The first edition of the “Maarad Music Festival” will take place on Saturday, Sept. 3, beginning at 4:00 pm at the Rachid Karami International Fair in Tripoli, Lebanon. The music festival will be organized by Beirut and Beyond and Rumman cultural centers according to 961. This music festival’s major goal is to spark a creative movement that supports local artists, makes art available to everyone, and features both domestic and international bands and musicians.

The Monte Carlo band, which features Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian musicians and singers, will perform their improvisational and traditional music; Tarabeat from Lebanon, who will play a combination of dance music and classical Middle Eastern tunes and music; DJ sets by Ahmad Chho; and jazz musicians Robin Antunes and Benjamin Garson are just a few of the talented musicians on the lineup as claimed by Lebtivity.

How about the fees? Well, you won’t need to worry about that since admission to The Maarad Music Festival is free for everyone. However, there will also be transportation available for LBP 120.000 roundtrip per person from Beirut to Tripoli.

Why visit Tripoli in the first place?

Undoubtedly, some people overlook Tripoli in favor of Beirut despite the fact that it is a beautiful city with fascinating people, and incredible parties and music festivals. Tripoli served as a stepping stone for ancient civilizations including the Phoenicians, Romans, and Byzantines, who greatly contributed to the city’s rich cultural past. Additionally, it is well-known for the Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles, a location among several crusader fortresses. According to culture trip, Tripoli is surrounded by a number of mosques from the Ottoman Empire’s past as well as hammams and markets.

El-Mina is another undiscovered gem near Tripoli. It is one of Lebanon’s most overlooked locations and is regarded as one of the country’s oldest cities, going back to the Phoenicians. This small coastal town in the north of Lebanon has plenty of things to do and enjoy to keep you busy for the full day. For instance, you can savor the town’s renowned fresh seafood, go kayaking in the sea, eat breakfast on the beach, and perhaps ride a bike along the coastline. There are other activities as well that you can do there that’ll make you fall in love with El-Mina.

So while you’re at the first edition of the Maarad Music Festival, make sure to explore the city’s rich culture and history.