The northern city of Safed is gearing up for the 22nd Klezmer Festival, which will open next Monday on August 10. Flags have been hung across the city's main streets and gardening and renovation efforts are in full swing ahead of the event, which is expected to draw an unprecedented number of visitors from Israel and the world.
At a press conference Tuesday, Mayor Ilan Shochat said: "Three years after the Second Lebanon War,
and with the city gradually recovering from the downturn that has characterized it for many years, we are expecting the largest festival in Safed's history.
"Some 300,000 visitors from Israel and abroad are expected to come here, fill the hotels and guesthouses in Safed and its neighboring communities and enjoy the festival's events, as well as the many attractions offered by the city and the Upper Galilee."
Shochat said that his vision was "to turn Safed into an international cultural and spiritual hub, and use the festival as a platform to do so."
According to the event's organizers, the three-day festival will feature some 100 different free-of-charge shows by the world's greatest klezmer artists across the city.
In addition to the musical events, visitors will also be invited to attend unique tours around the city, free workshops on spirituality and Kaballah, special performances for children and streets shows.
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