There was no war or 130 hostages in Gaza when the Jerusalem municipality started planning its first Adloyada Purim parade in 42 years. Yet despite the difficult atmosphere in Israel following the October 7 Hamas attacks, Jerusalem is celebrating Purim this year with a parade.

The city’s Adloyada will include 30 floats and seven stages along the one-kilometer downtown Jerusalem route from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., on Shushan Purim, March 25, when the ancient walled city celebrates the holiday.

“I’m proud that Jerusalem is going ahead with this,” said Tamar Berliner, who heads arts and cultural events for Jerusalem. “Canceling anything cultural during a war is easy. It’s challenging to carefully plan an event like this when Purim is draped in sadness.”