Free palm fronds for building a sukkah are available Sept. 22–23 at a North Miami Beach facility about 1.5 miles south of Aventura.

The City of North Miami Beach announced on X on Sept. 14 that it will give away palm fronds at the Kevin R. Sims Aquatic Center, 1980 NE 171st St. Each household may take up to 10 fronds. Supplies are limited.

The fronds are for residents preparing to celebrate Sukkot, the weeklong Jewish holiday that begins at sundown on Friday, Sept. 25, and runs through Friday, Oct. 2. During Sukkot, families build a sukkah, a temporary outdoor structure where they eat meals and sometimes sleep. Palm fronds are one of the traditional materials used to cover the roof, according to Jewish Florida News.

Jewish Florida News listed pickup hours as 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, and 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Those hours did not appear in the city's own announcement. Residents should call 305-948-2957, Ext. 50012, to confirm before heading over.

The giveaway is not an Aventura city program, but the aquatic center sits just across the city line. The Greater Miami Jewish Federation has noted that North Dade, and Aventura in particular, has the highest concentration of Jewish residents in Miami-Dade County. The short drive makes the giveaway a practical option for Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach and Golden Beach households preparing for the holiday.

Aventura-area synagogues have also been helping congregants get ready. The Beacon reported Sept. 10 on Sukkot guides shared by local temples, covering everything from building a sukkah to hosting guests.

For questions about the palm frond giveaway, call 305-948-2957, Ext. 50012.

Upcoming community dates

• Friday, Sept. 25: Sukkot begins at sundown.
• Through October: Aventura Branch Library hosts 14 free programs, including storytimes and tech workshops.