Hanukkah arrives in Sacramento this year starting at nightfall on Friday, December 4, and runs through Saturday, December 12 — eight nights of candle lighting, fried food, and community events spread across the region. The holiday isn’t a single grand spectacle in the way that, say, the Fab 40s light display is for Christmas, but Sacramento and its close-in suburbs have built a real seasonal tradition around it, anchored by a long-running public event in Folsom and an annual ceremony at the State Capitol that draws families and community leaders alike.
Here’s what Sacramento-area residents should know heading into December.
Chanukah Wonderland in Folsom
The centerpiece of Sacramento’s Hanukkah season for nearly two decades has been Chanukah Wonderland, hosted by the Chabad Jewish Community Center of Folsom. The 2026 edition marks the 19th year of the festival, held on Sunday, December 7 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Folsom Community Center on Natoma Street.
It’s a family-focused afternoon that leans into the DIY spirit of the holiday: kids can build their own menorah, dip candles, enter a menorah design competition, and get their faces painted, all under one roof. The carnival games and live entertainment keep things moving, and the Israeli food court — latkes, of course, along with other traditional Hanukkah foods — gives everyone something to eat while they browse the gift shop. Photos with Judah Maccabee, the holiday’s legendary hero, are included with admission.
The event is free to attend, which covers the shows and the Judah Maccabee photo. Families who want full access to the crafts and games can purchase Unlimited Passes: $15 per person if ordered before December 4, or $30 at the door. For most families with young kids, the Unlimited Pass is the way to go — it opens up everything on the floor. Pre-ordering saves money and takes logistics off the table on the day itself.
Folsom Community Center sits about 25 miles east of downtown Sacramento via US-50, and the drive from midtown takes roughly 30 to 35 minutes in normal weekend afternoon traffic. Parking at the community center is straightforward.
The Capitol Menorah Lighting
Each year, Chabad of Sacramento organizes a public menorah lighting on the steps of the California State Capitol in downtown Sacramento — a tradition that has been running for more than 30 years. The ceremony typically falls on one of the first two nights of Hanukkah and draws a crowd that includes members of Sacramento’s Jewish community, local officials, and plenty of curious bystanders who happen to be in the area.
The lighting has drawn California governors and other elected officials over the years, and it tends to carry a community message alongside the religious ceremony — a public reminder that Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, and that light goes up in public, not just at home. The Capitol’s west steps make for a striking backdrop, particularly in the early December dark.
Specific dates and times for the 2026 Capitol ceremony haven’t been announced as of early October — Chabad of Sacramento typically publishes those details in November. Check sacjewishlife.org or call 916-919-3011 for updates as December approaches.
Eight Nights at Home
Hanukkah is fundamentally a home holiday. Each of the eight nights calls for lighting the hanukkiah — the nine-branched menorah used specifically for Hanukkah — after sundown: one candle on the first night, two on the second, building to all eight plus the shamash (helper candle) on the final night. The candles burn for at least 30 minutes.
Sacramento’s Jewish community centers and synagogues offer programming throughout the eight days beyond the public events. Temple Beth Shalom, Temple Isaiah, and Congregation B’nai Israel are among the congregations in the region that hold Hanukkah celebrations, though 2026 programming specifics haven’t been published yet. The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region (jewishsac.org) maintains a community events calendar that aggregates happenings across organizations in the area.
The Details
- Hanukkah dates: Evening of Friday, December 4 through Saturday, December 12, 2026
- Chanukah Wonderland: Sunday, December 7, 1:00–5:00 p.m.
- Location: Folsom Community Center, 52 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630
- Admission: Free (shows + photos with Judah Maccabee); Unlimited Pass $15 pre-order before Dec. 4, $30 at the door
- Activities: Build-A-Menorah Workshop, candle making, carnival games, face painting, menorah competition, live entertainment, Israeli food court, gift shop
- Capitol Menorah Lighting: Annual ceremony at California State Capitol west steps; 2026 date to be announced — check sacjewishlife.org
- Info: jewishfolsom.org | 916-919-3011
Bottom Line
Chanukah Wonderland on December 7 is the most family-friendly standalone event on the Sacramento calendar for Hanukkah — a full afternoon of activities in Folsom with a low barrier to entry and something for every age. If you’re looking to mark the holiday publicly and want a real event rather than a quick ceremony, that’s the one to calendar. For the Capitol lighting, bookmark sacjewishlife.org now and check back in November when the date gets confirmed.
For more on what’s happening in Sacramento this December, see our guide to Sacramento’s Christmas events, the full lineup of Sacramento holiday markets, and what to expect at the Sacramento Holiday Festivals and Parades.