This cultural festival was first held in 1985, and ever since it's been the most famous cultural event in Saudi Arabia. The festival takes place 45 kilometers outside of Riyadh, kicking off with a camel race and then continues for two weeks to display, reenact and showcase history and dance, art and craftsmanship.
This includes traditional pottery making, time-honored wood carvings of doors and windows, weaving and the crafts of traditional jewelry-making and leatherwork. National and folklore artists dance their way through the two weeks, musicians beat to the ancient rhythms of the Arabian Peninsula and poets vie for crowd approval through their recitals.
It's all showmanship and local colour through the decades of history and at 27 years old, still the most popular event in the Kingdom.
Opening hours:
Held every year for two weeks between February and April. Check local papers for male/family only days.
4pm - 12am.
All photo credits: Blue Abaya Photography
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