These Hanukah events are practically gelt-free

Hanukah starts tonight and continues until Wednesday, Dec. 28 — which means it’s one of those rare years where it coincides with Christmas. Maybe that’s why there’s so much going on this year, starting with not-so-beardy-dude Matisyahu’s three-night gig for a not-so-Brokelyn $35 a ticket. (Better roll gimmel!) If your only coinage this year is the chocolate kind, you can still party like a Maccabee, from the lighting of Brooklyn’s largest menorah to a couple of indie rock shows to a night of bubbe jokes and free beer. So get out there and save Chinese food and a movie (“Jewish Christmas”) for some other time.

Tonight
Grand Army Plaza
Head to Prospect Park tonight at 5:45 for the lighting of Brooklyn’s 32-foot menorah, complete with Mayor Bloomberg and Marty Markowitz cameos and a juggling show. Every night there will be live music, hot latkes and gifts for children.
Other lighting times as follows: Dec. 21 & 22, 6 p.m.; Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m.; Dec. 24, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 25 – 28, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 21
Hanukkah Rock
A multi-band show featuring The Shodes (Jewish Indy-Rock), Yiddish Princess (guitar and vocal power-pop), and Schmekel (an all-transgender Jewcore band. Seriously.)
Co-presented by Jews For Racial and Economic Justice
Southpaw, 125 Fifth Ave (near Sterling Pl.), Park Slope, 8 p.m., $10

Wednesday, Dec. 21
Comedy Night
Featuring comedians Danny Lobell (Comical Radio), Nick Vatterott (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon), Myq Kaplan (Last Comic Standing), Chris Iacono (Comical Radio), Jamie Lee (Last Comic Standing), and Adam Newman (Montreal Comedy). Free beer, courtesy of Sixpoint
The Greenpoint Shul, 108 Noble St., 8 p.m., $10

Wednesday, Dec. 21 & Thursday, Dec. 22
Latkes & Vodkas by Major League Dreidel
Spin like a pro in the high stakes game of MLD. Wednesday night is “Gelt Roulette,” a traditional spinning competition; Thursday night, dreidel meets curling and shuffleboard in a game called Target Tops.
Full Circle Bar, 318 Grand St., Williamsburg, 8 p.m., free.

Thursday, Dec 22
CHANUKAH FEST 2011
A night of a wide variety of music featuring Price (heavy metal), Rocka Zion (reggae) , Blanket Statementstein, and Moshiach Oi!! (punk).
Public Assembly, 70 N. 6th St., Williamsburg, 8:30,  $5

Follow Marti: @MartiZabell.