The Indonesian capital forms a lively part of the country’s landscape and for a few nights each year, the Jakarta Fair captures the city’s vibrant culture in one central location. For a true experience of warm island hospitality, check into one of the city’s fine Jakarta serviced apartments. If visitors want an unforgettable experience of short stay accommodation Jakarta offers a few select options, such as the Ascott Jakarta, whose stylish interiors and modern amenities make it an ideal choice for business and leisure visits. Formed to commemorate the anniversary of Jakarta, the Jakarta Fair is the brainchild of Governor Ali Sadikin in 1967, who wanted to combine several of the city’s night markets into one. It is modeled after the Pasar Gambir events held during the country’s colonized Dutch era and has incorporated those yesteryear entertainment and trade exhibitions into its structure. Since the fair’s inception, it has become a part of the city’s anniversary celebrations each year. It is an exciting month-long celebration of everything local, unique and ultimately Indonesian, as expressed through music, dance, exhibitions, trade promotions, shows, amusement rides, and of course, delicious food. The fairs sees aspects of Indonesian culture fly in from all parts of the country, each show-casing their own brand of eclectic Indonesia. The longest fair was in 1968, and the celebrations went on for 71 days. One of the most memorable was the fair in 1969, which saw US president Richard Nixon as its VIP guest. To accommodate its popularity and subsequent growth in size, the fair was moved to the Jakarta International Expo in 1992, where it has delighted visitors from across the land and around the world, as they all come together to celebrate Indonesia’s finest cultural offerings.