Things to do in Israel in December, 2020
While the days may draw shorter, there is still a great selection of things to do in Israel in December, 2020. With cultural events continuing throughout the month, and festivities for Jews for Hanukkah, and Christians for Christmas, as well as New Year’s Eve in Israel which is becoming bigger every year, December 2019 in Israel offered a great selection of events and festivals for all tastes, ranging from major cultural festivals to folk music festivals, and comedy tours, to concerts.
Important Note
Due to the global pandemic of Covid-19 and the uncertainty that is has ushered in, many events are cancelled or postponed. We will not be removing seasonal events from this page to offer you an overview of the events typically offered this time of year, but please check directly with the coordinators if you’re planning on attending any events.
December 2019 Events

Sufganiyot, a traditional food for Hanukkah which will be seen across Israel during December, by Avital Pinnick on Flickr
December 1-31 Jewish Film Festival, Jerusalem
December 1-7 International Photography Festival, Tel Aviv
December 4-6 The Jerusalem Jazz Festival. Jerusalem
December 6-7 Jacob’s Ladder Festival, Sea of Galilee
December 17-22 Christmas Market, Nazareth
December 18-20 The Tel Aviv Jazz Festival, Tel Aviv
December 19-28 Holiday of Holidays, Haifa
December 20 Run the City Marathon, Tel Aviv
December 20-22 Winter Christmas Festival, Western Galilee
December 21 Jim Jeffries Live in Tel Aviv
December 22-29 Hanukkah
December 24 Christmas Eve Tour. Go back to where it all began with a one-day or two-day Christmas Eve tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Why should you join? Here are 5 reasons to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem.
December 25 Christmas in Israel. Christmas in the Holy Land is a magical experience for any Christian.
December 31 New Year’s Eve, also known as Sylvester, is becoming increasingly popular every year, with parties taking place across the country, especially in Tel Aviv.