The Festival included an impressive 100 car top Menorah parade which paraded from the park height area to McKeldin Square. A beautiful Chanukah Wonderland for children, with sand art, face painting, Chanukah cookie decorating, and a tent to write Chanukah wishes to IDF.  A thrilling Fireworks Show wowed the crowd, with special dreidel fireworks custom crafted for the festival, and Yoel Sharabi live in concert!

The Menorah Ceremony was graced by a number of city officials and community leaders. The Honorable Boyd K. Rutherford, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Maryland, Council President, Bernard “Jack” Young, President of Baltimore City Council, Councilwoman Rochelle "Rikki" Spector, Baltimore City, District 5, Councilman Eric T. Costello, City Councilman for 11th District, which includes McKeldin square, Councilman Carl Stokes, City Councilman for 12th District., State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore City State’s Attorney, Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, Baltimore City Police Department, Deputy Commissioner Dean Palmere, Baltimore City Police Department, Baltimore City Police Department, Col. Melissa Hyatt, Baltimore City Police Department, Patrol Division Chief, Fire Chief Niles Ford, Baltimore City Fire Department, Mark Terril, President (and Mark D. Neumann, Chairman) Associate Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, Howard Brown, Principal, David S. Brown Enterprises, LLC, Eli Rosenbloom, President, FR Conversions, LLC, Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan, Rov of the Shul at Lubavitch Center, Regional Director Chabad Lubavitch of Maryland, Rebbitzin Rochel Kaplan, Director of the Aleph Institute, Rabbi Levi Druk, Chabad of Downtown, Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum, Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland, Rabbi Uri Feldman, Jewish Senior Network of Baltimore, Rabbi Nochem Katsenelenbogen, Chabad of Owings Mills, Rabbi Velvel Belinsky, Ariel (Russian Jewish organization), Rabbi Shmulik Gurary, Chabad Israeli Center of Baltimore, Rabbi Eli Solomon, the Friendship Circle of Baltimore, Rabbi Mendel Rivkin, Chabad of Towson, Rabbi Zev Gopin, Chabad at Johns Hopkins and Rabbi Sholly Cohen, Chabad of Carrol County.  

Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford extended his Chanukah wishes on behalf of the Governor and himself. Council President Jack Young, and president of the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, Mark Terril, Shared Chanukah greetings. Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan, shared a message on Chanukah, noting, “this year is a year of Hakhel, and although we don’t have the Beis Hamikdash, we are celebrating by gathering here tonight with a diverse show of unity and Ahavas Yisroel”.  The event was Emceed by Baltimore radio personality Josh Spiegel

A scissor lift brought Eli Rosenbloom, President of FR Conversions and sponsor of the event, Rabbi Velvel Belinsky and Rabbi Eli Solomon, up 30 feet in the air to light the Shamesh and the first candle, while the Brochos were sung by Yoel Sharabi.

Event organizers said this was the largest Chanukah Festival yet, and they hope to continue to improve the venue, to provide fun, inspiration, and community unity.