BEIRUT: A culture and arts festival will open the typically off-limits Horsh Beirut Park free to the public for nearly two weeks, organizers and the Beirut mayor announced Tuesday. Candy and popcorn stands and theater stages will be set up around the pine-tree-lined park for the festival, which starts Thursday and will run until the beginning of October. The French and Arabic event put on by the education group Assabil and the Ile de France region includes free admission from 5-10 p.m. for music, theater and dance performances. In the evening there will be shows for children such as marionette performances while at night the festival will be focused on an adult audience with poetry readings and plays. [Link]