NORTH Thousands of people are due to fill the streets of Haifa to celebrate its 10th annual LGBT Pride Parade on June 30. Crowds will gather at the Carmel Center at 10 a.m. before heading out at 11:30 for a three-kilometer march through the port city. The festive parade will end in a blowout party with performances by artists such as Ivri Lider, Ania Bukstein, Nasreen Qadri and Avior Melasa at Mount Carmel National Park. Last year, some 3,000 people attended the event, including Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav. Meanwhile, the Haifa LGBT English-Speakers Group is reminding members of the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community that it arranges for monthly social events. These events include morning coffee get-togethers, movie nights, restaurant nights and picnics. The group, along with its sister LGBT Olim initiatives in Tel Aviv, Beersheba and Jerusalem, offers English speakers an opportunity to get involved in the LGBT community and meet other LGBT people who are immigrants, Israeli-born participants and tourists. To receive event invitations and to register for activities, join the Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/ HaifaLGBTEnglishSpeakers/ or email info@lgbtolim.org. Haifa film series under the stars Haifa is offering free movie screenings under the stars every Wednesday night until the end of August. Launched in early June, the initiative takes place every week at 8:30 on the lawn at the corner of Namal and Mizraka streets. The films are shown on a giant 45-meter wide screen. This Wednesday (June 28), the municipally sponsored event will show the American drama Scent of a Woman. The following is the schedule of the upcoming films: July 5 – Cafe Society July 12 – Julieta July 19 – The Fifth Element July 26 – Life Is a Miracle August 2 – Do the Right Thing August 9 – Life Coach August 16 – Billy Elliot August 23 – The Truman Show August 30 – Imagine: John Lennon CENTER Rhythmic gymnastics competition tumbles into Holon More than 160 gymnasts from 20 countries are due to arrive in Holon this weekend as part of the International Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix tournament series. Holon, which has hosted the competition since 2001, is the only non-European city among the 10 host cities in which the tournament takes place. Participating countries in the contest include Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Spain, Finland, Cyprus, Uzbekistan, Hungary, Latvia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, the Czech Republic and Poland. Opening events run Friday (June 23) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Holon Toto Hall and are open to the public free of charge. Events on Saturday (June 24) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. are free, but tickets for the closing award ceremony on Saturday evening cost NIS 45. Bat Yam park named after Yonatan Netanyahu Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, attended a cornerstone laying ceremony on Thursday (June 22) at a Bat Yam park named in the memory of the premier's brother, Yonatan. The event at the Yonatan Netanyahu Sea View Park was also attended by Bat Yam Mayor Yossi Becher. The park, located in southwestern Bat Yam, is undergoing redevelopment to turn the area into an urban wildlife park overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The prime minister's older brother has been commemorated as a national hero since he was killed in action as a commander in Israel's 1976 Operation Entebbe to rescue hostages who were taken by Palestinian airplane hijackers and held in Uganda. SOUTH Ashdod to host Psychedelic Flower rock fest The first summer music festival of its kind is due to rock Ashdod on July 6 with a lineup of energetic jams and an array of activities. Some 10 artists are among those taking to the stage for funky live performances at the Psychedelic Flower extravaganza in the port city. The headliners include Heavy Stone, The Great Machine, Electric Zoo, RPS Surfers, Delight, Cub, Dan Ezra/Appetizer Cheesecake, The Lizard Slippers, Jeki & Rimoch and Acid Moon and the Pregnant Sun. A skating ramp, fashion stalls and handmade clothing stands featuring apparel made by local artists and clothing manufacturers Liman Malul and Shiran Moses will set up at the rock festival grounds at Ashdod's Kivunim Center. Art vendors such as psychedelic illustrator Eyal Eliezer and music-inspired canvas and wood works from the Keren Art Gallery will also be present at the venue. To top off the rock 'n' roll vibe, acclaimed ink artists Yair Assaraf and Gary the Rising Star will run a tattoo stall on the premises. While festival-goers fill their ears with music, the Judean Hills-based Bosco Brewery and the wild and colorful Pizzat Salah Chefti will serve those who want to fill their stomachs. Ticket purchase online costs NIS 65. Admission at the door costs NIS 100. Tickets are available at www.eventer.co.il/psychedelicflower.
Haifa’s festive Pride Parade on June 30 will end with a blowout concert at Mount Carmel National Park.(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)