It’s that time of year again, when holiday season kicks in big time with Passover / Pessach, and both tourists and locals get spoilt for choice with a wide range of events and festivals to enjoy.
To make your lives easier, we’ve whittled down the wide variety of choices to TEN events, the ten things we think you should really try and check out this holiday season. Family friendly too!
One thing we’d recommend: Get there early, as almost everyone is on holiday so most places will get very busy very quickly. And if you’re thinking of heading to the Sea of Galilee for some camping, you might want to read this…
In no particular order…
The Salvador Dali Exhibition in Haifa
This awesome exhibition in Haifa features 500 pieces from the Spanish genius Salvador Dali, and runs for two weeks (22 March – 6 April). Watch out for the 35 amazing Dali statues, and yes, there are plenty of kids activities to enjoy too. Read more here.
Ein Gev celebrates Passover
One of our favorite spots at the Sea of Galilee, Ein Gev is hosting a number of great events, including: the Hebrew Song Festival (runs 27-31 March), a Thinking Games Compound (free to enter, runs in the afternoons 27-31 March), an Artist’s Fair (27-31 March), the impressive Loko Circus (30 March only), and a demo of the port firefighting crew (held 27 and 28 March 12:00-18:00). And don’t forget the regular Ein Gev attractions (see our review here). Call 04-6658030 for more details.
Jerusalem Ice Festival
The second Jerusalem Ice Festival runs throughout Pessach (actually it runs til the end of April). As with last year’s sellout success, the festival takes place at the Old Railway Station in Jerusalem. Good for all the family, but be warned, it’s not cheap. Read more here.
Dead Sea Ahava Music Festival
Catch some of Israel’s finest musicians at this annual Dead Sea festival. Expect to see, among others: Aviv Geffen, Yehudit Ravitz, Avraham Tal, Mosh Ben Ari, Barry Sakharov, Balkan Beat Box, and Yehuda Poliker. The festival runs from 27-30 March. Read more here.
Mini Israel’s ‘Hidden Treasure’ Musical
The awesome Mini Israel site is celebrating Pessach with the musical Hidden Treasure. The musical is perfect for the kids and all the family, and features some big names in Israeli TV (Tzippi Shavit, Hani Nahmias, and Miki Kam, among others). Call 1700-559-559 for more details. And don’t miss touring round the major sites of Israel in mini-me format – read more here!
King Herod Exhibition in Jerusalem
One of the must-see exhibitions of the year, this is the world’s first exhibition of King Herod, and features the life and legacy of one of the world’s great rulers. The exhibition is located at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, and runs til October. Read more here.
Derekh HaTavlinim (The Spicy Way)
The Spicy Way in Bethlehem of the Galilee is celebrating a Festival of the Senses (26 March – 1 April), and has some great little tours and activities for kids over Pessach, some of which are free. You can also check out their unique herb market, a marzipan workshop, and other great activities. Call 04-9533405 for more details.
Shvil HaTapuzim (The Orange Path)
Head to Shvil HaTapuzim (just after Hadera) for some fun activities over Pessach. There are some great outdoor activities for the kids, including bumper cars, mini-golf, trampolines of various sizes, kiddie pools and playgrounds, water slides, and even some arts and crafts. Call 0507-364540 for more details. Read more here.
Masada
There’s a whole ton of things to enjoy at this amazing mountain top fortress, including: The Last of Masada, a unique circus (runs from 27-31 March), Front Side, an audio-visual display of the amazing story of Masada (26-28 and 30 March – call 08-9959333), and Masada Camp, a campsite located at the foot of Masada, great for all the family (runs through Pessach, call 08-6280404). For more details, call 08-6584207/8.
Head to the beach…
With warmer weather definitely in the neighborhood, the beach is a great place to have some sun and fun. The beaches of Tel Aviv are always welcoming, but if you fancy something a little different, check out some of Israel’s best beaches. Don’t forget to slap on some sunscreen, those rays will be starting to hit the danger zone in March/April…
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Don’t forget…