National Menorah Lighting
✓ Verified 2025-2026
Where: The Ellipse, President's Park, Washington, District of Columbia
When: Lighting ceremony December 14, then nightly candle lighting through the eight days of Chanukah
Hours: typically dusk – 10 PM
Cost: free
world's largest menorahU.S. Navy Bandlatkes and doughnutsdreidels and menorah kitsattraction
Billed as the world's largest menorah, this Ellipse fixture is lit in a ceremony featuring music from the United States Navy Band, with latkes, doughnuts, dreidels, and menorah kits on hand. Candles are lit each night across the eight days of Chanukah.
Best time to arrive. Sunset in Washington is around 4:47 PM in mid-December, fully dark by about 5:17 PM. A typical December night here bottoms out near 28°F, so dress for standing around outside.
Other displays nearby
There are 11 other displays within 5 miles of this one, and 30 within 15 miles. Most people make a loop of it rather than driving out for a single house.
- CityCenterDC Holiday Tree
- District Holiday Boat Parade
- Frosted at Franklin Park
- Season's Greenings at the U.S. Botanic Garden
- U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree
- ZooLights at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
- National Christmas Tree
- Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park
Make a night of it. This is stop 5 on our 10-stop Washington lights loop — about 3.4 miles and 48 minutes of driving in total.