Jubail festival showcases heritage

The number of visitors to the Jubail Heritage and Crafts Festival, hosted by the Royal Commission for Jubail (RCJ) at Al-Fanateer beach, has exceeded 277,954 since its opening eight days ago.
Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Mohammadi, general supervisor of the festival and director of the RCJ’s social services department, stated that this year’s festival has achieved great leaps in terms of the number of visitors and their satisfaction level.
He said that more than 270 productive families and 20 artisans are participating in the festival.
Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif announced during his visit to the festival the RCJ’s initiative to train 250 artisans and productive families.
An official said that there were five competitions for visitors: Productive families’ competition, the best folk costume, beach sand sculptures, open-air cooking and photography. These competitions will continue until the end of the festival, in addition to the daily and weekly draw with a prize of two cars.
Speaking about festival employees, Al-Mohammadi said: “There are 150 volunteers from Jubail, in addition to security men and RCJ members, and they all are dedicated to serving the visitors.”
The festival general supervisor called on families from Jubail and the Eastern Province to take advantage of the second week of the festival which coincides with the school spring holiday.
He suggested visiting Azmeel village in order to increase knowledge of Saudi heritage and culture, to enjoy the Names of Allah Exhibition. There is also a Knowledge Village for children.
Al-Mohammadi said the event also includes a special section, the National Identity Village, which contains information about the country’s history and government. In the section, visitors can meet Saudi inventors.
There are also daily theater shows presented by comedians, singers and poets.
“The festival offers several services to visitors, including wheelchairs, free transportation, queries and guidance service, in addition to a WhatsApp service for lost children,” he said.
The festival lasts until the end of March, and is open daily in two shifts — from 8:30 to 11: 30 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.