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Tripoli is the place for big political rallies, but if cultural performances are rare, then cultural festivals are non-existent. Musicians and dancers perform at wedding parties, which together with religious holidays like Ramadan, are the main celebrations. In recent years more festivals have been held in the south of the country to celebrate the character and cultural heritage of a particular town and its people. Travel agents in Tripoli can provide information on the exact date of the festival, as well as organise the trip and accommodation there.
Ramadan, Sep-Oct, Muslims abstain from food, drink and sex between sunrise and sunset; evenings are spent eating together, shopping and going to the medina
Eid al-Fitr, usually Oct, everything is closed for a three-day holiday to celebrate the end of fasting in Ramadan
Eid al-Adha, Nov-Dec, families get together and slaughter a sheep to commemorate Abraham's sacrifice and mark the time of the pilgrimage to Mecca
Revolution Day, 1 Sep, public holiday with a big rally, speech by Colonel Gaddafi and military parades, Green Square and along the seafront
Ghadames Festival, mid-Oct, three-day traditional music and dance festival, held in the beautiful old city of Ghadames
Ghat Festival, 29-31 Dec, festival celebrating traditional Tuareg culture with a concert held on New Years Eve in nearby Jebel Acacus, Ghat, 1,342km (834 miles) south of Tripoli (there are infrequent flights from Tripoli to Ghat, or daily flights to Sebha and then bus to Ghat, where there is basic accommodation)
Qasr Festival, Apr, Berber music and dance festival held every in the 700-year old fortress of Kabaw (there are buses from Tripoli to Nalut (275km/171 miles); get off at Tiji then taxi or hitch a ride to Kabaw (9km/5.6 miles); basic hotels can be found in Nalut)
Ramadan, Sep-Oct, Muslims abstain from food, drink and sex between sunrise and sunset; evenings are spent eating together, shopping and going to the medina
Eid al-Fitr, usually Oct, everything is closed for a three-day holiday to celebrate the end of fasting in Ramadan
Eid al-Adha, Nov-Dec, families get together and slaughter a sheep to commemorate Abraham's sacrifice and mark the time of the pilgrimage to Mecca
Revolution Day, 1 Sep, public holiday with a big rally, speech by Colonel Gaddafi and military parades, Green Square and along the seafront
Ghadames Festival, mid-Oct, three-day traditional music and dance festival, held in the beautiful old city of Ghadames
Ghat Festival, 29-31 Dec, festival celebrating traditional Tuareg culture with a concert held on New Years Eve in nearby Jebel Acacus, Ghat, 1,342km (834 miles) south of Tripoli (there are infrequent flights from Tripoli to Ghat, or daily flights to Sebha and then bus to Ghat, where there is basic accommodation)
Qasr Festival, Apr, Berber music and dance festival held every in the 700-year old fortress of Kabaw (there are buses from Tripoli to Nalut (275km/171 miles); get off at Tiji then taxi or hitch a ride to Kabaw (9km/5.6 miles); basic hotels can be found in Nalut)
