Tel Aviv City Guide - Special Events

All Jewish religious festivals and holidays (like Shabbat) are 24 hours long, starting the previous evening at nightfall and ending at nightfall. Jewish religious festivals are fixed according to the ancient Jewish calendar, so tend to fall on a different date every year. Muslim and Christian holidays are also observed by the respective populations.

Tu b'Shvat ('New Year of Trees'), Jan-Feb, an annual one-day celebration of nature, throughout the city
Purim, Mar, a day of parades, fancy dress and partying (the story of Esther is read in synagogues), throughout the city
Pesach (Passover), usually Apr (starts with 'Seder Night' festive meal on evening of 2 Apr 2007, 19 Apr 2008, etc), nothing with yeast or which is 'leavened' is allowed all week – that includes bread and beer, first and last days are public holidays, throughout the city
Yom HaShoah, Apr-May, memorial day for victims of the Holocaust, throughout the city
Yom Hazikaron, Apr-May, memorial day for all who died defending the State of Israel, throughout the city
Israel Independence Day, usually May, celebrations of the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948, throughout the city
Tel Aviv Pride, Jun, Israel's biggest, loudest, most ostentatious gay celebration, throughout the city
Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), usually May, celebrations of the reunification of Jerusalem and the return to Jewish rule in 1967, also celebrated throughout Tel Aviv
Shavuot (Pentecost), May-Jun, two-day festival of first fruits and of the giving of the Torah to the Jews, throughout the city
Tisha b'Av (Nineth of the Hebrew month Av), Aug, a religious fast day commemorating the destruction of the Temple, only observed by the religious
Jaffa Nights, mid-Aug, annual four-day street festival of music, theatre, dance and art exhibitions, Old Jaffa
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), Sep-Oct, two-day family celebrations, throughout the city
Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), usually Oct, 10 days after Rosh Hashanah, solemn religious fast day, widely observed, throughout the city
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), Sep-Oct, for a week colourful little shelters and 'booths' are erected everywhere, starts four days after Yom Kippur, throughout the city
Wine Festival, during Sukkot, Rishon Le-Zion, south of Tel Aviv
Love Parade, Oct, huge seafront party and parade with techno music, Tel Aviv promenade
Rabin Memorial Day, Oct-Nov, anniversary of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's murder marked by big peace rally in Rabin Square
Chanukah (Festival of Lights), Dec, in homes, workplaces, and in the street, hanukkiot candelabras are lit in the evening with one extra candle each night for a week, throughout the city
Christmas, 24-25 Dec, is celebrated by some shops and hotels catering to tourists
New Year's Eve, 31 Dec, widely celebrated with parties and dinners, city centre

Note: *Only the first and last days of Passover and Sukkot are national holidays, but there may be some disruption on intermediate dates; many shops and businesses may open but close early. The festival of Chanukah is a holiday period, but it is not a national holiday – businesses remain open.