Imagine watching a concert or a play in a theatre that was built by the Romans 2,000 years ago - that is exactly what the Jerash Festival offers. Thousands of people come each evening and sit on the same stone seats where Romans once watched performances. The ancient south theatre, which can seat around 3,000 people, becomes a spectacular concert venue under the open night sky, lit with coloured lights.
The festival features an enormous variety of arts. Arab classical music, international pop concerts, traditional Jordanian dabke dancing, poetry readings, circus acts, comedy, and theatre all take place on different stages around the ruins. During the day there are craft stalls selling handmade pottery, embroidery, and jewellery. The smell of food from street stalls - falafel, grilled meats, sweet pastries - fills the air.
The Jerash Festival began in 1981 and has grown into an event that attracts around 300,000 visitors over its ten days. It is important not just as entertainment but as a celebration of Jordanian culture and the country's ancient history. Students from schools across Jordan visit as part of school trips, and some young Jordanian performers get their first taste of performing on a big stage at the festival.