JCC Austin is pleased to present Chanukah in the Hood, a community celebration of the festival of lights featuring live music, children's activities and traditional holiday treats. The event will take place at Central Market North Cafe, 4001 N. Lamar Blvd. on Sunday, December 9 from 12-3:30 PM and is free and open to all.

The event begins with live music by Mazel Tov Cocktail Hour, performing from 12-1:30 PM. The afternoon will continue until 3:30 PM with children and community choirs and activities including arts and crafts, face painting, dreidle games and entertainment. Everyone attending will receive chocolate Chanukah gelt and dreidles. Latkes (potato pancakes) with all the fixings and sufganiot (jelly donuts), a traditional Chanukah treat in Israel, will be available for purchase from Central Market.

Other participating choirs, performers and partners include Austin Jewish Academy, JCC DanStarz, Congregation Agudas Achim, Congregation Shir Ami, and Temple Beth Shalom.

Chanukah begins at sundown on December 8 and will be observed through sundown on December 16. The eight-day Jewish holiday commemorates the miracle of rekindling the menorah in the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabee rebellion.