Street party

Tel Aviv street festival embraces cultural diversity

The 6th Nightlight Festival brings forth the cuisines, music and arts of the diverse Neve Sha’anan neighborhood

By Jessica Steinberg

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5 January 2020, 5:36 pm

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Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

Street musicians performing at last year's 6th Night Festival in Tel Aviv's Neve Shaanan neighborhood (Courtesy City of Tel Aviv-Jaffa)

Dance, music and food come to the streets of southern Tel Aviv neighborhood Neve Sha’anan on January 16 and 18, as locals celebrate the sixth Nightlight Festival.

The free event brings performances of all kinds to the parks, street corners, urban spaces and stores of the neighborhood, which is inhabited by a wide mix of residents, including native-born Israelis, African asylum-seekers and foreign workers.

Local musicians and dancers will take to the streets to perform, including the Batsheva Dance Company, storytellers, video artists and actors from the Clipa Theater.

Local restaurants will create street foods for purchase, with culinary offerings from Eritrean, Sudanese, Ethiopian and Chinese cuisines; vegan options will be available too.

The festival will take place from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday and Saturday nights, with tours, kids’ activities, talks and workshops.