Herzliya Adloyada takes Purim revelers on a tour around the world

Children dressed as IDF soldiers and ultra-Orthodox danced side by side with tigers, cowboys and Brazilian soccer players as Herzliya residents lined the streets Thursday for the city’s annual Purim Adloyada parade.The event, in only its second year, was the Sharon Region’s largest, taking revelers on a trip around the world.Giant floats featuring iconic landmarks of foreign countries – including the US, India, Europe, Brazil and, of course, Israel – paraded down the main streets of the city, followed by some 2,400 pupils from the city’s elementary and middle schools marching in themed costumes while performing choreographed dances. In addition, some 400 flags from countries around the world were featured and carried by the children. Thousands of the city’s residents and visitors lined the streets to enjoy the warm, sunny weather and cheer on the procession.“It’s great that the city is continuing to have an Adloyada, it’s not as big as the one in Holon and that’s why I like it, it’s a great alternative that’s close to home,” said Tami, who came with her two younger children to cheer on her eldest daughter as she marched in the parade.“Her school was chosen to represent Brazil,” she said proudly. “They’ve been preparing and practicing for some time and their costumes are adorable."“We were here last year for the first time and my kids loved the fairy tale, Disney theme,” she said. “Though it seems they are really enjoying it this year too.”The name Adloyada is derived from the rabbinic saying that one should drink on Purim “Ad delo yada” (until one no longer knows) the difference between “blessed be Mordechai” and “cursed be Haman.”Last year, Herzliya successfully celebrated its first ever Adloyada to the theme of fairy tales, with Mayor Moshe Fadlon even parading on a giant float dressed in a Peter Pan costume.“The great success of last year’s Adloyada and the enthusiastic response of the [city’s] residents encouraged us to bring joy to parents and children again this year, and all of this comfortably and close to home,” Fadlon said ahead of this year’s celebration.While the majority of revelers were residents of Herzliya, some came to view the procession from afar, opting to skip the larger Purim celebrations in Holon and Tel Aviv.“Our friends invited us to come to here and I’m really glad we did – there wasn’t a lot of traffic and no parking problems and I didn’t want to deal with the massive amount of people in Holon or even throughout Tel Aviv,” said Ayelet, a resident of Givatayim who brought her three-year-old daughter, dressed as Minnie Mouse, to see the parade.“My daughter is just mesmerized by the children dancers and the trucks driving by,” she said. “It was a great decision to come here and a really nice parade, just the kind of activity I was looking for.”The parade began at 10 a.m. from Ben Shefer garden and continued along a 1.3-km. route down Sokolov and Ben-Gurion streets – two of the city’s central roads – to “Sha’ar Ha’ir” (City Gate) near the municipality building. Following the parade, spectators were entertained by children’s activities, gymborees, dances and musical performances.