I live on a moshav and can confirm that the celebrations are pretty darned unique, and just a little bit more than a good slice of cheesecake. There’s plenty of tractors doing some tricky maneuvers, folk dancing, kids singing, horses prancing, and some awesome kite flying once everything is over. Yep, it’s usually pretty windy come Shavuot time, which is always pretty useful when launching those kites…

Some of the kibbutzim and moshavs you can check out:

• Moshav Be’er Tuvia, in the south of Israel: Lots of activities spread over the weekend, including the annual Cow Beauty Pageant! Call 054-7780593 for more details. 
• Kibbutz Tzuba, a 15 minute drive from Jerusalem: Lots of Shavuot activities and shows between 12:00 and 16:00, with workshops for the kids and tractor drawn trailers for the kids to ride on. Call 02-5347952 for more details.
• Kibbutz Ein Shemer, just north of Hadera: Lots of good Shavuot things for the kids to do, including a tractor tour of the kibbutz. Call 04-6374327 for more details.
• Moshav Sarona, in the Lower Galilee: Free to enter, great show that starts at 17:30 and ends with some awesome kite-flying.

And here’s a taste of Shavuot on my moshav…

Click here to view the embedded video.

The annual Festival of Light in the Old City of Jerusalem will be taking place between June 6-14, and will be once again adding a stunning and dramatic dimension to the amazing Old City walls and alleyways.

If you enjoyed the Old City before, then head on over to this unique Light Festival to see this amazing place in a new light, quite literally!

The action takes place throughout the Old City, but a typically good starting point is Jaffa Gate, where much of the action kicks off. Events will start at 20:00 each night and shut down at 24:00 (Friday June 9th the festival will not be open).

This annual festival brings the world’s best light sculptors to the Old City. As well as some of their amazing works on display throughout the Old City, there is also a special daily opera production of Verdi’s La Traviata, held at Zedekiah’s Cave. In addition, the famous dance troupe Mayumana will also be performing at least two shows daily throughout the festival (there is an entrance fee, call 02-6237000 for details). For more details about the festival, see the official site: lightinjerusalem.org.il.

For a taste of what to expect at this amazing festival…

Click here to view the embedded video.

The legendary Canadian circus and street entertainers act, formed back in 1984, will be performing in Israel for the first time ever, from August 8th – 25th (extra shows have recently been added due to huge demand).

Cirque du Soleil will be presenting its amazing Alegria show, a show first created in 1994 and seen by over TEN MILLION people! The show presents Cirque du Soleil’s unique and stunning interpretation of the battle between classes and generations. In fact, the stunning technicalities that form part of the show were the initial stumbling block in bringing Cirque du Soleil to Israel, as they were adamant that the show be performed as it has been throughout the world.

Other highlights in the Alegria show include stunning acrobatic segments through sensational dance sequences, all set in a weird and quite wonderful fantasy world, with more than 50 actors taking part.

For ticket details, call *8965. Ticket prices range between 220 and 360 shekels.

And for a glimpse of what to expect from Cirque du Soleil…

Click here to view the embedded video.

The annual Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade hits town on Friday the 8th June!

It’s not by accident that Tel Aviv was recently voted the world’s top Gay City – and with one of the biggest annual pride parades in Europe, there’s surely little doubt of Tel Aviv’s openness and liberalism.

The Pride Parade as per usual is preceded by a week-long party, with Gay Pride Week events running from June 1st til June 8th, including chillout sets every day on Hilton Beach from some of Israel’s leading club DJs; that amazingly colorful and happening parade will be wrapping up the week’s festivities.

The Gay Pride Parade actually sets off at 13:00 from Bograshov Street, and goes through Ben Yehuda Street and Arlozorov Street, ending up at Gordon Beach for a humdinger of a closing party that starts at 15:00. At the party on Gordon Beach you can catch sets by DJ Ofer Nissim and Elliyott, Tal Cohen (Shirazi) and Avihai Partok, while electronic ensemble TYP, hitting it big in Europe at the moment, will also be performing.

Be warned – Tel Aviv will be jammed and traffic will be a nightmare!

Catch more on the official Facebook page.

And for a taste of what to expect from the Tel Aviv Pride Parade…

Click here to view the embedded video.

These two legends, a huge part of one of the all-time great bands, will be performing at the Raanana Amphitheater on June 23, which is just outside Tel Aviv. Manzarek and Krieger were here last year and have returned to give their huge fan base in Israel something to smile about. They might be getting on a bit, but class is always class…

Tickets are now on sale for 199 shekels, for more details call 03-5107070.

These guys perform The Doors and a little bit more of The Doors…so if you still need reminding of just what The Doors were all about and that a 70-year old guitarist can still rock with the Gods…and is that Jimbo singing???

Click here to view the embedded video.

They will be playing at Tel Aviv’s Barby Club on June 15th and 16th. Tickets are priced at 250 shekels on the door, or 220 shekels if you pre-order (call 03-5188123).

The Afghan Whigs were originally formed in the 80s and went on to release a number of successful albums through the 90s, til their split in 2001. They briefly reformed in 2006, but this new world tour marks the 25th anniversary of their first live gig back in 1987…

Expect a rockin’ show – here’s a taste of what you can expect…

Click here to view the embedded video.

The exhibition runs from the 21 May to the end of August, and is located at HaTachana, one of Tel Aviv’s best sites if you’re out and about and looking for a whole range of shopping, eating and arty things to do and see (read our full guide to HaTachana here).

We’re not sure if it’s on the same scale as the amazing Body Worlds exhibition which was in Israel a couple of years ago – and which we enjoyed and reviewed here – but it does look like a great little exhibition to check out. Yes, plenty of inner bits and bobs, and slices of human bodies to goggle at – NOT an exhibition for the squeamish!

Opening hours: Sun-Thurs and Saturday 10:00 – 22:00, Friday 10:00 – 14:00. There is an entrance fee of 59 shekels, but various discounts are in place for pensioners, soldiers and certain credit card holders – so check at the door.

Recommended for kids, but from age 11+.

And for those of you who can’t get enough of the internal workings of the human body, there is another exhibition, The Human Body, scheduled to open in the Jaffa Port on June 27…tis the season for bodies!

They were previously here in 2010 for two sold out gigs, and have returned to keep their Israeli fan base happy with concerts at Hangar 11 in Tel Aviv (June 16) and the Beersheva Performing Arts Center (June 17). No news yet of ticket prices, but as soon as we get some info we’ll post it here.

The Alan Parsons Project was primarily composed of keyboardist Alan Parsons and singer Eric Woolfson, who were the core of the band since the start in 1975, though split up before Woolfson’s death in 2009. The Project today is made up of Alan Parsons and some awesome session musicians.

Here’s a taste of what they got up to on their last concert in Tel Aviv two years ago…superb front row view!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Israeli press has declared that he is about to sign on the dotted line to close a date and venue – as soon as we get more details we’ll post them here!

Now 72, the Welsh singing legend (real name Sir Thomas John Woodward!) has had a string of hits over the years, including the legendary Sex Bomb, It’s Not Unusual, Kiss and What’s New Pussycat. The man has sold over 100 million records since his first single was released back in 1964. And despite his renowned womanizing (the pic on the right is for those of you who care), Tom has remained married to Melinda since 1957!

Israel awaits you, Sir Thomas!

In the meantime, here’s a little bit of a classic for you…just to show what Tom can do!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here they are, performing their classic “A Wind of Change”, LIVE in Tel Aviv!

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Yes, there haven’t been too many dragon boat races over the years in the Holy Land, but thanks to the initiative of DBI (Dragon Boat Israel), a Canadian-Israel venture, you can now experience the fun and adventure behind a dragon boat race for the very first time.

You can’t register to take part as all slots are full (there are 39 teams racing, including 19 international teams), but there’s plenty more to check out, including the Dragon Boat races themselves, which are spread over a few hours on May 18, arts and crafts stands, food stalls, a beer garden, jugglers, kids activities, drum workshops, dance troupes, and some live bands.

The fun for racers takes place on the waters of the Sea of Galilee; the fun for spectators takes place at the Ma’agan Eden Hotel, a Kibbutz guest house and resort located on the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee. If you’re coming to cheer the teams on and have a beer in the beer garden, there’s an entrance fee of 15 shekels for adults, 5 shekels for kids.

This unique first-time festival could well be the start of something beautiful…and with their goal “to bring people to the north of Israel for an exciting, team-focused event that builds community, supports Israeli charities, fosters cultural awareness and promotes tourism”, it sounds good to us!

For more info, see the official website: www.dragonboatisrael.com

And here’s a practice dragon boat run from a couple of months ago, just to give you a taste of the action…

Click here to view the embedded video.

According to Israeli press, J.Lo – the American actress, businesswoman, dancer and recording artist regarded as the most successful entertainer of Latin descent (including almost 60 million record sales) – is in final negotiations to fix a date. The venue has been confirmed as the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv, the date and ticket prices yet to be confirmed – as soon as we get any news, we’ll post it!

She will be apparently touring late in the year with Enrique Iglesias, a man who has wowed Tel Aviv in the past, but will apparently be performing in Israel alone.

J.Lo has staged a remarkable singing comeback over the last year or two and has added to her fan base, a base that was in its ultimate at the turn of the Millenium…and here’s a little reminder of what she can do…Tel Aviv awaits you J.Lo!

Click here to view the embedded video.