Hanukkah menorah lighting begins Nov. 27
BeaconArts is celebrating the holidays by uniting the community through the arts, with a menorah and a Christmas tree from salvaged and welded bicycle parts created by Beacon sculptor Ed Benavente.
Each night, the different candles – or in this case wheels – of the Beacon Hebrew Alliance and BeaconArts bicycle menorah will be illuminated to honor a different segment of the Beacon community. It can be found at the pocket park on Cross and Main Streets and will be lit at 5:30 p.m. from Wednesday, Nov. 27, through Wednesday, Dec. 4, with the exception of Friday, Nov. 29, when the menorah will be lit at 4:00 p.m.
On the first night of Hanukkah, Nov. 27, the group celebrated will be children. Pizza and fun will follow at School of Jellyfish, 183 Main St., sponsored by the Beacon Independent Film Festival.
The BeaconArts bicycle Christmas tree lighting will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 14. The First Presbyterian Church Choir and the Beacon Music Factory’s Ukelele Holiday Hayride and People’s Choir will lead a Christmas carol sing-a-long.
The Yanarella School of Dance will perform a holiday-themed piece, and Santa will officially welcome the holidays. The event is sponsored by the City of Beacon, BeaconArts and People’s Bicycle. The bicycle tree lighting will be at the same location alongside the bicycle-hanukkiah, at Cross and Main Streets.
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, BeaconArts will host their membership renewal party at Beacon’s newest performing arts venue, the Town Crier Café, 379 Main St. Wednesday, Dec. 4, is the last night of Hanukkah, and the artistic and creative community are being honored. All are welcome.
Benavente, the artist behind the menorah and Christmas tree, chose bicycles to represent the Beacon community for a specific reason. He says, “The city and community of Beacon, New York, has demonstrated what is possible when you re-invent, re-imagine and re-joice. Bicycles, like communities, are powered by people.”
Visit beaconarts.org/2013-beacon-ny-holiday-events.
Photos courtesy BeaconArts
