When Jerusalem's main train station was moved to its current home way out in Malcha, where it shares real estate with Teddy Stadium and the Jerusalem Mall, the elegant Mandatory-era train station in the center of the city was left without purpose, a relic of a bygone era in the Holy City. But given the Old Train Station's classic architecture, abundant space and proximity to happening neighborhoods like Baka and the German Colony, it was inevitable that the station would be revived as a center for culture in Jerusalem. And so it was.

Used in summer months, the station is home to fairgrounds with a massive courtyard and grandstand bleacher seating, making it an ideal outdoor venue for a wide variety of cultural events. The numerous yearly festivals held in the Old Train Station include the International Beer Festival, the Jerusalem Tastes food festival, the Hebrew Book Week book sale and the C-Sides alternative music festival. Hama'abada (The Lab), the center for nurturing homegrown Jerusalem multimedia talent – also housed within the Train Station complex – frequently uses the fairgrounds for its shows.