Cinemas, Parks and Museums Offer Deals and Special Programs for Israel's Election Day Off

Israelis who want to spend the Election Day holiday on October 27 at the movies or outdoors will find a range of discounts and special programs on offer, according to details published on October 25.

Cinema City is offering a flat NIS 27 price to upgrade certain refreshments to a larger size. The offer covers popcorn, Kinder Bueno snacks and Ben & Jerry's ice cream, as well as Crazy Jumper dolls sold in its theaters. Planet is selling tickets bought at the theater for NIS 27, though IMAX, 4DX and ScreenX screenings are excluded.

The Jerusalem Cinematheque, marking its 50th anniversary, will screen the three Israeli films that ranked highest in its audience poll. They are Ari Folman's Waltz with Bashir, a serious animated documentary about the First Lebanon War seen through the eyes of IDF soldiers, and two army comedies: Assi Dayan's Halfon Hill Doesn't Answer and Talya Lavie's Zero Motivation. Tickets cost NIS 15, and Cinematheque members enter free.

For those who prefer fresh air, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority plans guided tours, family activities and evening attractions at national parks and nature reserves across the country. At 15 sites, visitors can play an interactive game called "Mysteries in Time," in which a WhatsApp bot leads participants through riddles while teaching them about the history of each location.

In the North, Kochav Hayarden National Park will host bird migration tours, kite-making and flying workshops, and family activities. Ein Afek Nature Reserve will offer wetland exploration, guided tours, children's crafts and face painting, along with an on-site ballot box where visitors can vote for their favorite spot in the reserve.

Beit She'an National Park will present its "She'an Nights" experience, lighting up the ancient city with audiovisual displays and visits to the bathhouse, the Temple of Dionysus and the Roman theater. Hamat Tiberias National Park will stay open late for evening bathing in its thermal pools, and will also offer access to its ancient synagogue, an audiovisual presentation and a reflexology path. Special tours at Gamla Nature Reserve will focus on its vulture colony and conservation work, while Beit She'arim will lead tours of its burial caves, inscriptions and reliefs.

Further south, Beit Guvrin will let couples and families order picnic packages in advance and collect them at the visitor service center. At Masada, visitors can try the cliffside Masada Challenge route or attend the evening multimedia show "Masada: From Sunset to Sunrise" on the western side of the mountain.

The authority advises visitors to check weather and trail conditions, carry enough water and stay on marked routes. Information on activities, reservations and any extra charges is available on its website, www.parks.org.il.

ANU, the Museum of the Jewish People, will also be open on Election Day. Alongside its permanent exhibits, it will offer interactive family activities, including the Heroes gallery and the "Guardians of the Stories" quest.