The Israeli flag displayed on the Tel Aviv municipality
The Israeli flag displayed on the Tel Aviv municipalityMiriam Alster/Flash90

Thursday night marks the arrival of the Tel Aviv White Night (Laila Lavan) – the biggest cultural event in Israel’s party capital.

This year’s roster of free and low-cost beach concerts and parties, musical, theater and dance performances, special exhibitions and street fairs takes place all through the night from June 30 to July 1 throughout the streets, squares, courtyards and auditoriums of the city.

Additionally, many restaurants, bars and stores remain open all night.

Here is a selection of what to expect:

Free Events

  • Street Art Europa – The European Union (sans Britain) is presenting five hours of arts and crafts workshops. Some of the exhibits will be interactive, and there will be a dance party at the end of the night.
    Where: 1 Rothschild Boulevard.
    When: 8 p.m. –1 a.m.
  • Concerts at Jaffa - Head over to Jaffa Port and catch a variety of tunes.
    Where: Jaffa Port
    When: 8:00 p.m.
  • Radio TLV Silent Disco – Headphone Party.
    Where: Rabin Square
    When 8:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
  • Jazz Orchestra
    Where: Sarona complex, Tel Aviv-Yafo
    When: 8:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
  • Swing Dance Party – Dance classes and swing performances by Holy Land Swing Dance School.
    Where: Dizengoff Square
    When: 9:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
  • 360 A White Night Panorama – Premiere of a panoramic film screened on the front wall of the Cinematheque, followed by all-night screenings, including a Star Wars marathon that starts at midnight.
    Where: Cinematheque
    When: 9 p.m.

Paid Events

  • White/Purple Night – Tribute to Price with concerts and movies.
    Where: Ozen Bar, 48 King George Street
    When: 10:00 p.m.
    Cost: 35 NIS
  • White Night Pub Crawl – Free booze and fast-tracked club entrance.
    Where: Rothschild Boulevard
    When: 9:30 p.m.
    Cost: 80 NIS
  • Pajama Party – An entire night of family-friendly programming, including activities, music and more. Dress code is pajama chic.
    Where: Eretz Israel Museum, 2 Chaim Levanon Street
    When: 6:00 p.m.
    Cost: 30 NIS
  • White Night Rooftop Techno Party
    Where: 25 King George Street
    When: 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.
    Cost: 20 NIS

Road Closures

Many streets will be blocked for traffic in light of the events. Israeli police call for visitors to use public transport and park in lots throughout the city.

Beginning at 9 p.m. the following roads will be closed:

  • Allenby Street – from Ha-Moshavot Square to Herbert Samuel St. in both directions
  • Rotschild Boulevard – from Herzl St. to Marmorek St. in both directions
  • Herbert Samuel Boardwalk
  • Kauffman and Hayarkon Streets – from Yerushalayim Ave. to Shalag St. in borth directions
  • Yerushalyim Avenue – from Derech Ben Tzvi to Eilat street, heading northbound
  • Tel Aviv Port Area – Rokach Boulevard and Hayarkon St. will be blocked between Ibn Gabirol St. and Sderot Nordau.
  • Rabin Square complex - Ibn Gabirol Street will be blocked to traffic from Arlozoroff St. to Sderot Shaul Hamelech in both directions.

Depending on traffic jams in the city, police may choose to block main arteries heading west into the city in the following stages:

  • Stage 1: Roads heading westbound off of Ibn Gabirol Street will be blocked to traffic including Nordau Boulevard, Basel, Arlozorov, Frishman, Dizengoff and Marmorek streets
  • Stage 2: Roads heading westbound off of Derech Namir and Menachem Begin will be blocked including Rokach Bld, Pinkas, Jabotinsky, Arlozorov, Shaul Hamelech, Kaplan, Carlebach and Harakevet
  • Stage 3:  Ayalon Highway (Route 20) all interchanges leading into the city will be blocked including Rokach, Hashalom, and La Guardia interchanges.

For more information, visit the Tel Aviv Municipality website by clicking here, or the Tel Aviv travel guide website here.