This summer, the Alrov Mamilla Avenue connecting the Old and New City of Jerusalem from the Jaffa Gate to King David Street, will transform into a lively giant piazza with free street entertainment. Every Thursday evening from 18:00 – 23:00 during July and August 2009 (starting on 2 July), the avenue will play host to jugglers, acrobats and street artistes; a colorful arts and crafts fair and live musical entertainment. In addition, a 3D movie will be screened on the old city walls and there will be guided tours – all this in addition to the upscale shopping and entertainment experience in the avenue, with its kosher cafes, restaurants and bars overlooking the Old City.

Alrov Mamilla Avenue, designed by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie, will offer a stage this summer to young Israeli artistes, including jazz bands, dance troupes, drumming circles, jugglers, acrobats and other street performers who will transform the avenue into one big artistic happening – with free entrance. At 20:00 every Thursday, there will be community singing, Israeli-style, in the avenue’s amphitheater.

In addition, an arts and crafts fair will take place on the Alrov Bridge above the avenue, offering tourists and locals alike the opportunity to buy unique items and gifts, including jewelry, accessories, bags, ceramics, glass, paintings etc, as well as an area with food stalls and a separate area for treatments.

A 20-minute 3-D movie entitled “The City of David – this is where it all began”, produced by the Ir David Foundation and in English and Hebrew will be screened on the old city walls from 20:00 (3D glasses provided, cost 15 NIS). There will also be walking tours, guided in English according to demand, leaving from the Alrov bridge and covering subjects such as the Jewish Quarter, Mamilla stories and the European influence on Jerusalem in the 19th century (token charge of 10 NIS per person).