The Crisis Call to Culture
Ithra celebrates National Day with education, entertainment, and more
September 22, 2020
Along with the education will be plenty of entertainment to complement the festivities.
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) will celebrate Saudi Arabia’s 90th National Day with a vibrant package of programs to entertain and educate. The programming offers visitors the opportunity to engage with Saudi culture from across the Kingdom while exploring the nation’s rich diversity.
Ithra’s National Day festivities include exhibitions, family activities, a board game competition, a quiz-based scavenger hunt, storytelling, food, dance, poetry, and music performances.
Education and entertainment
The Kingdom of Cultures exhibition, running from Sept. 21 to Dec. 20, takes visitors on a journey through Saudi Arabia’s lands and tells stories about the Saudi people. The exhibit is a treasure trove of Saudi culture featuring untold tales, crafts, dialects, and various Saudi customs. Visitors will immerse themselves in exceptional experiences and explore the Kingdom’s environment. The exhibit delivers a unique deep dive into the rich heritage, history and diversity of Saudi Arabia.
Along with the education will be plenty of entertainment to complement the festivities. The musical performance by Al Farabi band will feature Abeer Balubaid on piano and Ameen Faris on vocals.
Saudi poet Abdulatif bin Yousef will host an evening of poetry — Aswat — accompanied by musicians in celebration of Saudi civilization.
Fine art and fine food
To reinforce Ithra’s mission as a source of creativity, inspiration, and positive impact, it will launch The Market program as part of Ithra’s National Day outreach programs. The Market is a place making project based on revamping the central farmers market in al-Khobar and giving it an energetic, artsy edge.
The covered space in al-Ulaya will be redecorated and feature areas for art and music, in addition to the dedicated and upgraded section where local farmers can sell their produce. Ithra plans to curate installations at The Market to elevate the place, make it more visually exciting and to bring art and creativity more directly to the community. Also, Ithra plans to create an art mural in al-Hasa, one of the largest oases in the world.
During the celebration, Ithra will also host Takya, a pop-up restaurant, featuring fine dining Saudi fusion cuisine. Food trucks will be stationed around Ithra, serving snacks and beverages to replenish visitors as they enjoy the Saudi National Day festivities.
The Ithra National Day celebration kicked off Monday and will run through the weekend. For everyone’s safety, there will be two celebration sessions per day, and space will be limited. Tickets are required, and special tickets are required for the performances by Al Farabi band featuring Abeer Balubaid and Ameen Farsi, and Aswat: Poetry Night with Abdulatif bin Yousef.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit Ithra.
