May 14-15: Celebrate Israel’s Independence Day in Prague!

Discover Israel through its culture, cuisine, and fun. MINT Market with the support of the Embassy of Israel brings you the first festival of Israeli culture on the Vltava river to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day.

You are invited to Střelecký island on May 14 and 15 to taste Israeli food or hire a blanket to have a springtime picnic.

Enjoy an inspirational weekend full of music, games, talks, and workshops, as well as fun activities for children including a children’s corner. The entry is free, four-legged friends are welcome. Both days will be filled with great music.

The festival is headlined by Boom Pam, an Israeli band playing a blend of Mediterranean rock and surf music that has over nearly twenty years played at festivals such as WOMEX or Primavera.

Other musicians include the classical pianist Marina Kantor, Prague-based band The Muslim, The Jew and The Ugly, or electronic Israeli – Turkish duo Colibris Music and Roksan Mandel.

Visitors can also attend a poetry reading by Lucian Zell, or watch a live visual performance by Israeli female artist El, whose designs can be found on t-shirts and jumpers of Plazmalab streetwear brand that will also be present at the festival.

The weekend will be filled with workshops for the whole family. Visitors will get a chance to try Israeli martial art Krav Maga, play backgammon or Matkot, discover Israeli folk dance Rikudej Am or choose from a program prepared by the Jewish cultural center JCC Prague, offering music workshop for kids, as well as a debate forum that will discuss how Israel is perceived in the Czech Republic, or offer stories of students studying in Israel.

Families will be invited to join a fun game or take advantage of the children’s corner and other activities. MINT Market will bring stalls with great Levantine food and drinks, as well as fashion and accessories created by designers with Israeli roots.

Traditionally, Israelis celebrate their Independence Day by having a barbecue outdoors. There will be barbecues around the tip of the Střelecký island where visitors can prepare their own food, or buy some ready-to-grill Mediterranean delicacies.

You can also take part in the Hummus Master competition judged by Prague’s top Israeli chefs. All that will take place at the beautiful island on the Vltava river full of trees, shade and great spots for a family picnic.

Israel on the River starts at 10 AM, finishes at 10 PM on Saturday, and at 6 PM on Sunday. The event is free, wheelchair accessible and dog-friendly.

For more information, visit this website or follow the Facebook event