Artas is an important village in Palestine that is located on the outskirts of Bethlehem. A typical Palestinian village, Artas is renowned for its countryside charm and socio-cultural characteristics. Aside from its nature, agricultural features, scenery, and flora and fauna, Artas enjoys a long and lasting history of Christian and Muslim heritage and a unique tradition of hospitality. Since the 1840’s, Artas hosted many important visitors from all around the world who were warmly welcomed and well treated by the villagers. The Lettuce Festival has been implemented since 1994 in the village of Artas, part of the Bethlehem Governorate.

The Festival joins locals and tourists from all around to celebrate the history and culture of Palestinian farm life and interact with the living stones of Artas and experience Palestinian hospitality. In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the festival in 2014, the Palestinian Ministry of Culture and Artas Lettuce Festival Committee held a huge celebration that featured dance, music, guided tours and other cultural activities that attracted many Palestinian families and tourists. Since the 1800’s, the village, whose name comes from the Latin hortus, which means 'paradise’, due to its beautiful gardens filled with fruits and vegetables and springs, hosted many important visitors, including pilgrims, archaeologists, orientalists and biblical researchers.