- Wide-eyed children from the local and expat communities joined together at the First Riyadh International Children’s Culture Fair held last week at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh.
- Dignitaries were on hand for the opening ceremonies as abundant camera crews searched for the cutest faces and gave opportunities to the smallest voices to be heard on the evening news.
At first glance, it was evident that this event provided a marvelous opportunity for parents and educators to stock up on children’s books, learning toys, and interactive materials to stimulate young minds. However, this was much more than a simple book fair.
Just inside the gate, toddlers were met by friendly curators who beckoned them into an alcove of mini proportions designed for their enjoyment. Imaginations sparkled, as they were encouraged to discover colorful books or burn off energy exploring the crawling tunnels. Helpful volunteers were nearby to assist in igniting the youngest visitors’ love for reading with books in many languages.
Nevertheless, toddlers weren’t the only special guests. Children of all ages found surprises around every corner as interactive activities popped up among the winding aisles of books. There were delightful puppet shows and group book readings, spectacular planetarium presentations and hands-on science exhibits, creative arts and crafts and entertaining traditional dancers — all ready to draw in a crowd.
As one might expect at a cultural event, there was representation from foreign lands highlighting the diversity of our expat communities. A few climaxes included story time with the British Council, coloring at the American Embassy, sweets from the Swedish Embassy, writing demonstrations at the Japanese Embassy and much more. Each represented their home cultures like a reflection of the international children in attendance.
This event was truly a family friendly occasion as mothers and fathers were welcome to meander together through the maze of exhibits. Precious moments spent sharing the joy of discovery through the eyes of their children.
Congratulations to Prince Salman, Riyadh governer, and Abdul Aziz Khoja, the minister of culture and information, for fulfilling their vision of achieving “a global, entertaining and educational event aimed at children, families, sponsors and those interested in the views of both Arab and international cultures.”
Surely, this will be counted among their successes with expected repeats in years to come.