Tannourine held its first stargazing festival on land near the Tannourine Cedar Reserve, offering free telescope access and exclusively local food vendors to showcase the village's dark skies and create economic opportunity.
The event, called Tannourine Meets the Sky, took place this week during peak meteor activity in mid-August. Organizers secured at least five telescopes, with specialists from Notre Dame University on hand to calibrate equipment and answer visitor questions. Entrance and telescope access were free.
Mariam Harb, head of the Tourism and Media Committee in Tannourine, said the village's location creates some of Lebanon's clearest night skies with minimal light pollution. The timing coincided with mid-August meteor activity that draws sky-watchers worldwide.
Every food and drink kiosk at the event was operated by Tannourine residents. Organizers kept vendor fees low and absorbed most operating costs themselves to encourage participation. Around ten local vendors participated in the inaugural edition.
The event included a DJ, roughly 25 raffle prizes and other entertainment. Organizers ruled out open flames due to proximity to the Cedar Reserve and wind-carried spark risk. Trash bins, bathrooms and post-event cleanup were planned in advance.
Harb described this year's event as a proof of concept. Plans for next year include expanding to a two-day festival with a full-day camping experience paired with an evening program. She said events like this create opportunities for young people and economic development in the village.
