Lots to do this weekend

It's a full summer weekend with lots on tap throughout the country, even though Tisha B'Av, in which most things shut down, begins Saturday night after Shabbat. Here are a few of the choice events, suitable for tourists or residents, as selected by Ynetnews.

Outdoors 

Carmel Beach (Thursday, Aug. 11, 5 p.m.-midnight): Farmer’s and artist’s market with local products: home-cooked food, organic products, wines and desserts along with natural cosmetics, jewelry and clothing. At 8 p.m., a women’s backgammon tournament starts. Free entry, Mercaz Meirav. Road #4 (Geha highway) to exit between Geva Carmel and Zerofa. (Near the banquet hall)

Ben Shemen Forest (Thursday 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 13, 10 a.m.): “Grandma and Me,” family activities to learn more about the forest and nature. (About two hours). Fee for entry. Call Kav Laya’ar (forest hotline) for details and registration: 972.800.350.550.

Bike tours along the Ron Trail (Thursday 5 p.m.): A whole new system of trails has been opened in the Ofer forest in memory of the members of the Ron family who were killed in the Matza restaurant terrorist attack in Haifa. Fee for entry. Bikes can be rented on the spot. For details and registration: Kav Laya’ar: 972.800.350.550

Israeli film at the Ben Shemen forest (Thursday 8:30 p.m.): “Mashehu Totally” ("Totally Something") and “Kikar Hahalomot” ("Dreams Square") will be shown in the forest. Meet the filmmaker. Fee (NIS 45 for participant, NIS 30 for members.

ATV rides in Ramat Menashe Park and Alona hills (Friday Aug 12, 8 a.m.): 4x4 rides on undeveloped terrain in the forest paths of Ramat Menashe Park and Alona hills. Emphasis on conservation versus pressures to develop the area. Fee for entry. For details and registration: Kav Laya’ar 972.800.350.550.

KKL tours (Friday 9 a.m.): Free, short, guided tours (two hours) for the whole family. This week’s tour is to the new promenade at Shechania mountain; the ruins of an ancient village and the Adulam caves. For details and registration: Kav Laya’ar 972.800.350.550.

Bet Shean Valley (Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.): Views from the Kantara bridge, a visit to the Moda reservoir and to Ein Moda, swimming in the Einot pools and a family trip to the hidden falls of Bet Shean Valley. Fee for entry. For details and registration: 972.800.350.550.

Herodion (Friday 9:45 a.m.): In the footsteps of the freedom fighters from the Second Temple period and the Bar Kochba revolts. Fee (NIS 25 per adult, NIS 15 per child) For details and registration call Kfar Etzion field school 972.2.993.5133.

Kochav Hayarden (Jordan River ) National Park (Friday 17:30): The story of a basalt fortress from the crusader period. Amazing views over the Jordan River and a sunset visit to the sculpture garden. For details call 04-6581766

Ein Hemed National Park (Friday 5 p.m.): Irish music in the bosom of nature, performed by the “Yarok Ad” band. Fee. To order tickets: *3639 (this number works from in Israel only).

Apollonia National Park (Friday evening): Jazz music and alternative medicine in the ancient fortress. A festive opening of the Relaxation Corner of the national park. Free entry. Details *3639 (this number works from in Israel only).

Caesarea aqueducts (Friday evening): Moonlit night tour for singles (40-55 years). Starts from Nahal Taninim nature reserve through the sand dunes, small fishing villages and ancient aqueducts, ending in Caesarea around a campfire. Transportation: buses (fee) Details and registration: SPNI 03-6388688

Daliot River (Saturday): A water tour for the whole family, between waterfalls, plants and streams, observing the unique animal life of the northern Kinneret. Includes swimming in the Majarsa and Kayaking on the Jordan River. Fee. Details and registration: SPNI 03-6388688

Hazbani River (Saturday 11am, 1pm, 3pm): Parks, picnics, cool water pools and a family oriented trip through the waters of the Hazbani, where the Dan and the Shnir rivers meet and then separate. Details: Nature Reserve and Parks Authority: 04-6950064

Bet Shean (Saturday 6pm): A tour of the ancient streets of a Roman city, including the public baths and theatres. Bet Shean National Park 04-6587189

Ein Avdat (Saturday): Ein Avdat and the ancient cities of the spice route. A tour and observation of the grave of David and Paula Ben Gurion. The tour culminates with the ancient secrets of the Nabatean city of Avdat. Free entry. Details *3639

Staying in town

Jerusalem (Thursday 8pm): A special night tour during the nine days of contemplation before the Ninth of Av, the day Jews mark the destruction of the Temple. Tour from Yemin Moshe to the Western Wall. Fee: NIS25 per adult, NIS15 per child. Details and registration: Kfar Etzion field school 02-9935133

Jerusalem (Thursday 7:30pm): Remembering the last days of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Temple, includes a visit to the catacombs of the Western Wall. Fee: NIS65 per adult, NIS35 per child. Details and registration: Yad Ben Zvi 02-6271155

Jerusalem (Friday 10am): Haneviim Street: a historical tour of the ancient love stories that have inflamed the city’s past. Fee: NIS50 per adult, NIS25 per child. Details and registration: Yad Ben Zvi 02-6271155

Tel Aviv (Friday morning): A photographic historic tour of the ice age. Cinematheque Tel Aviv, 2 Sprinzak St. Fee. Details and registration: SPNI 03-6388688

Tel Aviv (Friday 10am): A walking tour with poetic monologue describing the artist’s colonies of Tel Aviv in the 1920’s. From the beach to the opera house, through the Tent theatre, the Moghrabi theatre and a guided tour with refreshments of Bet Reuven. Fee: NIS45. Details and registration: Tourism board of Tel Aviv Yaffo 03-5166188

Tel Aviv (Friday 10am): Tastings and flavors, customs and stories of the Carmel Market and in the alleyways of the Yemenite Quarter. Fee. Details and registration: Tourism board of Tel Aviv Yaffo 03-5166188

Seeing Stars

A weekend (Thurs-Fri) of stargazing and guided meteor watching, in cooperation with the Mizpe Ramon city hall and the Astronomy society of Tel Aviv University. On Friday night the entire town will be blacked out in order to allow a clearer view of an expected meteor shower at its peak.

During the weekend there will also be guided tours, telescope observations and lectures about celestial bodies. Most of the activities are free. Details and registration for guided tours: The Astronomy Society 03-6407414, and Mizpe Ramon City Hall 08-6595577.