AKRON, Ohio -- Shaw JCC of Akron will celebrate 70 years of Israel's independence with a free festival Sunday, April 22.

The Israel Festival, or Yom Ha'atzmaut, will include traditional Israeli food, arts, crafts and activities for all ages.

The event will be held from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the Schultz Campus for Jewish Life, located at 750 White Pond Dr. in Akron.

A memorial service, or Yom Hazikaron, will take place at the start of the event to honor Israel's fallen soldiers. The celebration and memorial are open to the entire community.

"Connecting our community to Israel is a core value of the Shaw JCC," Michael Neumann, Shaw JCC executive director, said in a news release. "The Israel Festival is an exciting, innovative way for the community to learn about and celebrate Israel's culture and history."

The festival's theme is "Decades of Israel" and will include activities that coordinate with each decade of Israel's independence.

An Israeli shuk, or street market, will feature works by local artists. The festival will also include a community mosaic art project.

The event is co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Board of Akron. Husband-and-wife team Uri and Gili Hershkovitz, who are Israeli emissaries serving Canton and Akron, will coordinate the celebration.

Free parking will be available for the event. Local Jewish and Israeli artisans interested in showcasing their work at the event should email shlichim@jewishcanton.org.

Visit shawjcc.org or call 330-867-7850 for more information.

Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.com's Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.