It will be hard to avoid free shows this Thursday evening, when Tel Aviv celebrates its annual White Night festival, marking the anniversary of UNESCO's declaration of the White City as a cultural world treasure. A myriad of performances hits the streets in this all-night affair, including movies, concerts, plays and sing-alongs. Even the Great Synagogue on Allenby will be hosting a night of concerts and lectures from 9 p.m. to dawn.
On the beaches of Tel Aviv, dance parties will be making waves featuring DJs from all over the world. Folk dancers should head for Gordon Beach from 10 p.m. on. Sing-alongs will also be beachside, as well as in the Tel Aviv Performing Arts plaza (Sderot Shaul Hamelech 19), lasting until 2 a.m.
Sing along with Bach at Beit Yad Lebanim (Pinchas 63), where the Tel Aviv Chamber Choir sings a selection of Bach chorales together with the audience (10 p.m.; the NIS 50 entrance fee includes a glass of wine).
Scat over to street jazz performances on Ben Gurion Blvd. and Diezengoff Square.
Shanti-tisch, a first-time collaboration between the world music singer Dindin Aviv and the post-klezmer female band Neshot Hava, takes place 11:30 p.m. at the Brodt Jewish Culture Center at 22 Zeitlin. In the same vein, jam to the funky Yiddish vibes at The Yung YiDiSH Center, which is celebrating its new locale at the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station. The Yung YiDiSH Variety Show opens the evening (8:30 p.m.), followed by the Oy-Division Klezmer Extravaganza (10 p.m.) and ending with a Meshuge Dance Party led by DJ Lustigmakher into the night.
The Klipa Theater will be showcasing the headline performance from its current visual arts festival at 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. at Sderot Rothchild 7.
Even more staid cultural institutions, such as The Tel Aviv Museum of Art, will be open through 2 a.m. The Tel Aviv Cinematheque will be showing an array of 1920s silent films accompanied by modern live music and English subtitles, with tickets at half price for Tel Aviv residents. The films include Fritz Lang's take on the Wagner opera Die Nibelungen and comic icon Buster Keaton in Cops.
Enjoy the last of the four nights of jazz, visual arts, night owl radio programs and vintage shopping at Jaffa's flea market.
Trendy restaurants will be serving set menus for a fixed price of NIS 76 throughout the White City weekend. Venues include Tahel, Kimmel, Brewhouse and Dita. More information at www.2eat.co.il
Thursday, June 28. Details at www.tel-aviv.gov.il.
