Nature is stronger than anything, indifferent to dramatic events, and continues to follow the rhythm of the seasons. Perhaps the most striking example of this is the spectacular anemone bloom in the western Negev, which expands the heart every year and momentarily erases the harsh events that took place in these very locations.
For 20 years, the anemone bloom has been celebrated. The festival’s original name, Darom Adom, was changed to South in the Heart, but this year the organizers returned to hosting the traditional activities with plenty of optimism and hope for a brighter future. This year, too, beloved events will take place: Fairs and farmers’ markets throughout all the festival weekends until the end of February, and the 12th Anemone Run (on February 20), offering a running experience among agricultural fields.
Guided tours by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) will be held throughout the festival for only NIS 20 per tour, alongside family activities in forests and JNF parks on weekends, and, of course, dozens of experiences at the region’s tourist sites.
This year, guided tours in the western Negev communities will also be offered by the Tekuma Administration under the name Journey Following the Heart. These tours will take participants on a journey to meet locals, entrepreneurs, and farmers.
We’ve gathered some recommendations for you:
Where to Eat – Farkash Patisserie, Moshav Tekuma
Hidden among orchards and open fields in Moshav Tekuma, near the Gaza envelope, lies Farkash Patisserie: A rustic courtyard turned into a warm and flavorful gathering place. Tal, a chef and baker at heart, as well as a reservist who served over 600 days in the Gaza Division, returned home and decided to fulfill a dream: To open a small patisserie and invite people to visit. Together with his wife Ronit, they renovated the courtyard, which once housed a cowshed, and created a magical garden for events and groups, combining classic French cuisine with local flavors and touches from the hot tabun oven.
During the festival, on Fridays only, the garden will open to the public, serving flaky croissants, apple tarts, lemon pies, Neapolitan pizzas straight from the tabun, and coffee in the open air with views of the orchards. It’s not just a place to stop for coffee and pastries, but also a story of returning home, of a family choosing to rebuild and host - and of a small moment of sweetness in the heart of the western Negev.
Farkash Patisserie, Moshav Tekuma.
Open on Fridays during the festival.
For details: 077-7295844.
Where to Create – Atnachta Studio, Kibbutz Nir Am
Ilit Paz was the cultural coordinator of the kibbutz until October 7, and after the traumatic evacuation and difficult events, she continued in her role, facing a community dispersed across ten different locations in Israel. The struggle to maintain community unity, create bonding events in various locations, and preserve the social fabric through shared activities took a heavy emotional toll. Upon returning home, she decided to care for herself through her love of art. She founded a studio where she conducts sculpture and ceramic illustration workshops in a warm and embracing creative space, doing good for herself and others.
She cannot stop tearing up when recalling that dreadful day, and almost unconsciously she caresses the ceramic pieces she creates there, as if drawing strength from them. Beyond selling the ceramics made on-site, the studio offers pottery and creative workshops for all ages - one-time meetings, courses, and process groups - alongside hosting groups, team-building days, and experiential tours around the unique story of the region.
"I left a job in the cultural field and began focusing on things that make me feel good, with a lot of support from my husband. Mainly women and children come to the studio, and I ensure a relaxing atmosphere surrounded by greenery, giving tools that allow creation even without prior experience. Art nurtures me and takes me to places I’ve never been before."
Atnachta Studio, Nir Am.
During the festival, the studio operates at Café Chella every Friday–Saturday from 10:00–13:00.
For details: 077-7295813
Where to Drink – Isis Brewery, Moshav Dekel
Two days after evacuating to Eilat following October 7, Itzik Levi returned home and reopened his brewery, which he established in 2004 and had become a magnet for locals. "Hundreds of volunteers and reservists flooded the area looking for a place to end the day with good music, snacks, and quality beer. And also a place to process the events and share them with friends." Indeed, beer enthusiasts flock to his beer garden, enjoying desert breezes and spectacular views.
The place hosts musical ensembles, an open stage, and jam sessions. There’s also a rotating menu and, of course, 12 types of beer - from lagers to ales - fresh and rich in flavor, balancing malt sweetness, aromatic hop bitterness, and the "bread" taste of yeast.
Isis, Moshav Dekel.
During the festival, musical performances will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays.
On Fridays, local produce stands will be available, and by prior arrangement, tours, explanations, and tastings will take place from 10:00–12:30.
For details: 077-7295890
Places to See the Bloom
And let’s not forget who we’re visiting the region for - the stars of the event, the anemones! They can be seen along the roadsides, but vast, radiant red carpets that can be explored on foot are found at several locations:
Vermeulen Parking Lot, near Sa’ad Junction, was a military area until four months ago. After intensive rehabilitation by JNF, it reopened to the public. It features picnic tables, water taps, accessible parking, and a 180-meter accessible wooden deck ending in a lookout facing Gaza.
Be’er Marva: Gentle rolling hills dotted with bright red, white, and yellow mustard flowers, crossed by single tracks for cyclists and walkers. In the heart of the fields stands a giant photo station, with picnic spots scattered around.
Ruhama Terraces: Near Kibbutz Ruhama, unique loess hills and soft soil form the landscape. Over the years, rain has exposed lower soil layers, creating grooves and a hypnotic wave-like appearance. Here you’ll find beautiful blooms of anemones, Israeli iris, buttercups, daisies, and sometimes orchids. In the heart of the fields stands the Lone Tree, a single tree in vast spaces, a popular photo spot, as well as the fire tower lookout with stunning views, picnic tables, and coffee stops.
Chain Park – Nahal Gerar: Between Ofakim and Netivot, you’ll discover a forest rising from the cultivated loess plains of the western Negev, planted along both sides of Nahal Gerar. JNF has marked scenic paths and bike trails and equipped the forest with picnic areas with drinking water and accessible tables. North of the stream stands the historic Tel Haror site, where beautiful flower carpets can also be found in one of the lesser-known areas.
Full information on all activities is available on the Shikma Tourism website.