The Jewish holiday of Purim is exuberant, colorful, and full of pure joy. Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. For 2024, it begins at sundown on Thursday, March 13 and lasts until sundown on Friday, March 14. According to the Book of Esther, Mordecai and Queen Esther foiled Haman's plans to hurt the Jews. Purim celebrates this event with feasting and merriment. Often described as "Jewish Halloween," it is customary for Jews to dress up in costume to allude to the miracle of the holiday.
Celebrate Purim at these local events in Brooklyn:
Ongoing
- Pre-Purim Party at the Jewish Children's Museum
10am-5pm (Sunday-Thursday through March 16) | $16-19 per person (free for kids under 2) | Crown Heights
Celebrate Purim's excitement early with the Pre-Purim Party at the Jewish Children's Museum! Get in the Purim spirit by learning how to shape and put together delicious hamantashen, and Visit the Purim exhibit on our 3rd floor to find yourself and your favorite Purim characters in the megillah! Come dressed up to The Pre-Purim Fun at the Jewish Children's Museum March 2-16.
Sunday, March 2
- Jewish Unity Hamantash Bake at B'nai Jacob in Park Slope
10:30am | $15 per person | Park Slope
Unite with Jewish friends across Brooklyn for some Pre-Purim fun! Enjoy lively music, light refreshments, and an epic Hamantash Bake! - FAMILYLAB "Make Some Noise" Purim Celebration
4-6pm | $50-85/family | Boerum Hill
Whether you have a gold-plated grogger collection or you’re just an expert trashcan-banging ruckus raiser, everyone is welcome. With Lab/Shul’s unique God-optional approach to tradition, text, and story, FamilyLab is open to those who identify as Jewish, Jew-ish, and everything in between. This will be a colorful afternoon of costumery, storytelling, hamantaschen cookie making. Dinner Included!
Saturday, March 8
- Cirque du Purim at Hana House
2-4pm | $20+, Free for infants under 2 | Downtown Brooklyn
Step into an enchanting world of whimsy as the Purim story unfolds through dazzling acrobatics, awe-inspiring acts, and live storytelling, perfect for audiences familiar with or new to the story of Purim. The celebration begins with a dance party—bring your best moves! Enjoy an unforgettable circus performance that will have you grinning from ear to ear, followed by post-show Try-It Stations to practice your circus skills with our amazing performers and snap some magical photos to remember the day. With face painting, fabulous costumes (wear your favorite festive attire!), and delicious food and drinks available for purchase, this day is all about community, creativity, and joy.
Sunday, March 9
- Purim Rally & March to Protect and Uplift Trans Youth at Grand Army Plaza
10am-12pm | FREE | Park Slope
Join QUEENS Esther & Vashti as they rally with young people to uplift the transformative power of Purim & the brilliance of trans lives! Together, we will adorn ourselves in sparkling attire, learn & perform Purimspiel-inspired chants & take to the streets for trans liberation! FREE & Open to the Public! Bring your children & your beloveds! - Purim Palooza at Kane Street Synagogue
10:30am (ages 0-4), 11:30am (ages 4-8) | $15/family (members), $35/family (non-members) | Cobble Hill
At 10:30am, they'll have stories, simple crafts, singing and dancing with Landon Braverman, and more! At 11:30am, families with older kids can join a giant costume parade, make art, play active Purim games, bake hamantashen, plus sing and dance with Landon! - Park Slope Jewish Center Purim Party
10:30am-1:30pm | $10-$25 | Park Slope
Carnival Games, Unlimited Bounce, Kosher Community BBQ, Bloody Mary Bar and Mocktail Mimosas, Crafts, Pie Throwing, Social Action Projects, and so much more! Fun for all ages and stages! All are welcome. - Purim Party: Rock & Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of PHISH for Kids at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg
11am doors, 12-1pm show | $23, free for children under 1 | Williamsburg
Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children aged ten and under games, movement, stories, and an opportunity to rock out to educate children and explore their creativity. The Rock and Roll Playhouse is an early and often first introduction to a child’s lifelong journey with live music and rock and roll.
Tuesday, March 11
- Kids Hamentash Bake at Chabad of Dumbo
4pm | $10 suggested donation | Dumbo
Get into the Purim spirit as Chabad of Dumbo bakes Hamentashen. Learn the Purim story and make a fun I Spy Gragger (noise maker). - Kiddie Korner's Purim Hamentashen Bake at Chabad of Brooklyn Heights
5:30pm | FREE | Brooklyn Heights
Join Kiddie Korner for a free Hamentashen Bake before Purim!
Thursday, March 13
- Queen Vashti's Pre-Party with Park Slope Jewish Center
5-7pm | FREE/suggested donation | For ages 1-7 | Park Slope
Queen Vashti's Pre-Party is perfect for those trying to fit all of their Purim celebrations in before bedtime with Stories and Songs for Tots at 5:15pm and Megillah at 6:15pm. Costumes welcome! Following our pre-party, those who would like to are welcome to join us for a parade through the main sanctuary! Pizza bites and other nosh will be available downstairs at PSJC beginning at 5pm for a suggested donation. - Pre-Purim Pizza, Games & Parade at Kane Street Synagogue
6-8pm | $20/family (members), $40/family (non-members) | Cobble Hill
Carnival-esque silly games, hamantashen-baking, and a costume parade! - A Very Wicked Purim: Pre-Purim Pizza Party at Brooklyn Heights Synagogue
6pm | FREE with registration | Brooklyn Heights
With celebrations including costumes, skits and songs, noisemakers, and gifts of food, Purim is definitely full of fun! There will be a Pre-Purim Pizza Party at 6pm followed by Purim Spiel & Megillah Reading (registration is required). - Purim at Industry City
6:45-8:30pm | $12-30/family | Sunset Park
Join us for an amazing Hamentash Bake, delicious dinner, lively music and Purim fun for all ages! - Megillah & Masquerade: A Community Purim Celebration at The Brooklyn Mill
7-9pm | Donations gratefully accepted | Gowanus
Join on Purim night to celebrate the Holiday with community. Pack Mishloach Manot for home-bound seniors, hear the Megillah, and enjoy a falafel dinner, Hamantash bar, and L’chaims. - Chabad of DUMBO Purim Party
7:30pm | Optional Donation | DUMBO
Interactive Megillah, unlimited arcade games and duckpin bowling, holiday fare hamentashen, sandwiches, etc. - Purim Bash with Chabad of Downtown Brooklyn
7:30-10:30pm | FREE with RSVP | Downtown Brooklyn
Come celebrate Purim in style right in the center of Downtown Brooklyn! Location TBA. RSVP required. Fun Purim Cocktails, hear the Megillah, music, food, hamentashen galore, costumes encouraged.
Friday, March 14
- Purim at the Arcade at Area 53 NYC
3-5pm | $15 per person, free for kids 0-2 | DUMBO
Join for Interactive Megillah, unlimited arcade games and duckpin bowling, holiday fare hamentashen, sandwiches, and more! Everyone that comes in costume receives a prize! - Brownstone Brooklyn Purim Celebration at Bison & Bourbon
3:30-6pm | Free for Brooklyn residents (no fee RSVP by March 10) | Gowanus
Join friends and neighbors for an epic Purim celebration at the upscale kosher restaurant Bison & Bourbon. This mega celebration will feature engaging entertainment for adults and children.
Sunday, March 16
- Tot Megillah Reading & Purim Carnival at Brooklyn Heights Synagogue
11:30am-2pm | $30 tickets | Brooklyn Heights
With celebrations including costumes, skits and songs, noisemakers, and gifts of food, Purim is definitely full of fun! Come to the Tot Megillah Reading at 11:30am followed by a 12pm Purim Carnival complete with pizza, cotton candy, and drinks. - Children’s Megillah Reading and Costume Parade at CBE and JJ Byrne Park
9:30am | FREE with RSVP | Park Slope
Time to get silly with a kid-friendly Under the Sea Purim spiel followed by a costume parade and concert by the Shag Horns (plus special guests) — along with hamantaschen, Purim activity bags, and playground fun! - Purim Party at Brooklyn Brewery
10am-12pm | FREE, donations welcome | For ages 0-6 | Williamsburg
Join us in your costumes for Tkiya Purim music and the telling of the Purim story. - PurimPalooza at Hannah Senesh Community Day School
10am-2pm | $10 per child ages 2+ | For ages 2-10 | Carroll Gardens
Get ready for PurimPalooza—a fun-filled Purim celebration designed just for families with young kids! Come out for a morning bursting with music, movement, mitzvot (good deeds), and magical moments as we bring the Purim story to life in the most exciting way! - Purim Community Event at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
11am-1pm | FREE with RSVP | Williamsburg
Join us at our Purim Community-Wide Event! Dress in your favorite costume, and enjoy refreshments and entertainment! - Purim Carnival at Bay Ridge Jewish Center
1-4pm | Adults: $10-$15, Children: $5 | Bay Ridge
The Purim Carnival will include fun, family-friendly entertainment, with a magic show, balloon animals, face painting, arts and crafts, games, and a costume contest. Refreshments including. hamantaschen will be provided. Costumes are encouraged!
Want to know more about Purim?
Watch this 5 minute video for an intro to this Jewish holiday:
There are four observances of Purim:
- Hear the Megillah, the complete story of how Mordecai and Queen Esther saved the Jewish people from the hands of the wicked Haman. The story is read twice, once at night and a second time on Purim Day. It is customary to make noise with graggers and boo Haman when his name is read in the Megillah.
- Give gifts of food to friends. The gifts should include at least two different types of food such as Hamentashen cookies and juice. Kids love this holiday because they get to dress up in their favorite costumes to deliver the gifts.
- Give Tzedekah (money or charity) to two or more poor people, or put two or more coins into the donation box of a favorite charity.
- Eat and rejoice! Partake in a big meal with family and friends, sing songs, tell the story of Purim, and celebrate!
Suggested Purim activity 1: Make Hamentashen (Haman's hat) cookies with your kids:
- Simple recipe: Working Mom's Hamentashen
- For littles to do on their own: No Bake Hamantaschen
- Traditional recipe: Hamentashen with Poppy Seed Filling
- Kid-approved: No-Fail Sprinkle Hamantaschen
- Gluten-free: Raspberry Hamantaschen
Suggested Purim activity 2: Make your own Gragger, Purim noise-makers:
Visit the Chabad or PJ Library's Kids' Purim Guide for more information, videos, songs, games, recipes, and more.
Happy Purim!
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