Quick Answer
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. On the Outer Banks, you can connect with the Jewish Community of the Outer Banks for services and holiday events, light a travel menorah in your vacation rental, pick up jelly donuts for sufganiyot at a local donut shop, and celebrate the Festival of Lights with outings like WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens.
Updated for 2026!
Hanukkah this year begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, 2026 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12, 2026. The holiday is an important time for the Jewish community, and it commemorates the miracles that took place during the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE.
Hanukkah is often called the winter "Festival of Lights," according to Chabad.org. It's best known for the nightly lighting of the menorah (a nine-branched candelabra), special prayers, and delicious fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot.
While many families celebrate this beautiful holiday in the privacy of their own homes, celebrating Hanukkah on the Outer Banks can be a memorable time for your family, too. Here are some of our favorite tips and resources for celebrating the Festival of Lights at the beach this year.
Hanukkah 2026 candle-lighting calendar
| Night | Evening | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Friday, Dec 4 | Shabbat: light the menorah before the Shabbat candles |
| 2nd | Saturday, Dec 5 | Light after Shabbat ends |
| 3rd | Sunday, Dec 6 | |
| 4th | Monday, Dec 7 | |
| 5th | Tuesday, Dec 8 | |
| 6th | Wednesday, Dec 9 | |
| 7th | Thursday, Dec 10 | |
| 8th | Friday, Dec 11 | Shabbat: light the menorah before the Shabbat candles |
Sunset on the Outer Banks is around 4:50 PM in early December, so Friday-night candles are lit in the late afternoon.
Attend a Service in Person or Online
If you’re staying on the Outer Banks during Hanukkah this year, or any time of the year, for that matter, consider attending service with the Jewish Community of the Outer Banks. This community, while small, is dedicated to the Jewish faith and has been meeting on the Outer Banks since 2004. Services are held either on the third Friday or Saturday of each month and for every major holiday. For Hanukkah this year, consider attending an in-person service (which includes the lighting of the 1st Hanukkah candle) or a Zoom service. In-person services are held at the UUCOB Meeting House on Herbert Perry Road. Visit www.jcobx.com for more information.
Get Creative With Your Menorah
Even if you're away from home or your home synagogue this year, you can still light the candles from the comfort of your beach vacation rental! A travel menorah kit is easy to pack, like this colorful magnetic set that's great for kids or this blue and silver miniature set that comes with 44 candles. Chabad.org also has helpful tips for celebrating while traveling.
Bring the beach into your celebration, too. Decorate around your menorah with shells and sea glass you collect on your morning walk, or let the kids make a driftwood display. If you're lighting candles in your rental, set the menorah on a heat-safe surface away from curtains and decorations, never leave it unattended, and follow the rules in your rental agreement. An LED menorah is a worry-free option for little ones.
Get Local With Your Sufganiyot
Traditional sufganiyot are round donuts fried in oil, filled with jelly, and dusted with powdered sugar. Visit a local donut shop during your stay to enjoy a fried treat that honors the miracle of the oil. Try Duck Donuts, which got its start right here on the Outer Banks, Proof Bakery in Kitty Hawk, or Donutz on a Stick on the Duck Boardwalk. Off-season hours vary, so call ahead. Or get adventurous and fry up some latkes or homemade sufganiyot in your vacation rental's kitchen! Planning a big holiday meal? See our OBX vacation grocery plan for what to bring from home and what to buy locally.
Celebrate the Festival of Lights Around the Outer Banks
Hanukkah falls during one of the most festive stretches of the year on the Outer Banks. WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo is open on six nights of Hanukkah this year (Dec 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, and 12), with more than a million lights across the 10-acre gardens. Reserve timed-entry tickets online in advance. You'll also find tree lightings, parades, and holiday markets up and down the beach. See our itineraries for the first weekend in December and the second weekend in December for ideas.
Gift Experiences Throughout the Week
If gift-giving is part of your family's Hanukkah, consider gifting experiences or small, meaningful souvenirs during your stay. Spend an afternoon at the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island, run the dunes at Jockey's Ridge State Park, or book a hang gliding lesson or Corolla wild horse tour for the adventurers in your family. Seaside guests can save with our Kitty Hawk Kites discount. Or keep it simple with fun things to do together, like searching for ghost crabs after dark or watching the sunrise over the ocean as a family.
What is Hanukkah?
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Hanukkah in 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. The first candle is lit on Friday, December 4, and the eighth candle is lit on Friday, December 11.
Is there a synagogue on the Outer Banks?
The Outer Banks doesn't have a standalone synagogue, but the Jewish Community of the Outer Banks has been meeting since 2004. Services are held monthly and on major holidays at the UUCOB Meeting House on Herbert Perry Road in Kill Devil Hills, with some services also offered on Zoom. Visit jcobx.com for the current schedule.
Can I light a menorah in my Outer Banks vacation rental?
Follow the rules in your rental agreement. If you light candles, place the menorah on a heat-safe surface away from curtains and decorations, and never leave it unattended. A travel or LED menorah is an easy option to pack.
Where can I find jelly donuts on the Outer Banks for Hanukkah?
Duck Donuts, Proof Bakery in Kitty Hawk, and Donutz on a Stick in Duck are local favorites. Off-season hours vary in December, so call ahead.
What can my family do on the Outer Banks during Hanukkah?
WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens is open on six nights of Hanukkah in 2026 (Dec 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, and 12). Families can also visit the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island, climb the dunes at Jockey's Ridge State Park, and enjoy early-December holiday events across the Outer Banks.
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We’ll see you at the beach.
Wherever you choose to celebrate this year,
we wish you a Happy Hanukkah!
