Temporary Christmas Markets in Beirut and the Regions... Thousands of Visitors Boost the Economy!

Dozens of wooden huts and tents decorated with Christmas lights line both sides of the street, with the aromas of food, sounds of music, and families strolling around. These are the temporary Christmas markets that have been appearing in Lebanese regions in recent years. Usually held in public squares or heritage streets, these markets have become a social gathering space and a seasonal economic driver. It is clear that this year's markets in Lebanon are much larger than in previous years, when the shadow of war and the economic crisis hindered any such activity.

Notably, these "stalls" provide artisans, small business owners, and local homemade product makers the opportunity to display their goods directly to consumers without incurring high rental costs. So how can the Lebanese turnout be assessed just days before Christmas and about a week before New Year's?

Gino Aoun, owner of the company "Street Festival" and organizer of the market and festival held in Martyrs' Square in downtown Beirut, which will continue until January 7, 2026, told "An-Nahar" that "this festival and market are organized jointly between us and the municipality, which insisted that entry to this square be free for everyone." He added, "This is the third time in our history that we organize this market in Martyrs' Square, but this year the turnout is exceptional. We have about 90 huts or stands and will add at least 10 more stands in the coming days as the high turnout despite the rain allows for it. Since we started until today, we can say that at least 25,000 people have entered the market. We noticed that people want to see this square, historically a unifying place for Lebanese, full of life and various activities." He explained, "You might hear that someone from Batroun wants the Batroun market to succeed, and the same for someone from Jbeil or any other area, but certainly, all of them want the market and festival in the capital's center to succeed, because Beirut is everyone's city."

Aoun points out that some market stalls were set up inside the tent where Pope Leo XIV gathered all the heads of religious sects a few days ago for the ecumenical meeting, which gives the festival and market a special blessing and spirit.

As for the Batroun market, which continues until January 6, 2026, it has become a destination for Lebanese from various regions. In this context, Michel Marshak, head of the "Capital de Noël" committee, confirms that "about 170 stands were established in Batroun, and notably, this year all the streets of Batroun were decorated, featuring seven stations each with its own character. On the past Saturday and Sunday, the number of visitors exceeded 200,000. We had to create new parking spaces in cooperation with the municipality after witnessing the exceptional influx of citizens."

It cannot be said that these markets are limited to predominantly Christian areas and the capital Beirut, as other regions also insist on creating similar atmospheres, even if on a smaller scale. The most prominent example of this was the city of Aley. According to Imad Hadi Halima, a member of its municipal council, "This market is being established for the first time in Aley coinciding with Christmas and New Year's. Honestly, it was a challenge for us, especially since the 25 kiosks are in an open courtyard and the weather was rainy, but the turnout was more than good. We plan to expand and do something remarkable next year. What we did this year was just a way to test the waters."

It is also notable that entry to all these markets is free, encouraging citizens, especially families, to stroll through them, enjoy the atmosphere, and recall the true meaning of the holiday, which has truly returned after years of successive crises.