RIYADH/JEDDAH/ALKHOBAR: With the Saudi National Day holiday running from Friday to Monday, what better way to mark the annual Sept. 23 occasion than by immersing oneself in the Kingdom’s most breathtaking landscapes as well as fireworks, music and art shows.
The General Entertainment Authority has announced there will be fireworks displays across Saudi Arabia. On Sept. 22, Umm Ajlan Park in the capital is hosting, for free, the nation’s biggest fireworks display, a drone show, and a folklore event, starting at 9 p.m.
Saudi folklore shows, air shows and many other events are taking place across the Kingdom as part of Saudi National Day celebrations. (SPA)
There will also be fireworks displays at Jeddah Promenade from Friday to Monday starting at 6 p.m. On the same day, as a part of the festivities, there will be an air show at Jeddah’s North Corniche with planes flying in formation and leaving green smoke trails across the sky.
Having started on Sept. 19, the Mishkat Interactive Exhibition is hosting the “Energy of Glory” celebration until Sept. 21, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., focusing on Saudi Vision 2030 and the nation’s sustainable energy goals.
September 23 will feature a local band performing traditional and modern songs, a Saudi folklore show, and a marine show at the Jeddah Yacht Club. (Supplied)
At Nakheel Mall Riyadh, Fontana Circus will be performing with gravity-defying aerialists. There will also be a musical fountain on display.
At The Globe, one of Riyadh’s most iconic dining spots, which is a glass-enclosed venue with panoramic city views, diners can enjoy afternoon tea from Sept. 20 to 23.
In Alkhobar, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture will have a series of curated interactive cultural programs from Sept. 20 to 23. (Supplied)
Other dining options in the capital include the Mandarin Oriental and Al-Faisaliah where cuisine from the Kingdom’s 13 regions is on the menu.
At Jeddah Yacht Club and Jeddah Art Promenade, a local band will perform traditional and modern songs, in addition to a Saudi folklore show, and a marine show on Sept. 23.
One of the standout events this weekend is “Shojaa,” a family-friendly musical show at The Club in Al-Shallal Theme Park. Running from Sept. 20 to 23, this performance celebrates Saudi Arabia culture with music, storytelling, and a homage to the Year of the Camel.
In Jeddah’s Historic District, the cultural history of Saudi Arabia will be presented at the Tariq Abdulhakim Center. From Sept. 21 to 24, the center will host museum tours, karaoke sessions, art workshops, face painting for children, and an Arabic calligraphy booth.
Zawiya 97 in the Historic District will have an artisan souq on Sept. 23, with handmade crafts for sale, and educational and cultural offerings. From Sept. 22 to 23, there will be performers playing traditional music on the oud at Social Shot Lounge & Bar.
In AlUla, the Azimuth Festival is on from Sept. 19 to 21 at Wadi Al-Fann, featuring international and regional artists. Also, Hero Experiences Group is offering hot-air balloon flights above AlUla’s ancient landscapes
Also on offer is the Sharaan Platinum Dinner Safari, a tour of the nature reserve led by expert guides in the afternoon. There will be tours of canyons with ancient petroglyphs and rock formations. Canapes will be available as the sun sets over the valley.
In the evening, a traditional South African braai, or barbecue, will be on offer in a canyon aglow with lanterns, and later a stargazing session under the vast desert sky.
In Alkhobar, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture will have a series of curated interactive cultural programs from Sept. 20 to 23. The activities include live performances, workshops, exhibitions and film screenings which highlight Saudi heritage.
In addition, there will performances of traditional Saudi art forms, including the Al-Ardah dance.
From Sept. 19 to 23, Alkhobar’s new performing arts center, Fantakah, will stage an original play titled “The Law of Attraction.” Fantakah founder and chief operating officer, Husain Zaber, is the writer and director.
