Not just landscapes: Golan Festival of flavors & experiences

The harvest season is one of the most striking times to visit the Golan Heights. Among the groves, wide-open views, and crisp autumn air, agricultural life bursts into activity, linking the humble olive to an essential staple of Israeli cuisine. Taking place this year from October 29 to November 21, the Golan Olive Branch Days Festival offers visitors a chance to break away from routine and discover the region through olive oil, regional gastronomy, art, and local hospitality.

Throughout the festival, businesses across the Golan will feature tastings, meet-and-greets with local producers, hands-on workshops, family-friendly events, and exclusive seasonal dishes. Travelers can drop in for a single stop or design a full day combining field tours, regional dishes, and personal encounters with local artisans.

Here are several key stops to include on your itinerary:

One of the most immersive ways to experience the harvest is by getting your hands dirty. As part of the "In the Footsteps of the Olive – Oil Press, Harvest, Flavors, and Music" program in Ein Qiniyya, visitors follow every step of the olive's path from tree to table.

The experience features a visit to a local press to learn about extraction, an excursion into the groves for hands-on harvesting, and a practical olive-curing workshop teaching traditional preparation methods - all complemented by a live musical performance. Beyond sampling regional produce, the activity provides direct engagement with local agricultural craftsmanship.

• When: November 6–7 at 10:00 AM (Free of charge)
• Meeting point: Search "Ran Store" on Waze. Advance coordination is recommended.
• Details: Shawkat Monzer, 052-6537480

How do you distinguish between single-varietal olive oils, and what shapes their distinct flavors? The newly renovated visitor center at Eretz Geshur in Kibbutz Geshur delivers an insightful introduction to the world of olive oil through guided tastings and a look at modern production methods. The kibbutz has cultivated and produced olive oil for over two decades, managing the entire lifecycle from orchard management to extraction and storage.

Designed for those looking to slow down and focus on an everyday kitchen essential, the tastings spotlight subtle notes and aromas, connecting the palate directly to the agricultural labor behind each bottle. The site also features a retail shop stocked with extra virgin olive oils, farm-grown almonds, natural olive oil soaps, and artisanal goods, alongside a serene courtyard.

• When: Sunday–Thursday, 08:00–16:00; Friday, 09:00–12:00 (Free admission and tastings)
• Details: Livne Dgani, 052-5095828

For an up-close perspective on commercial production, schedule a visit to the Eliad-Olive Oil press in Bnei Yehuda. The guided walkthrough tracks the progression of the oil - from raw extraction through bulk storage and final packaging - explaining how harvested fruit transforms into a finished product.

During active harvesting days, visitors can observe the extraction machinery operating in real time. It offers an engaging look into the technical side of the industry, bridging the gap between field work and retail store shelves.

• When: Throughout the festival period by advance reservation (groups up to 10 people, free entry)
• Details & Booking: Orit, 050-7154801

A culinary excursion offers an ideal lens for exploring a region - not merely through its vistas, but through the local growers, bakers, chefs, and producers who call it home. As part of the "Taste with the Golan" program, Efrat Moskovitch of Moshav Yonatan leads specialized tours connecting participants directly with farmers, artisans, bakers, cheesemakers, and cooks.

Moving beyond typical restaurant stops, the tour highlights the personal stories behind regional ingredients and facilitates meaningful encounters with local craftspeople. Dining transforms into an immersive exploration of the area. With olives and olive oil taking center stage during the festival, it provides a timely look at the interplay between local agriculture and regional cuisine.

• When: Sunday–Friday throughout the festival
• Cost: NIS 360 per person
• Details & Booking: Efrat Moskovitch, 052-8348489

Tucked inside a cedar grove in Moshav Odem lies Challawlaw, a charming coffee cart founded by Reut, a resident of the small 65-family community. Conceived as more than a quick caffeine stop, the cart functions as a central gathering hub for locals and travelers alike, fostering community connection amidst nature.

The food program is anchored in regional produce. Reut collaborates closely with local growers, incorporating seasonal fruits and vegetables sourced directly from Golan farms. Sandwiches, salads, and sweet pastries are prepared on-site - including fresh buns baked by Reut herself. The welcoming atmosphere extends to the shaded outdoor seating area, where tables were hand-crafted by her husband.

For the Olive Branch Days Festival, the cart features a special olive oil-accented menu:

• Olive oil focaccia filled with olive oil jam and Camembert (NIS 38)
• Goat cheese salad with Golan-grown mixed greens, candied pecans, apple, maple vinaigrette, and goat cheese (NIS 40)
• Taboon-baked pastry with butter potatoes in olive oil, garlic confit, and rosemary (NIS 32)
• Opening Hours: Sunday, Thursday, Friday: 09:00–13:00; Wednesday: 10:00–15:00

Set among the myrtle fields of Kidmat Zvi sits Samsam, a boutique bakery housed inside a converted vintage train car. The venue centers on celebrating food in harmony with nature: Much of the menu is handcrafted on-site using ingredients from regional farmers and producers, shifting with the micro-seasons of the Golan. Offerings feature savory items like white corn and New Zealand spinach polenta pastries, alongside homemade basbousa and house-blended herbal teas.

To mark the Olive Branch Festival, a dedicated olive oil basbousa makes its debut - offering a sweet tribute to the seasonal harvest. It serves as an inviting stop for visitors looking to sample regional flavors from an independent local business.

• Opening Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 08:30–14:00 (Closed Sun, Mon, Sat)

What happens when olive oil meets mixology? At the Black Hole Pub in Kibbutz Kfar Haruv - perched on the Golan ridge overlooking sweeping views of the Sea of Galilee and the Galilee mountains - a dedicated olive-inspired menu takes center stage for the festival. Highlights include signature cocktails incorporating olives or cold-pressed olive oil paired with spirits like arak and gin, alongside savory bar bites infused with local oils.

For guests preferring an alfresco drink with a view, picnic baskets are available for purchase, complete with local beer, Gamla wine, artisanal cheeses, seasoned olives, and extra virgin olive oil.

• When: Tuesday & Thursday from 21:00; Friday from 22:00
• Inquiries: 04-6761840

For an artistic alternative to culinary stops, visit the Armonot Bachol Studio (Sand Castles Studio) in Moshav Kanaf. As part of the festival programming, the studio hosts private, nature-inspired paper crafting workshops tailored specifically for families.

The session offers a creative pause during a day of touring, giving families an engaging activity for children without requiring long drives between disparate locations.

• When: Workshops at 09:30 and 11:30 (Advance registration required)
• Cost: NIS 89 per participant
• Details & Registration: Noa, 050-4362402

At the Teva aGolan - Soaps and Natural Pharmacy studio in Katzrin, visitors can explore the non-culinary applications of the olive through natural skincare. The workshop includes crafting a personalized product to take home as a practical, hand-made souvenir.

During the interactive session, participants formulate natural soap using Golan olive oil and essential oils (medium size, up to 35g) or a custom salt scrub (up to 100g). It serves as an informative hands-on introduction to practical botanical wellness and natural cosmetics.

• When: By appointment at the Katzrin studio
• Cost: Short soap workshop (up to 30 mins) – NIS 80 per participant
• Details: Golan Nature Soaps Facebook page

Rounding out the end of the festival, the Golan Field School of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) in Katzrin offers a family activity combining a scenic trail hike, olive harvesting, and traditional pickling. Participants pick olives straight from the trees, receive a dedicated jar and pickling recipe, and cure their own batch to take home.

The experience gives adults and children alike a practical look at regional agricultural traditions, sending them home with a lasting culinary memory of the festival.

• When: November 20–21 (Can be combined with overnight stays at the Field School and regional hikes; 10% discount for SPNI members)
• Registration: SPNI website – Golan Field School