Thursday's Jerusalem March will mark the 60th year the event has been held – making it the biggest and oldest parade in Israel. To celebrate, parade organizers have recruited dozens of Israelis who were soldiers during the 1967 Six Day War, and participated in the liberation of Jordanian-occupied parts of the city. This will mark the first time these warriors have gotten together for a march in the footsteps of their original victory. At least 60,000 people from 35 countries are expected to be a part of the parade, either marching or watching. The march, which lasts all day Thursday, has something for everyone: hikes along several trails in the Jerusalem forest for families who want to join the main body of the parade; marching bands, celebrities, balloons, and street theater for spectators who line the streets of the city, watching marchers; and a major happening in Sacher Park, where music, food, and fun will be the rule of the day. Warriors from the different battalions who participated in the liberation of Jerusalem – including the capture of the Old City and the defense of Ammunition Hill – will march, accompanied by dozens of vintage military vehicles, including jeeps and tanks, that were in use then. Along with the military vehicles, there will be a parade of vintage cars and motorcycles, some of which have not been seen on the streets of Jerusalem for decades. The event in Sacher Park will take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursday, while the parade will move throughout the center of the city, terminating in the newly renovated First Jerusalem train station, south of the Old City. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis and tourists are expected to participate in the many events. Drivers are advised to park their vehicles at parking lots outside the center of the city, as many streets will be closed for the events.
