By YOCHEVED LAUREN LAUFERHIDE AND seek at the Tower of David Museum.(photo credit: RIKKI RACHMAN)
Hamantashen are in the oven, the mishloach manot are wrapped and the perfect costume is ready to be donned. All that’s left is to decide is where to celebrate Purim. Wherever you and your family live in Israel, there are tons of fun events taking place throughout the country. Here are some Purim events that won’t break your budget (events are at no cost unless otherwise noted):NahariyaTHE NAHARIYA MALL will celebrate with two days of continuous fun on February 28 and March 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with musical performances by the characters from the kid’s television show Metosay Al (Super Jets) and children’s television star Guy Friedman. The holiday entertainment will also include activity stations, art workshops, a costume contest with awards, a hula hoop booth and a juggling workshop.HaifaTHE LEV HAMIFRATZ MALL will bring on the magic on Purim! On February 28 and March 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., fall under a spell with magic-related activities and workshops for children, where participants can bring home magnets with their picture on it. In addition to the activities, four mystifying performances will take place over the two days. On Wednesday at 1:15 p.m., there will be an interactive performance with Gustapo the Magician and at 6:30 p.m., a comedy show with Ginny the Magician. On Thursday at 1:15 p.m. an unbelievable show will take place with Magic Man and at 6:30 p.m., illusion master Tomer Dudai will star in a performance.Netanya“GILI IS COMING” rocks up to the Alon Mall in Netanya this holiday with a musical performance for the whole family. In addition to the popular children’s star, there will also be a makeup station, balloon artist, art workshops, musical stilt walkers and a farmers market. The fun-filled festivities take place over two days, on February 28 at 5:30 p.m. and March 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Tel AvivDIZENGOFF CENTER hosts an extreme happening in which visitors will compete with each other in a laser-tag complex and engage in combat, neutralize bombs and capture the flag. Other activities include an interactive magic show, remote-control cars, games such as darts and bowling, and more. March 1 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and March 2 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.JerusalemTHE TOWER OF DAVID offers a challenging and exciting game of hide and seek under the title “Where Is the King?” Participants will help the clown find the missing king while touring the museum, solving riddles and climbing on the walls of the tower. The activity, free for children and NIS 40 for adults, will take place on March 1 at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., and March 2 at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. For more information and tickets visit www.tod.org.il/purim-201HADAR MALL is bringing a circus for Purim, along with other activities for the whole family on March 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The fun will take place on the second floor of the mall at three separate spots with games such as darts, hula hoops and wheel of fortune. Children will also have the chance to receive prizes for playing games and can indulge in tattoos, face painting and hair braiding.THE ISRAEL MUSEUM is offering free entrance to children on Purim and is showcasing a special display of 3,000-year-old masks from the Phoenician period. In addition to free entrance to the museum, children will also be granted free entrance to the exhibition Ai Weiwei Maybe, Maybe Not on March 1 and March 2.The Israel Museum is also offering, for NIS 15 per child, various activities that will take place over the holiday. On March 1, narrator and actress Chani Nachmias of the Israeli Stage Orchestra will bring to life the folktale Peter and the Wolf at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., children from age three to nine can enjoy a cat and dog mask art workshop, a recycling workshop and an animal carnival. The fun continues on March 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with another recycling workshop, an animal carnival; story time for children from age four to eight will commence at 11 a.m.AshkelonTHE ASHKELON CHUTZOT MALL, on March 1 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., invites all to participate in interactive quizzes, a costume contest with prizes worth hundreds of shekels, mask decorating workshops, a photo booth, a makeup station, a professional balloon artist and more.BeershebaBEERSHEBA RIVER PARK hosts pop stars Noa Kirel, Sarit Hadad, Avior Melesa and Alon de Loco on March 1, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to the musical acts, there will be dance performances, creative workshops and activities for the entire family.
