Changes in the market have transformed the area into a "night spot," with bars featuring specialty drinks, live music, and singers. The change has been so pronounced that a "Jerusalem Post" article listed one shuk restaurant as one of the five highest-rated restaurants in the city for romantic dates. The shuk also now hosts special events like the "Balabasta" dance and music festival, launched in 2010, which attracts large crowds that remain until late at night, in areas that used to be deserted. The annual festival includes street performances, artwork, puppet shows, and events linked to the market's foods, such as chili-eating contests and produce-carving workshops.