Tel Aviv's 100th birthday celebrations kicked off on April 4th in Rabin Square before a crowd of 400,000, who came to celebrate in the most energetic, optimistic, liberated, and colorful city in the Middle East, and some say it's the most bustling, youthful and fun city in the whole world. The gala event started with a stunning concert highlighted with a multi-media sound & light show and performances by top Israeli artists: the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta, Barry Saharof, Matti Caspi, Shlomo Gronich, Miri Massika, Monica Sex, dancers and acrobats. Rock bands played on the roofs of nearby buildings, while impressive historical pictures of the first Hebrew city were displayed on huge screens. This amazing happening concluded with an impressive fireworks display and a massive street party.
Tel Aviv features sky-scraping towers and stylish hotels by the Mediterranean Sea front promenade, offering one of the world’s most spectacular urban beaches of vast and pristine golden sands.
Fashionable nightclubs, hip bars, fine restaurants and colorful cafés make it hard to imagine that exactly 100 years ago, there was nothing here but sand dunes and a few dreamers who started building the first Hebrew city of Tel Aviv.
Tel Aviv 100 celebrations from gigagil on Vimeo.
Over the next nine months, more than 400 special events will be held all over the city, including music and art festivals, sporting events, special historic exhibitions amidst community projects, and many others.
Some of the main 100th birthday events promise a lot of fun and surprises!
In honor of Tel Aviv's first mayor, Meir Dizengoff, a special statue of him riding his horse will be erected in front of his historic home on Rothschild Boulevard, created by the sculptor David Zangelovitch.
Sports: Tel Aviv will host the international marathon on April 24th and in June the European Windsurfing competition, takes place on Gordon Beach. Olympic medalists and contenders are expected to participate in this world class event. The 18th Maccabi Games will be held in the city in July.
Architecture: The annual "White Night" celebration will take place on May 27th. Stunning Rothschild Boulevard, the location of some of the most beautiful Bauhaus buildings, will become one big street theatre with professional actors playing scenes from the early 1920s.
Culinary fairs: The city's famous fruit and vegetable market will be open till dawn, as well as the nearby Nahalat Binyamin Street with its arts & crafts fair. Restaurants and bars will be open all night.
Blues Festival: Music, art and food will be celebrated in Old Jaffa. A happening featuring street music, art galleries and fine restaurants will be open at the renewed Old Jaffa Port.
On July 16th, for the first time in Israel, Milan's La Scala opera house will perform Verdi's Requiem in HaYarkon Park for free.
The Rosh Hashana holiday will be celebrated at Rabin Square with a spectacular flower carpeted square.
