When should I come to Israel?
Special Events
Calendar
Not everyone is free to choose their dates wen it comes to planning a trip to Israel. If you are a family with kids, winter and summer breaks are your only opportunities, but they are high season. If you are able to come during low seasons, you might find cheaper prices on hotels and flights. Within those times you have perfect weather in October-November and from March to mid-May when it is not too hot and still highly unlikely to rain. Coming during the Sukkot and Passover holidays, while religiously significant for many people, are also high season and the roads and sights are incredibly packed as Israelis are also on vacation (Chanukah also for that matter). That being said, if you are free to pick your dates, there are some special times of year to visit during which you can experience holidays, festivals and unique events which could end up being major highlights of your trip. Even if your dates are set, take a look at the list below to see if you can add something special to your tour.
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TECH EVENTS There are a number of tech and investor events each year in Israel, but the months often change. These include the Our Crowd conference, AXIS Tel Aviv, Fintech Week Tel Aviv, Cybertech Israel and conferences on Agrotech, A.I., Biotech and more. For a list of the 2020 conferences click here: https://www.gkigroup.com/best-tech-conferences-israel-attend-2020/
Please note that, while the following are yearly events, occasionally they are held a month earlier or later. As such, even if you are planning, for example, a trip in March, make sure to take a look at February and April as well.
I’m highlighting some of the more major/famous things...
JANUARY
Sea of Galilee Marathon
Made in China Festival (New Year’s) in Tel Aviv
Nightlight Festival (performances) in Tel Aviv
Eilat Chamber Music Festival
Israman Ironman Triathalon
FEBRUARY
So French So Food (Tel Aviv)
Dead Sea Marathon
Sommelier (Wine) Exhibition in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv Marathon
Red Sea Jazz Festival
Red Sea Guitar Festival
Darom Adom (wildflowers in the south)
MARCH
Wildflower season
Tel Aviv Mud Run
Purim (many street parties, raves, etc.)
Harucon Convention (Japanese anima/manga) in Jerusalem
Fattal Rock Festival Eilat (Israeli rock music)
Felicja Blumental International Music Festival in Tel Aviv
Jerusalem Marathon
Eilat Birds Festival
Tel Aviv Zombie Walk
APRIL
Automotor Car Show in Tel Aviv
Israel Beer Festival in Tel Aviv
Yom HaShoah - Israeli Holocaust Memorial Day
Yom HaZikaron - Israeli Memorial Day
Yom HaAtzmaut - Israeli Independence Day
Note: All 3 of the above can also fall in May (we go by the Hebrew calendar) and I would say this time period is the most special and meaningful (and in the case of Independence Day, the most fun) time of year to be in Israel.
MAY
Lag BaOmer
Jerusalem Day
DocAviv (documentary film)
Tel Aviv Eat
Fresh Paint - Israeli art and design festival in Tel Aviv
Israel Festival in Jerusalem
Midburn Festival in the Negev
JUNE
Vegan Fest (Tel Aviv)
Tel Aviv Cocktail Week
Gay Pride Week/Parade
LGBT Film Festival
Abu Gosh Vocal Music Festival
Jerusalem Design Week
Israel Mobile Summit
Arabesque Music Festival in Akko
New Orleans Jazz Festival (Tel Aviv)
Comedy for Koby
Tel Aviv White Nights (all-night concerts/events)
JULY
Jerusalem Lights Festival
Jerusalem Film Festival
Karmiel Dance Festival
AUGUST
Jerusalem Wine Festival
Jerusalem Beer Festival
Jerusalem Puppet Festival
Red Sea Jazz Festival
International Arts & Crafts Fair (and concerts) in Jerusalem
Safed Klezmer Festival
Shepherds Beer Festival in Bethlehem
SEPTEMBER
OFFTLV Visual Design Festival
Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival
Jerusalem Sacred Music Festival
Mekudeshet Festival in Jerusalem
DLD Innovation Festival in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv Open Houses Week
OCTOBER
Akko International Fringe Festival
DGTL Festival (DJs) in Tel Aviv
Tamar Israeli Music Festival at Masada
Jerusalem March (during Sukkot) by Christian communities around the world
Haifa International Film Festival
InDNegev Festival (Israeli music)
Tel Aviv Night Run
Israel Music Festival
ALYN Wheels of Love Charity Bike Ride
NOVEMBER
Jerusalem Open House Festival
Piano Festivals in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
EDM Festival (DJs) in Tel Aviv
Origami Convention
Tel Aviv Illustration Week
Israeli Photography Convention
Yoga Arava Festival
Olive Festival in Galilee
International Oud Festival in Jerusalem
SoLow Haifa Music Festival
DECEMBER
Jewish Film Festival in Jerusalem
International Photography Festival in Tel Aviv
Jerusalem Jazz Festival
Tel Aviv Jazz Festival
Christmas Market in Nazareth
Holiday of Holidays (multicultural festival) in Haifa
Western Galilee Winter Christmas Festival
Run the City Tel Aviv
Chanukah
Christmas Eve in Bethlehem
Taste of Galilee Food Festival
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