Out and About: Top 10 things to do

Rishon Lezion holds its own Succot music festival of stars with big names such as Yehudit Ravitz, Ivri Lider, Berry Sakharof, Marina Maximillian and Mayumana.

Singer Marina Maximilian (photo credit: Omer Mesinger)
Singer Marina Maximilian
(photo credit: Omer Mesinger)
Festival of firsts
The 29th Haifa International Film Festival, which opened last night at the Haifa Cinematheque and other venues around the city, features the best of recent international and Israeli cinema. As always, there will be a number of special events, such as an encounter with acclaimed British filmmaker Peter Greenaway and gala screenings of new movies.For more information on the festival and to order tickets, go to haifaff.co.il
Tricks and Illusions
Experience amusing illusions in art and try your hand at creating illusions: Take a peek into a room that distorts height and width, discover what happens when you cut a Mobius strip, draw a hand that turns three-dimensional, look at yourself in an infinite mirror, and create movement in a work of art.Sunday to Tuesday, Youth Wing Activity Yard, Israel Museum, Jerusalem. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ages 6 and up (NIS 25). Free entrance to the museum for children on hol hamoed Succot (ages 17 and under, not including workshops, performances and groups). Free entrance for all on September 25.
Magical sounds
The bar mitzva edition of the annual children’s Tzlilei Yaldut Festival at the Holon Theater opens Sunday, offering delightfully crafted program for the whole family. The rich roster offers such highlights as Sarit Hadad and quintet; the iConcert “classical music with 3D technology,” with actor-comedian Idan Alterman; workshops for budding violinists; and a few dance and music shows, including a performance of Clothes Stories by the Fresco dance company.
For tickets and more information about the Tzlilei Yaldut Festival: (03) 502-3001 and www.hth.co.il
Plenty of alternatives
Visitors to the North are in for quite a fun and eye-opening time at the 34th edition of the Acre Festival of Alternative Israeli Theater, which takes place Saturday to Tuesday. The 11 shows selected for the competition category feed off a wide range of subject matter. As always, there will be a multitude of outdoor shows.
For tickets and more information: (04) 955-2541 and www.accofestival.co.il.
The magic of dance
Take your pick from a rich roster of dance and theater performances for the whole family at the Suzanne Dellal Center’s three-day Succot Dance Magic festival. There will be numerous excellent dance performances, workshops with famous choreographers, free street shows and more.
Saturday to Monday. Street shows will take place between 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. For tickets, call (03) 510-5656 www.suzannedellal.org.il
Opera for kids
The Opera Hour series continues this year, exposing children (three to eight) to the magic of opera. During Succot, the Israeli Opera’s soloists will perform Cinderella on Sunday; The Magic Flute on Monday; and Mozart’s Surprise Box on Tuesday. All performances take place at 10:30 a.m. in the foyer of the Opera House in Tel Aviv.
For tickets, call (03) 692-7777. www.israelopera.co.il.Music all around
Rishon Lezion holds its own Succot music festival of stars with big names such as Yehudit Ravitz, Ivri Lider, Berry Sakharof, Marina Maximillian (pictured) and Mayumana. The week-long music festival also offers gastronomical delights and wine tastings.
For tickets, call (03) 966-6141 www.hakartis.co.il
Up , up, and away
Twenty-eight leading hot-air balloon crews from around the world will partake in the Gilboa Hot-Air Balloon Festival, the largest ever held in Israel. Dozens of balloons will fill the air, and there will be air acrobatics shows and more. Sunday to Monday at Ma’ayan Harod and Tuesday at the Eshkol National Park in the Negev.
There will also be many other attractions for kids and grown-ups.
For tickets and information, go to http:// gobalon.co.il.Birds and other animals
Fall is the time to watch the birds, and there is no better opportunity than during Succot. Experienced bird-watching guides will lead the way in the bird-watching event in the Negev, taking participants on day and night tours tracking migrating birds and other winged creatures.
For more information, call 050-571-5946.The land of our forefathers
Experience the land of the Bible in Samaria, where there will be many attractions such as open houses of artists and cooks. At Sebastia, actors dressed in costume will perform as biblical characters and guide the visitors. Free.
Sunday to Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (03) 906-6402, www.tourshomron.org.il.