2011 Major League Dreidel
Knitting Factory; 12/17 at 6 p.m.; 361 Metropolitan Ave., at Havemeyer St., Williamsburg; 347-529-6696
Have dreidel spinning skills? Like headbanging? Then Knitting Factory has the party for you, with metal bands Gods of Fire, Category Sixx, and more, plus a little healthy competition in the form of a dreidel competition, where anyone can enter (register at majorleaguedreidel.com), but only one will come out alive, or, er, win.
The 5th Annual Menorah Horah! Hanukkah Burlesque
Highline Ballroom; 12/17 at 8 p.m.; 431 W. 16th St., nr. Ninth Ave.; 212-414-5994
It’ll be hard not to drop your latkes at this show featuring voluptuous vixens the Schlep sisters shaking their stuff, with special guests and comedian Seth Herzog keeping you in stitches.
Hanukkah Concert at Town & Village Synagogue
Town & Village Synagogue; 12/17 at 7:30 p.m.; 334 E. 14th St., 212-677-8090
Get in the Hanukkah mood with a pre-holiday concert at the Town & Village Synagogue, featuring their in-house choir and guest performers the Ramaz Percussion Ensemble and Chamber Chorus.
Hanukkah Family Day
The Jewish Museum; 12/18 from noon to 4 p.m.; 1109 Fifth Ave., at 92nd St.; 212-423-3200
A day of musical fare and art workshops where children ages 3 and up can create Hanukkah sculptures out of found objects and design their own illustrated Hanukkah scene. Free with museum admission.
Poppy Seed Players: Latkes & Applesauce
Merkin Concert Hall; 12/18 at 11 a.m.; 129 W. 67th St., at Broadway; 212-501-3303
The Hanukkah spirit is alive and clapping along in the annual musical play featuring a Hanukkah version of A Christmas Carol, a Harry Potter skit, a parody of American Idol, and more.
David’s Harp: A Hanukkah Concert
The Center for Jewish History ; 12/18 at 3 p.m.; 15 W. 16th St., nr. Fifth Ave.
The five-piece ensemble, which specializes in the music of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish communities, will perform a Hanukkah concert that includes Yemenite, Egyptian, Bukharian, and Ottoman song.
Chanukah Fever with Mama Doni Band
92nd Street Y; 12/18 at 3 p.m.; 1395 Lexington Ave., nr. 92nd St.; 212-415-5500
Fun song titles like “La Vida Dreidel,” “The Funky Gold Menorah” and “Latke Man!” are on the lineup of this genre-spanning musical show for the young ones and the ones young at heart.
Gallery Talks: Hanukkah Lamps Selected by Maurice Sendak
The Jewish Museum; 12/19 at 1 p.m.; 1109 Fifth Ave., at 92nd St.; 212-423-3200
Author and illustrator Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are) curated this exhibition of lamps from the museum’s collection.
Matisyahu: Festival of Light
Music Hall of Williamsburg; 12/19-12/22; 66 N. Sixth St., nr. Wythe Ave., Williamsburg; 718-486-5400
For his sixth set of Hanukkah-centric shows, the beat-boxing reggae artist will play four nights of Jewish holiday music in Williamsburg before heading up the East Coast.
Lighting of the World’s Largest Hanukkah Menorah
Grand Army Plaza, Central Park; 12/20-12/27 at 5:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. on 12/23, 8:30 p.m. on 12/24); 59th St. at Fifth Ave.; 212-360-2766
It’s the annual tradition of lighting the “world’s largest menorah,” coming in at 32 feet and 4,000 pounds. Adding to the festivities will be music, folk dancing, and jelly doughnuts. Lots of jelly doughnuts.
Hanuka Rock
Southpaw; 12/21 at 8 p.m.; 125 Fifth Ave., nr. Sterling Pl., Park Slope; 718-230-0236
Dance until the lights burn out at this shindig featuring the Shondes, Yiddish Princess, and the crowd-pleasing polka-punk of Schmekel. Co-presented by Jews For Racial and Economic Justice.
4th Annual Chanukah vs. Christmas: the Battle Royale of Beer and Burlesque
Southpaw; 12/23 at 8 p.m.; 125 Fifth Ave., nr. Sterling Pl., Park Slope; 718-230-0236
Burlesque bombshell Miss Astrid hosts a night where the smut knows no religion. On the docket: prizes, beer, and pictures with dirty Santa.
Hanukkomedy
92YTribeca; 12/24 at 8 p.m.; 200 Hudson St., nr. Canal St.; 212-601-1000
There will be more jokes than you can spin a dreidel at when Liam McEneaney hosts a night featuring Sandy Marks, MC Mr. Napkins, Todd Barry, and Janeane Garofalo.
Heebonism
Le Poisson Rouge; 12/24 at 8 p.m.; 158 Bleecker St.., nr. Thompson St.; 212-505-3474
Presented by Heeb magazine, it’s a dance party for Hebrew hotties and those who love them, featuring Y-Love, Tes Uno, Diwon, and more.
The 8 Nights of Hanukkah with Yo La Tengo
Maxwell’s; 12/20-12/27 at 8 p.m.; 1039 Washington St., nr., at 11th St., Hoboken, NJ; 201-653-1703
The stalwarts will once again light up Hoboken with their annual Hanukkah residency, with each night featuring a musical and comedy guest (not divulged until the last minute, but past events included Marc Maron and Bonnie “Prince” Billy). The run is currently sold out, but hey, ‘tis the season for miracles.
Matzo Ball
Capitale; 12/24 at 9 p.m.; 130 Bowery, nr. Grand St.; 212-334-5500
Make your bubbe happy and find that special someone at this singles event in a historic landmark, thrown by JDate and the Society of Young Jewish Professionals.
I Lift My Lamp: A Statue-esque Hanukkah
Museum of Jewish Heritage ; 12/25 at 11 a.m.; 36 Battery Pl., at 1st Pl.; 646-437-4200
Statue of Liberty–themed music, crafts, and screenings, including the animated immigrant story An American Tail.