Ten Free (And Fun!) Things to Do in Lebanon This November
Beirut provides endless entertainment year round. The catch? It can get pretty expensive. Luckily, there are a ton of awesome free events going on, so you can still enjoy a night out on the town without breaking the bank.
From live music, screenings, sports events, exhibitions and more, here is a list of all the good stuff. And by good stuff, I mean free.
1. “Post Cards of Love to Lebanon” Concert
Basmeh & Zeitooneh’s Choir, which is comprised of Syrian children, is launching a series of concerts dedicated to singing songs of love and gratitude to the Lebanese people in order to voice their appreciation for the hospitality of the Lebanese people during these difficult times.
Date: Friday, November 7 Time: 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
2. ‘Flag Performance’ at the Beirut Street Festival 2014
The Beirut Street Festival is back in 2014 for its 10th edition. Whether you encounter some of these urban interventions by chance, or intend to follow the schedule for specific shows, the aim is to restore outdoor culture through participatory street theater and dance. Take a moment to enjoy the cosmopolitan creative artistic atmosphere in the city with the Beirut Street Fest.
Vincent Warin is a former France champion and vice world champion of BMX.
Date: Friday, November 7 Time: 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: Ain el-Mreisseh waterfront
3. Shirin Neshat Lecture and Screening at AUB
Organized by the Department of Fine Arts and Art History, as part of the AUB Visiting Scholar program, this will be a public screening by award-winning Iranian filmmaker/artist Shirin Neshat.
Neshat’s early photographic works includes the Women of Allah (1993–97) series, which explored the question of gender in relation to Islamic fundamentalism and militancy. Her subsequent video works departed from overtly political content or critique in favor of more poetic imagery and narratives. Neshat has held numerous solo exhibitions at galleries and museums internationally.
Date: Tuesday, November 4 (Lecture) Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, November 5 (‘Women Without Men’ Screening) Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Location: American University of Beirut (AUB) Bliss Street Hamra Tel.: +9611340460 Tel.: +9611350000
4. Maurice Louca “Salute the Parrot” Album Listening Party
Two years in the making, his second album, Salute the Parrot, is the fruit of an intense reinvention. With myriad new components rendered by a host of guest musicians, he has created a genre-defying work that leaves ample space for fluidity and improvisation, paving the way for unique live renderings of the work to come. Inspired by many influences, from psychedelic to Egyptian shaabi, Louca shatters the confines of musical and cultural labeling with eight genre-defying tracks.
Date: Wednesday, November 5 Time: 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Location: Radio Beirut Al Nahar Street Mar Mikhael Tel.: +9611561577
5. ‘Potpourri 002’ Exhibition
Art Factum Gallery is pleased to invite you to attend the second edition of its group exhibition. This year’s artist selection includes a range of international and local, established and emerging artists: Leila Alaoui, Asif Ahmed, Joanna Andraos, Mustapha Azeroual, Lamia Joreige, Rhea Karam, Atif Khan, Francois Lamore, Siba Sahabi, Caroline Tabet, Claire Trotignon, Vivian Van Blerke, and George Zouein.
Date: November 6 to November 28 Time: 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Art Factum Gallery Rehban Street Karantina Tel.: +9611443263 Mob.: +9613798081
6. Sunrise Yoga at Beirut Waterfront with Art of Living
Rise and shine and get into your yoga groove at the Beirut Waterfront. Early mornings are full of Prana (subtle energy), especially by the ocean! Salty oceans have a unique healing power. Practicing yoga around sunrise invigorates the whole system and charges the mind with subtle energy.
Date: Sunday, November 9 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Beirut Waterfront Port of Beirut Downtown Tel.: +9611281005
7. “Please Don’t Touch” Exhibition
Station Beirut, in collaboration with Agial Art Gallery, would like to invite you to experience “Please Don’t Touch,” an exhibition by Nadine Abou Zaki.
This is an interactive performance introducing a new concept to sculpture. Nadine Abou Zaki sculpted blindfolded in the dark, focusing on the inner self, thereby substituting the sense of sight with that of touch. She invites you to touch, experience and interact in the dark with her sculptures.
Date: November 21 to December 4 Time: 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., excluding Sundays
Location: Station Beirut Sector 66, Street 90, Facing Beirut Art Center Achrafieh Mob.: +96171684218
8. World Record Attempt: Human Letter “U” for United
There’s two new events planned for Independence Day celebrations this year. On Saturday, November 22, head down to Martyrs’ Square for an attempt to earn a Guinness World Record for the the largest human letter. It will be in the shape of a “U” to symbolize unity.
Date: Saturday, November 22 Location: Martyrs’ Square
9. United Across Lebanon
Then on Sunday, November 30, around 200,000 people are expected to gather in the effort to form a human chain starting in Tripoli and running along the coast of Lebanon all the way to Tyre. It’s all part of coast to coast.
10. Guillaume à Beyrouth Part II
Nancy Gabriel and and Guillaume Excoffier would like to invite you to the opening of ‘Guillaume à Beyrouth Part II.’ From the heart of St-Germain in Paris, this one-month pop-up design store is back in Beirut. Discover an eclectic mix of antiques and collector design pieces in a live interior setting.
Date: November 26 to December 25 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
