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This summer, Lebanon will be the stage for two major events that will blur the lines between art, engagement, and ecology: the eighth edition of the Oakenfest Festival and the sixth REEF Encounters. These two events invite us to rethink our relationship with creation, the environment, and living together.
From July 19 to 21, head to the oak grove of Lehfed for the eighth edition of Oakenfest. Since 2013, this unique festival has established itself as the unmissable rendezvous for lovers of alternative Arab music. For three days, nearly a thousand festival-goers will gather to experience an extraordinary event combining concerts, outdoor activities, and camping in an enchanting natural setting.
This year’s program features an eclectic and bold lineup that highlights the young Lebanese and Palestinian guard. Among the highlights are the much-anticipated performances of Snakeskin, an electronic dream pop duo, Zaid Khaled, a rising star of Arab pop, and Etyen and Salwa Jaradat, who will present their innovative project blending traditional music with electro sounds. Fans of psychedelic rock will enjoy Khachan Moukarzel Tawil, while electronic music enthusiasts can count on Nadine M to set the dancefloor on fire.
But Oakenfest is much more than concerts. The festival offers a holistic experience with hikes in the cedar reserve, Palestinian dance and embroidery workshops, and film screenings in partnership with REEF. All this with an eco-responsible approach, including a waste sorting and recycling operation supervised by REEF. Driven by passionate volunteers, Oakenfest proves that it is possible to combine artistic excellence, conviviality, and commitment. A UFO in the festival landscape, not to be missed.
A week after Oakenfest, the village of Kobayat will take over with the sixth REEF Encounters, from July 26 to 28. Since 2019, this essential event has invited us to reflect on the links between cinema, art, ecology, and rurality through a rich and inspiring program. Screenings of films resulting from an unprecedented Lebanese collaboration between 22 ecologists and filmmakers, international competition, youth sessions, discovery hikes with experts, upcycling workshops, dinners showcasing local culinary traditions… The Encounters aim to be a laboratory of ideas to imagine a more sustainable world.
Among the new features this year, the Ambassadors program, aimed at 13–18 year-olds, has been expanded with masterclasses, screenings, and outdoor activities. A way to raise awareness from a young age. The Encounters will also host exhibitions on Lebanon’s endemic species and a conference debate on the ecological and human situation in South Lebanon. Enough to fuel reflections and inspire vocations.
With Oakenfest and the REEF Encounters, Lebanon proves this summer its ability to reinvent itself to offer a demanding, generous, and meaningful cultural program. Two complementary events that invite us to be there to celebrate what makes the country rich: its youth, creativity, and unwavering commitment to a better future.
Useful links:
Website: https://oakenfest.com/
Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/oakenfest
Tickets: https://ihjoz.com/events/7872
Activities reservations: https://forms.gle/cpwd3WDHxv14P9cT8
