EL AL | Atmosphere

See the Sights I Eilat

Warm Eilat Winters

Warm and sunny even in the wintertime, Eilat is a haven for music lovers, art aficionados, and foodies of every kind. Now’s the perfect time to enjoy its festivals, water sports and pulsating atmosphere. Get the lowdown on what to do, where to stay and everything in between \ By Orly Genosar

A new international airport and intense urban development have transformed Israel’s southern city of Eilat into a major tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. English, French, Russian and Polish are but a few of the languages that fill its warm winter air, as sun-seeking tourists come to enjoy its beaches and explore the city’s myriad cultural activities, festivals, events, and restaurants. Cultural Events 101 experiences November marks the opening of the Eilat winter festival. It lasts the whole season, closing only in March. As the festival’s name implies, there are a multitude of different activities and events to enjoy, from every range imaginable, all entirely for free. The events are all expertly curated by the festival organizers and designed to give visitors a taste of Eilat in all its glory. At its heart, the festival is about human connection, giving center stage to local artists, creators, and musicians, as festivalgoers of all ages are invited to explore the many workshops, sports activities, hiking trails, gastronomy and art tours, put together each year by the Eilat tourism corporation. eilat.city/en The Red Sea Jazz Festival After a two-year Covid-related hiatus, the

Red Sea Jazz Festival is back, with its 36 th edition opening on the first weekend of November. Twelve nights of live shows and performances by some of the world’s most celebrated musicians will take place in the Port of Eilat, under the starry sky. Festival passes give way to all the concerts or alternatively to a package deal at an Isrotel hotel. There’ll be jam sessions on Thursdays and Fridays at the Agamim Hotel, for audiences to delight in music battles between internationally There’ll be a whole range of festivals taking place in Eilat this winter, including the Red Sea Diving Festival (November 17 th - 19 th ), an international electronic music festival (December 24 th – 26 th ), a wine festival in the desert (December 1 st – 2 nd ), a color festival (December 20 th - 21 st ), and the Israeli folk music festival “Tarapapu” (December 23 rd - 24 th ). A chamber music festival, as well as a street theatre festival, will take place in January and February, and a food festival will be held in April, right before the yoga festival in May. Between festivals, numerous sports events, such as the international Eilat desert marathon, the Israeli open water swimming championships, and the Gran Fondo cycling race will also take place. eilat.city/en renowned artists. redseajazz.co.il/en/ A sea of festivals

14 ATMOSPHERE NOVEMBER 2022