Festigal


Festigal is an annual Israeli song and dance musical show for children. The Festigal is held every year at Hanukkah time, during the school vacation. It began as a song contest but the format gradually changed to include performances by well-known Israeli singers and actors. Now the Festigal event is built around some theme or story.

History

The first Festigal took place in Haifa in 1981 and was the brainchild of notable Impresario Miki Peled. Since then it has been held in many places around the country. It is among the largest events during Hanukkah. For example, in 2006 about 18 million NIS were allocated for the concerts.

Theme songs

From 2002 until 2015 there has been a theme song based on a popular tune, such as "Holding Out for a Hero" in 2005.

List of theme songs

From 1984, the Festigal has had a different theme/framing device every year. For example, in 2010, the theme was the story of two kids lost in the museum at night among the exposition coming to life and showing pieces of history. In 2015, the show had a high school theme loosely based on the Fame franchise and the TV show Glee.

List of themes

The following singers have appeared at the festigal:
Ezra Dagan, Nurit Galron, Yardena Arazi, Izhar Cohen, Uzi Hitman, |Ilana Avital, Izhar Cohen, Rivka Zohar, Ilana Avital, Gidi Gov, Amal Murkus, Ofra Haza, Margalit Tzan'ani, Uri Fineman, Hanny Nahmias, Michal Yannai, Ethnix, Oded Menashe, Riki Gal, Dafna Dekel, Yael Bar Zohar, Sarit Hadad, Tal Mosseri, Eyal Golan, Teapacks, Yehuda Levi, Lior Narkis, Ofer Shechter, Harel Moyal, Harel Skaat, Agam Rodberg, Ran Danker, Oshri Cohen, Shiri Maimon, Adi Himmelbleu, Yon Tumarkin, Roni Dalumi, Roni Duani and Amit Farkash, Eliana Tidhar, Daniel Moreshet, Sagi Braitner.

Hosts

The following celebrities have hosted the festigal:
Tzipi Shavit, Yoav Kutner, Moni Moshonov, Avi Kushnir, Gidi Gov, Avri Gilad, Sefi Rivlin, Hana Laszlo, Hanny Nahmias, Yael Abecassis, Oded Menashe, Michal Yannai, Lior Miller, Zachi Noy, Tuvia Tzafir, Shai Haddad, Zvika Hadar, Mariano Idelman, Ofer Shechter, Ran Danker, Yael Bar Zohar, Oshri Cohen, Liraz Charhi, HaPijamot, Guy Zu-Aretz, Gal Gadot, Eli Yatzpan, Maya Shoef, Eli Finish, Yuval Semo, Yardena Arazi.

Festivals

2004

The 2004 Festigal of Israel was an annual special festival show centered on younger audience as a part of the annual Hanukkah song festival. Most of the featured cast were contestants of Kokhav Nolad, an Israeli reality television show.

Venue