April 8, 1929
The fourth Palestine and Near East Exhibition opens in Tel Aviv.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the founding of Tel Aviv is central to the fair. In opening the exhibition, Tel Aviv Mayor Meir Dizengoff proclaims, “Tel Aviv is showing what the Jews in Palestine have achieved in the fields of industry, agriculture and education during such a short period.” (“Palestine Exhibition Opens in Tel Aviv on 20th Anniversary of Founding,” April 10, 1929, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
A larger celebration for the city is held May 2. It features, among other events, a parade of children born in the city. After the parade, Dizengoff presents a special certificate to the first child born in Tel Aviv.
Commercial fairs started in Tel Aviv in 1924 to showcase the industrial and economic activity of the Yishuv (Jewish community) in Mandatory Palestine. The fairs promoted and developed export markets for agricultural and industrial products. In addition, the events promoted the Yishuv’s developing culture, highlighting achievements in education, social welfare and the arts.
The 1929 exhibition is the last of four smaller fairs. They are succeeded in 1932 by the Levant Fair or Orient Fair (Yerid Hamizrach). The growth of the fair leads the city to build a permanent fairground in 1934.
For the renamed Levant Fair in 1932, a new logo (a flying camel) is instituted to represent the connection between East and West. The 1932 fair is the first to include official government representation from foreign countries.
The Arab uprising of 1936-1939 and World War II end the successful run of the fairs. They resume in 1959.
