Another season of Jounieh's much-anticipated festival will kick off Friday despite political and security unrest that is plaguing the country. 

As in the three previous years, a seven-minute-long fireworks display, synchronized with musical effects, will blaze the city's bay, heralding the start of the Jounieh International Festival for the summer of 2014.

Fadi Fayyad, head of the festival's organizing committee, assured to MTV website that complete coordination is maintained with security forces so as to ensure the audience's safety.

Fayyad also outlined the high turnout that the Festival's fourth edition, which runs from June 27 until July 10, continues to witness.

This year’s festival program includes concerts and events catered to a wide range of musical tastes.

As in previous years, the organizers have also programmed many free activities and events for children as well. From July 4 until 6, Jounieh's roads will be car-free as parades and other events are scheduled to take place.

Article originally written in Arabic by Elise Merhej