone keys, and can be played and illuminated with colored lights.
Yunti Art Gallery in Jaffa will present a new exhibition for the whole family called "Tea Party for Dolls", where dolls and toys by artists will be presented in a variety of techniques - textiles, knitting, paintings and more.
The exhibition is open on December 18-21.
The "World Jewish Sports" museum in Kfar Maccabiah will offer guided tours during the holiday, which will include explanations of more than 1,000 rare items from the 19th century to the present day, which tell the story of Jewish-Israeli sports.
Among the exhibits: the surfboard with which Gal Friedman won the gold medal, the judo suit with which Yael Arad won the silver medal and more.
Every day at 17:00 there will be a candle lighting event and the distribution of donuts.
A lights and music festival will be held at the Disity complex in Ma'ale Adumim, and every evening on the days of Hanukkah starting at 6:00 p.m. there will be two free shows by the "Terram" band, which will include Hanukkah songs in a show of rhythm and music for all ages.
More in the complex: magic shows for children, a variety of inflatables and more.
The Kfar Saba municipality is currently preparing for the 120th events for the city, which will open as part of the Festival of Lights, which will include a light show, happenings and activities for the whole family at the Jerusalem pedestrian mall in the city, on December 19-20.
Kfar Saba Festival of Lights, Photo: Eclipse Media
Enjoy for a fee
In the archaeological experience in Emek Zurim the children can "turn" into archaeologists for a day and discover treasures from the excavations of the City of David and ancient Jerusalem.
It was reported from the site that rare jewelry and coins have already been discovered by visitors to the site.
The price: NIS 24 for adults and NIS 19 for children, on all Hanukkah days from 15:00 to 10:00.
"Touching the light" is an exhibition of light displays in the Znovar compound in the Golan, which includes a multi-sensory experience for the whole family.
The price: 30 shekels.
Meditech and the Israel Museum of Caricature and Comics in Holon offer a variety of workshops, including a workshop on birds, comics, and everything in between, where the author of "The Book of Birds", comic artist Naa Katz, will guide the participants in creating a comic at a cost of NIS 40.
Levka's menorah in the TLV mall, photo: Levka
The Haifa Theater will hold the "Sofgatron" during the upcoming Hanukkah holiday, which includes a variety of plays for children from the best repertoire of children's theaters in Israel, dance theater, musical plays and more.
All shows are NIS 60 per ticket.
A 3 meter high menorah will be erected in the Yatbata complex on the way to Eilat, on the roof of the inn.
Also, in the park there are activities adapted for families and children.
Entrance for NIS 25.
The municipality of Herzliya presents "Walking around in Herzliya" - children's shows from the best theaters, bright and colorful outdoor shows, cultural events and more, at prices ranging from free to NIS 40.
Tea party exhibition at Yunti Art Gallery, photo: PR
going to the mall
As mentioned, the malls want to encourage consumers to come to them through elaborate shows and attractions.
Azrieli malls offer a variety of free activities and workshops: Azrieli Rishonim will host a gaming festival and laser mazes on December 20-22;
At Azrieli Acre, creative activity areas will be offered for designing cupcakes, making a sweet pot, and more;
In Azrieli Tel Aviv there will be the big minion festival and more.
The TLV mall and the "Agam" book publishing team have teamed up for a reading and creation event.
On December 19-22, the complexes will be activated, with a book fair and content activities.
Ofer Hadera Mall will hold events, activities, theatrical performances and workshops and activities for children and the whole family until December 27.
Ofer Grand Mall Haifa will hold shows and performances for the whole family every day at 17:00, on December 20-26 (not including Thursday).
The Hanukkah Festival will be held at the Lego Store Israel in Dizengoff Center on December 20-26, with a free construction and play area and the lighting of candles on the world's largest Lego Hanukkah, free of charge.
The museum in Kfar Maccabiah, photo: public relations
BIG FASHION malls will offer a variety of activities for the whole family: in the Tiberias mall, an amusement park will be built that includes various facilities, including a glass carousel, a train and ninja inflatables.
Beit Shemesh Mall presents the magical world of pirates with a festival, creative workshops and a photo booth built from a huge shipwreck.
Ofer Carion in Kiryat Bialik will hold motor activities for the general public, with complexes for the whole family, on December 20-22, including a car race with signs, a simulator complex and more.
In Zim Urban complexes throughout the country there will be a variety of activities with festive candle lighting and distribution of donuts.
The "Amusement Village" will place a surprise box in the store complex from which every child will be able to pull out a surprise. On December 20-23, the complex will host a festival on the theme "Arad - a local story" in collaboration with Midrash Dvir, during which there will be street performances, craft workshops, a pita baking workshop and more. MEEXLAND Sharonim in Hod Hasharon offers 7 attractions in one ticket that simulates the world of adults for children. In the complex: a construction site, a ninja complex and more. Ticket price for a child from one year old - NIS 39, parents free.
In the Iir Yamim mall in Netanya, an interactive activity will be offered in cooperation with Bank Hapoalim, where the children will walk through the complex designed as a supermarket, face a memory challenge of a shopping list for the supermarket, and more.
The Seven Stars Mall offers a candy festival with children's areas, on December 20-22.
The entrance is free.
Mixland in Sharon, photo: public relations
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