For the 6th night of the Chanukah Blog Crawl I’ll take you to the pawsome Community Menorah Lighting and Celebration Mom & I went to on Sunday. And make sure to visit Adopted Mom To Chazz, who’ll be telling you about what Chanukah means to them.
This is the 3rd year for this celebration, and we’ve gone every year. The celebration is sponsored by Chabad Lakeland and is open to everyone. The event and the turnout have been bigger every year.
Our community menorah is set up at Lake Mirror in downtown Lakeland. It’s the site of beautiful Hollis Garden, a gorgeous place donated to the city by the Hollis family. If you’re ever in town you should visit…they let dogs in!
When we got there we heard Chanukah music playing and saw folks mingling and having fun.
The guy on the right in the next picture (checking his phone) is our town Mayor… our County Sheriff was there too, and both gave nice speeches (at least Mom sez they did…I was busy looking for noms)
The Rebbe here is helping this man put on his Tefillin, which Orthodox Jewish men use in prayer.
There was face painting and a balloon guy for small hoomins…Mom loved this lady’s t-shirt….
There were great noms…
like latkes with applesauce…
and sufganiot, which are deep-fried jelly doughnuts…
Mom got some of each and I got sample bites…both got two paws up from me.
There was even a crazy, fire-juggling magician guy…
Everyone enjoyed the show! 
This is me with my new friends Denise and Bryanna in front of the big menorah.
I had a wonderful time celebrating Chanukah with my community… It’s great that Chabad brings everyone together to celebrate our heritage and the beauty of our shared traditions. I sure hope Mom & I come back every year!
Does your community have a celebration like this? Tell us all about it in the comments!
While you’re out Hopping today, also visit Pepi Smart Dog’s Thankful Thursday Blog Hop. Today I’m thankful that Mom & I got to celebrate with all our friends & neighbors. And I’m VERY thankful that after two whole days with no internet (can you believe that those evil squirrels ate through the phone cable?) we’re back…phone company fixed us up and I can visit you all again!
My Chanukah Miracle Wishes are that all homeless anipals find furever homes this year, that all hoomins learn to spay or neuter their pets and that all my family and furriends have a happy and healthy New Year.
Gizmo out!
Terrier Torrent 
Gizmo what a wonderful celebration! It looks like sooooooo much fun! We don’t have anything like this (that I know of) but my sister-in-law did go to a Menorah lighting in downtown Detroit last night….this looks like fun! LOVE your little “costume” and I love that woman’s T-shirt “Happy Challah Days!!”
Barks and licks and love, Dakota and Mom
It’s pretty pawsome that a small town like ours has this pawty…We very happy that Chabad started it and that it’s gotten so much support from local government. The location is a special and prominent one for everyone and brings a lot of attention to our local Jewish community. *snoogles*
Wow, that looks like such fun! Our Kollel had an evening event on Monday with sufganiot and everything…and wouldn’t you know it, Mommy came down with a cold and had to stay home!
We think that community menorah’s pretty pawesome! And of course your costume was purrfectly festive! (yeah, Mommy wants that t-shirt too!!)
I’m so sorry your Mom couldn’t get to the pawty on Monday…There’s something special about gathering with neighbors to celebrate together…I’m kind of used to my outfit now but I’ll be glad to take off those dreidels till next year *snoogles*
Hey Gizmo, Sounds like you and your Mom had a really great time! Glad your internet is back up, too! Happy Thursday and Happy Challah Days to you both!
Hiya Loy! I do love big pawties where I get to meet lots of new people and get extra *snoogles* Happy Holidays to you and your pack!
Wow Gizmo!! What an excellent community celebration! Looks like everyone had a great time.
Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
xo
It really is surprising that such a small Southern town has such an active Jewish community…Glad you enjoyed the party!
Two days without internet?? I am glad you survived. Though it looks like you’ve had enough going on to keep you out of the house. Thanks for sharing your photos! What a fun event!
Yep two whole days…Felt like I was in exile BOL! But Gizmo & I managed to amuse ourselves the old-fashioned way…cookie baking, walks and movies on DVD’s from the library…it’s been a Jane Austen festival around here this week 🙂
Thank you for the good vibes Gizmo! Happy Hannukah to your family!
Four paws crossed for you & Lola today…Happy Holidays to you and your family!
I would love to learn more about Chanukah. We celebrate Christmas but we are always looking to expand our knowledge about other traditions.
Have you checked out all the posts that are part of the Chanukah Blog Crawl…Each night a different aspect of the holiday is being explained and they’re all good…And please ask any specific questions cause we’re always happy to answer!
What fantastic celebrations, loved all the photo’s 🙂 Big happy Hannukah to you and your family.. xx0xxx
Mollie and Alfie
Thanks for coming by today…It really was a great pawty with lots of spirit…Just found out that the Chabad Rabbi has shared the post on the Chabad Facebook page so the Chabad community can share the photos too…That made me feel good *snoogles*
This was fun. ohh I’m craving some donuts. Happy Chanukah!
It was fun…more communities should hold event like this…it encourages great community spirit *snoogles*
What a wonderful community celebration! Wish we had something like that!
Happy Chanukah!!
Darlene & The Amazing Aimee
It’s so nice that our small town does have something like this…it’s an idea that should spread for more communities
Hi Gizmo. Thank you for taking us to such a nice menorah lighting. It was nice to see people who weren’t wearing jackets, hats and gloves! You look so cute in your Chanukah wear. We feel a special kinship with you because our Detroit Tigers spend spring season in Lakeland!
Not much need for coats & ties in Florida:) We’re pretty casual around here year round…And yes of course I know Tiger Stadium… it’s about 3 miles from our house do you ever come down for Spring Training? If you do be sure & let me know! Happy Chanukah!
Woof! Woof! that is so nice that they let dogs in the Garden. It’s a beautiful place and you guys had a wonderful weather. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
Hollis Garden is a fine place for a leisurely stroll especially early evening just before sundown *snoogles*
That is a wonderful Chanukah wish, I am wishing along with you. Would you believe that my daughters lived in Lakeland for about three years? What a small world. Happy Chanukah!!
Really – In Lakeland? Was she in school here? did you visit? The world is smaller every day 🙂
No one daughter moved to be with her boyfriend and the other daughter moved to be with her sister. 🙂 The first house they lived in was right across from a mall. The second was an apartment down near the highway. Yes, I actually visited them about three times if memory serves me right. 🙂
Hard to tell where that might have been…Lakeland has changed a LOT in the past few years…things look quite different than even when I got here in 2005
Hey Giz, Jetty here. Hi Miss JG.
What a special celebration… we loved the shirt, too… however, hot as much as your dreidles, Dude. Hey, Little Miss Festival of Lights and I did not get to taste any sufganiyot… hmpf… must make a note to Mom.
Thanks for sharing… pretty cool…
Next year, I think we should plan a Hannukah visit!
Jetty – You, your Mom & even LMFOL are all cordially invited for next year’s celebration…I’ll guarantee you donuts my man…no way you should go without! Hope your Mom is feeling better
That party looks like was great fun. The Hanukkiah is beautiful.
Hi BJ and Lynda…I’m sure there’s great Chanukah pawties in New York, but this was pretty nice for a small town *snoogles*
Looks like you had a great time! We have a Menorah in Central Park that weighs something like 2 tons. Happy Chanukah!
Lighting that menorah must be a great sight…Bet there’s lots of music and dancing there…
That looks like a lot of fun Gizmo. You made me hungry! Lol…
I’m all about the food 🙂 any pawty is better with good noms!
Cool photos, pal! Looks like an eventful day
Cotton
Thanks Cotton furriend…I do try to have fun everywhere I go *snoogles*
Hey Gizmo,
What a great event and I’m happy you sniffed out the yummy noms!! Good job buddy 🙂
Wags to all,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Hiya Snoopy! Only thing is I couldn’t find a good way to add a a touch of mischief…But the fun was worth it!
How wonderful to haf a public celebration! We haf always lived in places where der was a small, sumtimes invishible Jewish community. Love da fotos! Happy Hanukkah
So true…until Chabad came in and began this pawty 3 years ago it was easy to think you were the only Jewish person in town…Now, at least once a year, we get together proudly and publicly and it’s pawsome!