New Date Announced For Darien's Community Hanukkah Celebration

DARIEN, CT — Due to the forecast for Sunday, Dec. 10, Darien's community Hanukkah celebration has been moved to Monday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. The Grove Street menorah, however, will continue to be lit every night.

Monday's celebration will take place in Grove Street Plaza as well. The theme of this year's event is "unity," according to organizer Dan Guller.

"I’ve been amazed at how many people have turned out for our public menorah lightings the last two years. People of all faiths and backgrounds have joined us to light the menorah and celebrate Channukah with Darien’s Jewish community. With so much tension in the world right now, this seems like a great time to come together as a community and celebrate our common bonds," Guller said in a news release.

The six-foot electric menorah will be lit every night of Hanukkah by a different group of Jewish Darien families. There has been such a demand that, in past years, two or three families have lit the menorah each night.

The celebration will be led by the clergy of Temple Shalom in Norwalk, who will lead the crowd in traditional Hanukkah songs. The event will feature giveaways and treats from Jewish Federation of Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien, children’s books from PJ Library, crafts from COFFI (The Coalition of Families for Inclusion), and delicious, hot potato pancakes generously donated by Marcia Selden Catering.

The sixth grade chorus from Middlesex Middle School will be on hand to entertain the crowd.

"This event would not have been possible without the generosity of the Glassmeyer Family, David Genovese and his team at Baywater Properties," Guller added. "There are so many people in this community who have stepped up to show their support. We’ve gotten commitments from local business leaders, elected officials, and religious leaders to attend."

Attendees are being asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for donation to the Open Doors Shelter of Norwalk.