If you are planning to drive through the Beverly Hills, Century City, and Rancho Park areas today (May 18), please be prepared for traffic and potential re-routing as the Celebrate Israel Festival, billed by organizers as the largest Jewish festival in North America, kicks off at 9:30 a.m.
An estimated 15,000 people are expected.
The festival’s theme is Tour of Israel. It will feature a 32-foot-long re-creation of the Western Wall where visitors can place notes that will be delivered to Israel, a sandy beach reminiscent of Tel Aviv and other replicas of Israeli sites such as the Dead Sea and Negev Desert.
Other attractions include camel rides; a performance by the pop group The Idan Raichel Project; entertainment geared for children; arts and crafts; a teen area with a military obstacle course; folk dancing; and kite flying.
The festival, held in conjunction with Israel’s 66th Independence Day, will begin at 11 a.m. Tickets are $5 online and $10 at the gate.
More information is available on the festival’s website, celebrateisraelfestival.com.
The festival will be preceded by a one-mile walk from Rancho Park to the Museum of Tolerance. Walkers will assemble at 9:30 a.m. with the walk starting at 10 a.m.
