Lock up your daughters: these puppets mean business.

It's winter, and there's a faint whiff of approaching holidays in the air, even here in Jerusalem...or maybe that's just the delicious, delicious smell of sufganiyot (Hanukkah donuts) in the morning. And it's also festival time. Hamshushalaim madness kicks into full swing this evening, and it's your best (and by that we mean cheapest) chance all year to take in dozens of Jerusalem museums, restaurants and cultural venues. So get to it:

• First off, don't forget to check out our full Hamshushalaim listings (so far) to find out what you can expect in terms of discounts and special events this weekend. 

• Tonight features the final performance of the International Oud Festival, specially marked down for Hamshushalaim.

• March along with hometown brass band Marsh Dondurma from Mamilla to the Jaffa Gate - just like in New Orleans, except nobody had to die first.

• Fresh off a triumphant opening gig for Deep Purple, foul-mouthed washed-up American rock 'n' roll puppet Red, star of the Israeli comedy Red Band, will be appearing alongside his puppet compatriots for a performance at Dublin Friday morning.

• PREPARE FOR YOUR DOOM ON FRIDAY FOR IT IS METAL FEST AT THE YELLOW SUBMARINE. Headbangers need apply.

• Is there any non-meta theater in Jerusalem? Not at the Khan. Check out longtime favorite production Happiness on Saturday.

• Nurit Galron is a great name. And also a decent '70s Israeli rocker. Check her Saturday night at Beit Avi Chai.

• Beloved children's production Journey Behind the Scenes, which teaches kids about the magic (and the nuts and bolts) of stage productions, is back at the Jerusalem Theatre on Sunday.

• Also at the Theatre Sunday is the Andalusian Orchestra, a collective of Jerusalem's finest Arab musicians.

• You probably can't learn to be funny if you're not, but that won't stop Off the Wall Comedy maven David Kilimnick from trying to teach you on Monday.

• Lucky you, you get another chance to see a thoughtful theatrical presentation of the prickly relationship between a white supremacist and his Jewish attorney on Monday when Skinhead returns to the Lab.

• Dig Chick Corea? Then should enjoy Tal Babitsky, performing free Tuesday evening at the Yellow Sub.

• The stage version of the Diary of Anne Frank is coming to Beit Shmuel on Wednesday - and it's in English too.

• And just in case you were worried you had too much of a life...head down to the Merkaz Wednesday for a nightlong beer-soaked Friends marathon. 

And, as always, don't feel limited by our picks. Check out the full listings for this week's events for yourself. Have a good one.

Image courtesy of Red Band.