Top 10 things to do in Herzliya this summer

Not far from Tel Aviv, Israel’s coastal resort of Herzliya offers a host of festivals throughout the summer.

By ABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN WWW.ISRAEL21C.ORG
Jetskis 370 (photo credit: wikimedia commons)
Jetskis 370
(photo credit: wikimedia commons)
Not far from Tel Aviv, Israel’s coastal resort of Herzliya offers a host of festivals throughout the summer. Many of the events take place at Accadia Beach or Herzliya Marina, the largest marina in the Mediterranean Basin.
If you’re in the area between June and September, hit Herzliya for one or more of these festivals:
1. Musikaitz (a contraction of the Hebrew words for “music” and “summer”) features music, poetry and dance performances every Sunday from June to August in Ben-Shefer Park.
2. Classical music concerts at sunset are open to the public in Herzliya Park every Saturday night at 7 p.m., from June through September.
3. Music Festival on the Water takes place every Tuesday at 8 p.m. in July and August at the Herzliya Marina Plaza. Performances are by musical ensembles from all over the world.
4. Jazz at Sunset, a new series in Herzliya, runs every Thursday in July and August, from 7-9 p.m. at the Accadia Beach Boardwalk.
Before each show, students from the West Herzliya Conservatory perform in the outdoor amphitheater at the entrance to the promenade.
Bring your own chairs or mats.
5. Israeli folk dancing at the Marina beach gets going every Saturday morning at 10:30 and lasts until 2:30 p.m. If you prefer beach volleyball, there are courts all along the beach, open into the night hours.
6. Goldstar Zappa on the Beach Festival, June 19-21 at South Accadia Beach is a great opportunity to catch performances by leading Israeli artists such as Berry Sakharov, Balkan Beat Box and Meir Banai. Food stalls, bars and arts and crafts vendors will be set up along the beachfront.
7. Watch a jet-ski competition on June 22 at South Accadia Beach, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
8. The Dining on the Water Festival takes place July 3 and 4 along the beach boardwalk, from 4-11 p.m. Some of Herzliya’s top hotels and restaurants will offer reasonably priced samples of boutique cheeses, smoked sausage, artichokes, sautéed chestnuts, gourmet desserts, boutique beers and Israeli wine.
Live performances, cooking classes and other activities are available, and there is no admission charge.
9.The Samuel Adams Longshot Competition and Beer Festival at the Herzliya Marina will run from 6-11 p.m. on July 18 and 19, open to ages 18 and up.
Sample more than 100 different types of boutique beers to the sounds of live music, and root for your favorite home brew to win a prize.
10. The End-of-Summer Beach Party on September 28 is a free extravaganza at Accadia Beach, complete with DJ music, beach sports, aerobics, zumba and kickboxing sessions, a designer fair and food and beverage stalls.