On May 2, 2026, the “Blooming of Sievers Apple Tree” festival, dedicated to a unique natural phenomenon, was held at a high organizational level in the territory of the Zhongar-Alatau State National Nature Park, near the village of Topolevka in the Sarkand district of the Zhetysu region.

The large-scale event aimed to enhance the tourism potential of the region, develop ecological tourism, promote natural heritage, and foster a culture of conservation of the Sievers apple tree, a species of global significance.

The festival attracted more than 7,000 visitors. In addition, over 50 bloggers and influencers took part in the event, contributing to the promotion of Zhetysu’s tourism potential and the festival’s visibility among a wider international audience.

It is worth noting that the Zhetysu region is one of the key natural habitats of the wild Sievers apple tree, considered the ancestor of all cultivated apple varieties in the world. According to scientists, approximately 48% of the global natural population of this unique species is concentrated in this region.

As part of the festival, guests were offered a rich program, including visits to the blooming Sievers apple orchards, a plein air art competition, cultural and mass events, national sports games, craft exhibitions, workshops, and a concert program.

A significant part of the program was an international creative project featuring artists from Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Kazakhstan. Participants presented their works and were awarded for their contribution to cultural exchange and the promotion of the region’s natural heritage through art.

The main musical guests of the festival were Kazakh performers Bayansulu and Kuandyk Rakhym, whose performances became a vibrant highlight of the evening program.

Included in the national calendar of events of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the festival once again confirmed its importance as a key cultural and tourism platform contributing to the development of domestic and inbound tourism, the strengthening of the Zhetysu region’s tourism image, and the international promotion of its unique natural potential.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/zhetysu-sarkan/press/news/details/1213099?lang=kk