The Muscat Nights festival officially began on Thursday, drawing families from all over the Sultanate of Oman to its four main venues: Qurum Natural Park, Naseem Gardens, Oman Convention and Exhibition Center, and Oman Automobile Association.
As gates opened at 4pm, traffic in the area slowed as visitors flocked to the venues to experience an array of activities, food options, fireworks, drone and laser shows.
"It's early evening and I can feel the snail-pacing traffic in Al Shatti on our way to Qurum Park," commented Runita, a lecturer at Muscat University. These venues are open to the public daily from 4pm to 11pm, with extended hours on weekends until 12am (except for Qurum Natural Park, which closes at 11:30pm on weekends).
The festival offers a wide range of cultural, recreational, family, and sports activities, as well as artistic evenings and competitions. This year's new attractions include an exclusive traditional village called Heritage Village, a large area dedicated to frankincense and its products, perfumery, and daily cultural events and talks by scholars and poets.
There are variety of amusement activities, including rides from different countries, water balloons, stilt walkers, and other engaging activities for children, while adults can indulge in shopping and entertainment. "Events to be offered at the festival will be new and innovative. A whole lot of new artistes, troupes, and ideas will be performing in the latest edition of the festival and it will certainly be a treat for the whole family," said Ibrahim al Hasani, an official from the Muscat Municipality.
In addition, a hall showcasing traditional handicrafts and artifacts from Iran, India, Ethiopia, and Pakistan is sure to draw visitors with its original and high-quality art and crafts. The Heritage Village at Naseem Gardens offers a glimpse of authentic Omani culture and the cultures of other countries.
The colourful nights of Muscat Nights are expected to attract a multitude of people in the coming days, offering evenings filled with entertainment and informative events for both citizens and residents, as well as visitors from around the world.
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