Join us for a celebration of wonder inspired by the beauty and magic of Havdalah.
Created Especially for NuBloom Families (0-8)
Join us for NuBloom’s first-ever citywide festival.
Havdalah is the Jewish ritual that marks the transition from Shabbat into the new week. It’s a moment filled with candlelight, music, spices, and an invitation to pause and notice. For young children, it’s already a feast for the senses. For all of us, it’s a chance to experience the world with fresh eyes.
November 14
Join NuBloom for a sparkling evening created for families with children ages 0–8. We’ll come together for an evening filled with live music and a family dance party with Jason Mesches, delicious food, hands-on art, playful sensory experiences, Havdalah, and plenty of wonder beneath the night sky.
Partner Nights
November
7 & 14
Five incredible community partners will bring Glow Fest to five locations across greater Los Angeles.
Each gathering will explore the wonder of Havdalah in its own way.
Other Ways to Join In
Havdalah Get Togethers
NuBloom and PJ Library in Los Angeles invite you to host your own GlowFest Havdalah Get Together. Fill out the NuBloom Havdalah Host form between Oct 5-19, gather your family and at least three other families for a Havdalah experience this November, and then submit a PJ Library Get Together Report to receive a $100 gift card reimbursement.
Havdalah Blessings Card
We’ve put together this Havdalah ritual card you can download and use at home!
Join Our Glow Fest Partner Events
November 7 | 3:00-5:30 PM
Westside
LUNAR's Paper Lantern Havadalah will spark joy with young families through lantern making, blending the Jewish tradition of havdalah with the ancient Asian art of paper lanterns. Meant for families to enjoy together, the afternoon starts with a warm welcome from The LUNAR Collective, a chance for attendees to get to know one another, and a delicious nosh. Kids and adults alike will be guided through lantern construction, with a plethora of colors, stickers, gems, and more to make each lantern unique and reflect who they are! We will end with a fun, musical havdalah ceremony, and attendees will receive an electric candle for their lantern to bring light wherever they go.
November 7 | 3:30 PM
Culver City
Havdalah Maravillosa is a hands-on family gathering that celebrates the shared tradition of braiding between Jewish and Latin American heritage. Designed for Latin-Jewish families and anyone exploring the intersection of these identities, the afternoon weaves storytelling, ritual, and craft together. Families hear how Oaxacan and Andean braiding traditions carry memory alongside the symbolism of the Havdalah candle's many wicks woven into one flame. Together, they build their own Aro y Trenza, a wooden ring wound with ribbon, receiving a blessing as they finish. The gathering closes with Havdalah candlelight and an open sharing circle, giving families a space to celebrate both traditions without having to explain or choose between them.
A Welcoming Glow & Play Space for Young Families
November 7 | 5:00-6:30 PM
Westside
Designed for families with children ages 0–9, Soul & Spark offers a warm, low-barrier environment where multifaith and new families can freely explore sensory play stations, paper lantern crafting, and a cozy snack lounge at their own pace. The evening culminates in a soulful, glow-in-the-dark Musical Havdalah by Echo Park Lake, where families gather near the water with their handmade lanterns, glow wands, and spices for a song-filled ritual. Ultimately, this multi-sensory experience provides a joyful, accessible, and magical entry point into shared community tradition.
A Celebration of Gratitude & Wonder
November 7 | 6:00-8:00 PM
Woodland Hills
The event will begin with a community Havdalah ceremony, bringing all families together for singing and a meaningful start to the evening. Families will then take part in an interactive, escape-room-style experience with puzzles, questions, and creative challenges designed to encourage connection and teamwork. The activity will conclude with a shared "Wonderwall" moment, where families can reflect on what creates magic in their family. We will end the evening by enjoying food together as a community.
Voices of Strength - A Pink and Teal Havdalah
November 14 | 5:00-8:00 PM
Encino
Sharsheret, in partnership with Maman Nonprofit Kol Isha, is hosting an evening of connection and wonder for Jewish moms and their young children impacted by breast cancer and ovarian cancer. The magical and low-pressure evening hosted in a beautiful backyard in Encino, will incorporate elements of Havdalah alongside dinner and age-appropriate crafts. Throughout the event, kids will be encouraged to participate in activities like watercoloring cards and decorating bookmarks to be included in Sharsheret care kits for women currently undergoing cancer treatment; a beautiful full circle moment for children to help other families going through cancer. Additionally, children will be encouraged to make a Havdalah spice pouch and decorate a cup for wine to take home so they can incorporate the meaningful elements of Havdalah in their own homes.