WHEN
July or August
WHERE
Jerash is located 48 kilometres north of the
capital city of Amman
HOW
Several bus companies such as JET T offer
transport to Jerash; public transport usually
ceases early in the evening
DOS AND DON’TS- Do book online ahead of time
- Don’t forget that Jordan is a predominantly
Muslim country, so cultural etiquette in
terms of conservative dress and alcohol
abstinence should be abided by
EXPERIENCE
JERASH FESTIVAL OF
CULTURE AND ARTSAimed at enriching Jordan’s arts and
culture sector, this vibrant festival was
founded in 1981 by Queen Nour. The
festival plays host to Jordanian and
foreign artists, featuring a wide variety
of performances, including plays,
poetry readings, opera and musical
concerts. It’s set in Jerash, an ancient
Roman city located in the foothills of
the mountain of Gilead; it is one of the
largest and most well-preserved Roman
ruin sites outside of Italy. Even if you’re
not an arts and culture buff, the sheer
grandeur of the ruin is enough reason
to make a stop here: The ancient
columns, colonnaded street and oval
plaza are remarkably well preserved.
The festival itself is a three-week-
long programme scheduled in the
summer, and there’s a good chance
you could spot members of the
glamorous Jordanian royal family,
FESTIVAL MUST-SEE:
JERASH FESTIVAL OF CULTURE AND ARTS
Jordan
DO A FESTIVAL CIRCUIT
Nearby Lebanon also plays host to a variety of
arts and culture festivals, such as the Byblos
Festival, the Baalbeck International Festival,
the Zouk Mikael International Festival, the
Tyre and South Festival and the Beiteddine
Arts Festival – all of which take place in July.
If you plan carefully, you could do a full
festival circuit!itinerary tip
who attend every year. There are
also performances of the Roman
Army and Chariot Experience (RACE),
which run daily at the hippodrome in
Jerash all year round. This involves
a re-enactment of Roman times with
gladiators and chariot racing – in a
genuine Roman setting. Forty-five
legionaries in full armour conduct
drills and battle tactics, and Roman
chariots compete in a seven-lap race
around the ancient hippodrome.JORDANJerash103