Syrian International Rally, Jun, three-day car rally starting in Damascus and heading off around the country, organised by the Syrian Automobile Club (website: www.syrianrally.com)
Baalbek Festival, Jul/Aug, many Damascenes attend this prestigious festival with international performances of music and dance, across the border in Lebanon (Syrianair flies from Damascus to Beirut from where taxis go to Baalbek. Karnak Buses go from Damascus to Baalbek (journey time - 3 hours) (website: www.baalbeck.org.lb)
Damascus Film Festival, Nov, Omayyad Conferences Palace and several cinemas in the centre of town (website: www.cinemasy.com)
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim Hijra calendar/dates change every year, Muslims abstain from food, drink and sex between sunrise and sunset and evenings are spent eating together, shopping and going to the old city, throughout the city
Eid al-Fitr, end of Ramadan, three-day feast to celebrate the end of fasting in Ramadan, all offices and shops are closed for at least the first two days, throughout the city
Eid al-Adha, commemorates Abraham's sacrifice, and marks the time of the pilgrimage to Mecca, throughout the city