Since being declared the White City by UNESCO in July 2003, the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality has been marking the honor in an annual one-night fest offering a slew of special events for the benefit of the residents and visitors of Tel Aviv. This one-night festival is known to the world as White Night Tel Aviv (Layla Lavan Tel Aviv), and is taking place in 2012 on 28 June.

The Festival of Light of Jerusalem is an annual festival in which the Old City of Jerusalem is brought to light. The 2011 Festival will take place between 15 June and 22 June and will see dramatic light-ups of the ancient architecture of the Old City as well as the installation of light statues, performances, and pieces of museum artwork. Attracting to Israel well-known light sculptors and light designers from around the world, the Jerusalem Festival of Light provides a unique backdrop for them to exhibit their creations.

Shavuot in Israel is a period with loads of amazing events. Music festivals, events for the kids, exhibitions, and much, much more, are part of what happens each year for Shavuot in Israel. Celebrated in Israel for one day, usually in late May or early June, Shavuot’s timing, when the weather is great but not too hot, has made it a favored time for outdoor events, and across the country. In 2012, Shavuot will fall from sundown on May 26 to sundown on May 27.

Twice every year, the village of Abu Gosh in the Jerusalem Hills a few kilometers west of Jerusalem, usually famed for its hummus restaurants, comes alive to the sound of music. The Abu Gosh Music Festival is one of Israel’s largest vocal music festivals taking place at the festivals of Sukkot (in Fall-time) and Shavuot (in Spring-time). The next Abu Gosh Vocal Music Festival takes place on May 25-27, 2012.

Taking place throughout the summer, the one day Sunbeat Music Festival is Israel’s most innovative Global Beats Festival – one of the only music festivals in Israel to rival the big festivals of Europe. Unlike most festivals, Sunbeat is held in three parts, throughout the summer – in 2012 this will be in June, July, and September, at a beautiful location in the Galilee. Attracting passionate, groovy, and upbeat acts from within Israel as well as internationally, Sunbeat is set to be something to remember. The first Sunbeat Festival of 2012 will take place on June 16, with following festivals in July and September.

FREE TICKET GIVEAWAY – READ MORE FOR DETAILS: A bi-annual comedy tour of Israel, the Comedy for Koby series brings some of the best American comedians to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and many more cities across the country to to raise funds for The Koby Mandell Foundation who work on behalf of families of victims of terror. The June 2012 Comedy for Koby series will feature top quality US entertainers including Ron Pearson, Cory Kahaney, Kivi Rogers, and Avi Liberman. The comics will tour around the country performing in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Raanana, Beit Shemesh, Modiin and Gush Etzion between May 31-June 6, 2012.

Jerusalem Day (Yom Yerushalayim) is the day that commemorates Israel’s re-gain of control over the city in 1967. It is celebrated every year in May and is a day featuring festivities and events across Jerusalem. In 2012, Jerusalem Day will feature a range of interesting events. Taking place on May 20, 2012, the festivities will spread across the weekend, beginning on May 17.

The WOMINI Summer Solstice Stew & Saz Festival taking place in the heart of the Galilee this June is set to be a one-of-a-kind event. Taking place near the ancient site of Yodefat, between the cities of Karmiel and Nazareth, the Summer Solstice will bring together some amazing artists from the world, bluegrass, blues, spiritual, Balkan, and reggae genres, who, combined with the unique setting and atmosphere of the festival, will create something set to be very special. The WOMINI Summer Solstice Stew & Saz Festival will take place between June 19-21, 2012.

The Israel Festival is an annual cultural festival which takes place, mainly in Jerusalem, in the early summer. Featuring a vast and ranging selection of events, from jazz to classical music, dance to drama and fusions, it is a celebrated festival which draws both artists and fans from around the world as well as some of Israel’s leading performers. As well as the main events, the Israel Festival includes a host of free performances including street theater and events for kids. In 2012, the Israel Festival will take place between May 23 and June 14.

The annual Fresh Paint Tel Aviv Art Fair hosts 30,000 visitors each year and presents works by leading contemporary galleries and independent artists, making it one of Israel’s largest and most influential contemporary art events. Each year, the Fresh Paint fair takes place in a different location within Tel Aviv dramatically changing the dynamic and visitor experience. In 2012, the Fresh Paint Tel Aviv Art Fair, will take place between May 15-19, at the New High School Complex in Shoshana Persitz Street in the far north of the city.