If you’re looking for something quite awesomely medieval, set amid the ancient buildings of Jerusalem’s Old City, then head on over to the Jerusalem Knights Festival in November!
Held on each Thursday evening through November, this Festival – also known as The City of Lions Festival – promises to bring a medieval buzz to the Old City but will be suitable for all the family (apparently no wenches were available…). Best of all – it’s FREE!
Thanks to a collaboration with the Italian Carnival of Venice, the Festival will have a truly international flavor, with among many other things, music, stunts, mask workshops, jousting, a knights feast, and magical characters (think court jesters, princesses, magicians and so on) from medieval times located throughout the alleyways of the Old City.
The famous Italian performer Massimo Andreoli will be here for the first time, and he’ll be leading the artistic side of the Festival. He’ll be accompanied by a large troup of performers from Venice.
The Festival will take place on each Thursday between the 3rd and 24th November, each evening kicking off at 18:00. The circular route of the Festival starts and ends at the Jaffa Gate. One spot to watch out for: Muristan Square in the Christian Quarter, where the Italian Knights will be putting in what is billed as a “spectacular performance”. Also keep an eye out for scary medieval characters who will be popping up and interacting with the public along the route!
The action officially lasts till 23:00, but if you find some dragons to slay, it could last a wee longer…and if you’re feeling peckish the Old City cafes and those on Mamilla Boulevard (close to Jaffa Gate) will be open most of the night.