Outdoor shows, guided tours, events in the Botanical Gardens, the Payis Jazz Club and music on the Alrov-Mamilla mall will take place during the Festival to acquaint visitors to the capital with some of Jerusalem's enchanting nooks and crannies, and to provide the city's residents with a chance of being part of the Festival both inside and outside the concert halls. Entry to some events will be free. Update information will be available daily on the Festival's web site www.israel-festival.org.il

Tours in Jerusalem as Part of the Festival Marathon of Tours in Jerusalem with Yad Ben-Zvi 120 tours, both short and long, by car and on foot, in and around Jerusalem with top guides, from sundown to the wee hours of the night for adults and all the family. All tours in Hebrew. Discounts available for ticket purchasers to Israel Festival events during the marathon dates. Thursday-Sunday, June 4-7, 2009 Further details and registration: Yad Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, tel. (02) 5398855, fax (02) 563449,
email had@ybz.org.il, www.ybz.org.il

Underground in the Light of Day

Secret tales from the days of the underground and the British mandate. How was the King David Hotel blown up? How did all the residents of Nahlaot accompany the underground? How did a rabbi become a member of the Stern gang? And most importantly where is the boy!? Route: from King David St. through the center of town to Nahlaot. The tour has been timed to end before the start of the Alarmel Valli performance at the Gerard Behar Center. Mon. May 25, 6 p.m. Guide: Dvir Suramelo. In Hebrew. Price NIS 79

The Parks on the Mountain Peaks

On the mountain peaks overlooking the Old City and the Judean Desert are some of the spiritual parks which have fashioned human life and death. The tour begins at the Mt. Scopus botanical gardens where the Zionist pantheon was almost established, and goes on to Tsurim National Park which conserves ancient hillside agriculture, ending with the breathtaking view from the Mormon University. Modest dress required. Tue. June 9, 4.30 p.m. Guide Anat Medmoni. In Hebrew. Price NIS 79 The tour has been timed to end before the start of the Maurizio Baglini concert. Further details and registration: Beit Shmuel (02) 6203461

in the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

Taking place in the enchanting setting of nature and spring blossoms by the lake at the Botanical Gardens.
A Monster in Jerusalem! – a performance including a tour of the gardens by the Kamagolem Theatre Company based on Meir Shalev's children's book "Hayim and the Monster from Jerusalem"
Wed. May 27, June 3 and 10, 4.30 p.m.
The Botanical Gardens' Quiz – the audience is invited on a quest to solve the botanical gardens' quiz. A humorous show by the Balbalu Street Theatre Company with lots of improvisation and interaction with the audience.
Mon. May 25, June 1 and 8, 5 p.m.
Judean Wines Fair – a wine tasting evening from the quality wineries in the Jerusalem vicinity
Thur. June 4, from 7 p.m.
Artistic Offerings in Jerusalem – three days of jazz, video screenings and an art fair on the lake side
May 24-26, free with entrance ticket
Entrance to the Botanical Gardens from 1 Burla St., Nayot, or from just after the Nayot Gas Station on Herzog St. Entrance fee. Further details and registration: Bimot (02) 6237000, Klaim (02) 6222333, Botanical Gardens (02) 679401/2/3/, www.botanic.co.il

Special Conference

As part of the opening of the 2009 festival, the Israeli National Lottery Council Conference for the Arts and Society will be held on May 26 and 27 with guests including the architects behind Israel's cultural life from all over the country.