The Royal Commission in Jubail is putting the finishing touches to the the second Jubail Spring Festival, which will be launched on March 23 and will run for 19 days at the waterfront on the Al-Fanateer beach.

Muhammad bin Ali Al-Oraini, director of the Department of Social Services and general supervisor of the festival, said that the festival, in its second year, aims to promote tourism and entertainment for Jubail’s residents and visitors.

“The festival also aims at strengthening national identity and community cohesion,” he said. “In addition, it will encourage and support productive families. Commercial activity at the festival depends on the participation of 180 productive families, who will be given free space to display their products.”

“The festival will run on two shifts. The morning shift will be dedicated to scheduled visits of students from kindergartens, schools, colleges and institutions. The evening shift will be for families and three days of the festival will be devoted to young men,” he said.

This year’s festival will contain several activities, which include a training course for productive families on the correct way to handle food, he said. There will also be a second training course entitled ‘my first star,’ which is organized by Shell and which aims to equip participants for the job market and polish their marketing skills.

The village of Azmeel will participate in the festival. There will also be more than 20 corners displaying the traditional heritage of the Eastern Province, notably Tawash House, a museum, a classic cars’ corner, a traditional market, Diwanya and Al-Katateeb.

The festival will include a theater that will feature many entertainment segments for all age groups. Famous media personalities, entertainment, local bands, falcons, and Arabian horses.

The festival will have a children’s village, which will consist of several educational corners through which children can acquire various skills and develop cognitive behavior.

The Saudi 2050 Exhibition will participate in the festival, which symbolizes the Kingdom’s futuristic vision and present challenges. The exhibition will give visitors the chance to participate in the formation of the future.

There are many interactive exhibitions that explore the subjects of travel, transportation, food, water and homes.

Al-Oraini said such activity aims to empower today’s youth to become innovators of tomorrow’s energy field and take an active role in shaping their future.

The Trips Gallery will provide comprehensive information on trips, camping and hunting. In addition, there will be dishes and artifacts.

The festival will also host many charities that support family and youth issues, as well as productive families. There will also be several public competitions in folk costume design, sand-drawing, photography and cooking.

The festival aims to promote local tourism and boost the local economy. It also targets productive families within social responsibility programs organized by the commission.

For details of the festival, visit www.jubailspring.com.