Election Day picks, programs, and discounts

If you want to make the most of your day off on Election Day on October 27 and catch a movie or head for the great outdoors, there are some deals to sweeten these options, and some special programming.

One sweet deal comes from Cinema City, which is offering the chance to super-size some refreshments – including popcorn, Kinder Bueno snacks, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream – as well as Crazy Jumper dolls sold in theaters, for a flat NIS 27 fee.

Planet is offering tickets purchased at the theater for NIS 27, except for IMAX, 4DX, and ScreenX showings.

The Jerusalem Cinematheque features the top three Israeli movies in its audience poll in honor of its 50th anniversary.

These include a serious, animated documentary about the First Lebanon War from the point of view of IDF soldiers – Ari Folman’s Waltz with Bashir; and two comedies about army life – Assi Dayan’s Halfon Hill Doesn’t Answer and Talya Lavie’s Zero Motivation. Tickets are just NIS 15 and are free for Jerusalem Cinematheque members.

Israel Nature and Parks Authority offers outdoor tours, activities 

For those who want to enjoy a day in some of the national parks, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority is offering guided tours, family activities, and evening attractions at parks and nature reserves around the country.

At 15 sites, visitors can play “Mysteries in Time,” an interactive game that uses a WhatsApp bot to guide participants through riddles while introducing them to the sites’ history.

In the North, Kochav Hayarden National Park will offer bird migration tours, kite-making and flying workshops, and family activities. At Ein Afek Nature Reserve, visitors can explore the wetlands, join guided tours, and enjoy children’s crafts and face painting. An on-site ballot box will let them vote for their favorite spot in the reserve.

Beit She’an National Park’s “She’an Nights” experience will illuminate the ancient city through audiovisual displays, with visits to the bathhouse, Temple of Dionysus, and Roman theater. Hamat Tiberias National Park will stay open late for evening bathing in its thermal pools, along with access to its ancient synagogue, an audiovisual presentation, and a reflexology path.

Special tours at the Gamla Nature Reserve will focus on its vulture colony and conservation efforts, while Beit She’arim will offer tours of its burial caves, inscriptions, and reliefs.

At Beit Guvrin, couples and families can order picnic packages in advance for collection at the visitor service center. Farther south, visitors can try the cliffside Masada Challenge route or attend the evening “Masada: From Sunset to Sunrise” multimedia show on the mountain’s western side.

The authority advises visitors to check weather and trail conditions, bring sufficient water, and follow marked routes. Details about activities, reservations, and any additional charges are available at www.parks.org.il.

Also, ANU – Museum of the Jewish People will remain open on Election Day, offering permanent exhibits alongside interactive family activities like the Heroes gallery and the “Guardians of the Stories” quest.