JEDDAH: Since its inauguration on July 24, the Jeddah International Shopping Festival has received more than 50,000 people, according to the festival’s organizers.
Located on an empty plot of land near Tahlia and Siteen, just east of IKEA, the festival houses among its many shows, a Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round and a “Circle of Death” motorbike daredevil show. Some attending families were seen arriving with their own sitting mats and arm-resting pads.
The entrance to the festival grounds is free of charge, but to attend the closed circus shows and local performances tickets must be purchased.
“Free entry was appealing to me and my family, as most summer prices are relatively high these days,” said Saad, a festival attendee from Abha. “Plus the location is not far away and it is on main roads in the city so it’s easy to find and navigate out of the traffic.”
Shopping areas were hosted in a separate tent containing more than 100 rented tables Egyptian, Moroccan and Iranian goods, spices, clothes, antiques and other items.
“We had a similar festival last year near Red Sea Mall, and this festival is continuing to the success of last year’s event, at the same time there is another shopping festival we are holding in Taif among other cities,” said one of the organizers, Mohammed Yosuf.
Inside the festival the Pakistani circus entertained the audience with a full crew of clowns, performers, trained circus dogs, a trained lion, white stallions and a dancing camel.
“We have two shows every night, one starts at 9:30 in the evening and another on at eleven in the evening,” said Shahid Khan, one of the performers. The festival also included games and traditional music.
Jeddah International Shopping Festival is part of the Jeddah Ghair summer festival. It will run through Sept. 25.
