Colorful fireworks and folk dance performances in various locations capped the three-day Eid festivities late Saturday organized by different government agencies in the Kingdom’s capital.

“The fireworks display in seven different areas is something to remember, specially for the kids, who will realize that their parents made time for them,” said Salah Al-Jamman, a Saudi who works for the Police Department.

Al-Jamman and his family — his wife and five children — were among the huge crowd who had patiently waited for the fireworks, which started 10 minutes before midnight.

“The folk dances performed in different locations are always a welcome part of the Eid celebration. My family enjoyed it,” he said.

Jay Rabano, a Filipino who works for a local firm, added that from the Kingdom Tower along Olaya Road, he, his cousins, Maynard and Sunny Mae, and nephews, EJ and J-Em, also saw different fireworks displays in different venues. The Riyadh Municipality had allocated seven locations around Riyadh for the fireworks display.

These included the King Fahd International Stadium, Prince Faisal bin University, area near Salam Mall, Al Sweidi near the suspension bridge, park near the King Abdulaziz Center and Al-Hair area.

One of the well-attended fireworks display was held at the Malaz Stadium, which lit up the night sky for 10 minutes. It has been perpetuated through the pictures taken by admiring crowd with their cameras and smartphones.

The huge crowd around the stadium, and the countless others in adjoining areas, seemed to feel eternity sat on their shoulders as they silently watched the spellbinding spectacle.

As the first pyrotechnic devices swished up into the air — five or six at a time — and exploded into a circular form with different scintillating colors, the crowd fell silent as they clicked away with their cameras, or took pictures with their cell phones and smartphones.

“I may not be able to watch this fireworks display again in Malaz since it’s held in various locations annually by government agencies so the pictures I have taken with my smartphone will serve as remembrance,” said Abdulrahman Al-Badiya, a Saudi who was with his better half and three kids.

He added that in the previous two nights, he and his family had earlier watched similar events at two different locations.

“I and my family are hoping that this event will be held again next year so that we could come again,” said Chamy Mohammad, an Egyptian teacher who decided that they watch the event from the park near the Riyadh Zoo some distance off.

Vendors also cashed in on the event by selling mineral water, soda, popcorn, among others.

The fireworks display was conducted in the presence of Civil Defense forces and the Red Crescent Society.

More than 10,000 fireworks shells were set alight during the three-day Eid festivities.