The traditional highlight on Jerusalem’s summer events calendar is celebrating the International Arts and Crafts Fair, which is now in its 35 year.

The fair attracts tens of thousands of tourists and visitors, which always takes place at the Arts and Crafts Lane and Sultan’s Pool from 2-14 August.

The colourful fair, known as Khutsot Hayotser is named after the small arts and crafts lane which is open year round at the foot of the Old City Walls. It features 150 Israeli artists and artisans, an international art exhibit from 39 countries, an international food fair, attractions for children, creative workshops, theater, dance and musical performances and spreads over an area of 5,000 square metres.

The Israeli Pavilion housed over 150 of Israel’s finest artists, exhibiting and selling paintings, ceramics, metalwork, jewelry, textiles and weaving, Judaica, woodwork and more.

The International Pavilion featured artists from the Far East, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and for the first time, an aboriginal art exhibition from Australia.

Every evening popular Israeli singers performed on the main stage in Sultan’s Pool. Dance and theatre events also took place during the evenings including groups from South Korea and Thailand and a puppet group from India.

_{(Issue September 2010)}