Haifa’s community may be diverse, but residents come together seamlessly several times annually for city-wide events and festivals. In fact, there is something to celebrate in Haifa nearly every month of the year.

The Haifa International Film Festival is the city’s most anticipated annual event. Attracting directors, cinematographers and actors from all around the world, Haifa’s film festival takes place every October, timed to correspond with the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The awards given are very prestigious in the industry and competition is stiff – all in all the festival screens over 200 films.

The arts are given another moment in the spotlight at the Haifa Flute Festival , celebrating Israel’s most talented flautists as they play classical music from around the world. Other aspects of international culture are not ignored, as Haifa holds both a Dutch Cultural Days festival in July and an Austrian Cultural Days festival in March, organized by the respective countries’ embassies.

Of the Jewish holidays observed in Haifa, Pesach (Passover) is the most festive. In addition to organizing traditional seder dinners, the city puts together a colorful spring “flower fair”. Check a current Jewish calendar to get the exact date of Passover, which usually falls during April.