Events in Faqra and Kfardebian: The Year-Round Calendar

The mountain has two seasons and each has its own calendar. Here's what's on and when to book.

Summer

Faqra Kfardebian International Festival, late July into early August. The area's own festival, held against the mountain backdrop. It gets far less coverage than the big national festivals, which means it's easier to attend and harder to find information about. Book accommodation early; the surrounding weeks fill.

Les Jardins du Mzaar summer festival, through August. Artisan and craft stalls, a food court, and DJs in the evenings. Family-friendly through the day and livelier at night.

15 August, the Assumption (Eid el Saydé), fireworks, and one of the busiest nights of the summer.

Sunday day parties, RIKKY'Z runs these through the warm months, and they're a fixture of the Faraya summer.

Winter

Mzaar season opening, typically mid-December, snowfall permitting. Opening weekend is busy and the atmosphere is good.

Ski races and competitions, Mzaar hosts events through the season, including international-level alpine competition in some years. Dates depend on conditions.

Christmas, the chalets fill, restaurants run set menus, and the village feels properly alive.

New Year's Eve, the biggest night of the year. Venues sell fixed-price packages.

> A word of caution on NYE packages. Quality has been genuinely inconsistent across venues, and reviewers have reported events that didn't match what was advertised at $150 a head. Book somewhere you've been before, or somewhere a friend can vouch for. Ask exactly what the package includes.

Easter, a busy weekend, often with the last of the season's snow.

Village and religious calendar

Saints' days and village feasts run through the year in Kfardebian and the surrounding villages. These aren't advertised widely and tend to be found by being here. Ask locally.

When to book

The rest of the year you can be considerably more relaxed, and in May, October and November you'll have your pick.