Hectic preparations are under way to decorate parks here as part of the expansive plans for Saudi National Day celebrations, said Dr. Ibrahim Al-Djain, Director General of the Riyadh Municipality's Department of Gardens and Parks. “All major parks will be decorated with lighting, miniature Saudi flags and huge posters depicting the country's leaders,” he said. Riyadh, which means “The Gardens” in Arabic, has 300 parks in 15 municipal districts, he pointed out. As part of National Day celebrations, some parks will be open for the public on Thursday and Friday, Dr. Al-Djain said. Major parks that will be open for families and other visitors include Manaaq Abdulaziz, near Saqr Al-Jazeera; the sprawling King Abdulaziz Historical Center on the West Ring Road; Kindy Plaza in the Diplomatic Quarter and many others, he said. Besides parks and other public places, all the main streets will also be decked up to mark the occasion in befitting manner, Dr. Al-Djain added. The Riyadh Municipality is also planning a number of special events to celebrate the National Day, he added. A host of activities will be held at Prince Faisal Stadium, which can accommodate about 15,000 people, Dr. Al-Djain said. The venue, which is located in Malaz District, will only be open to men, he said. Festivities there will include laser and light shows, traditional folklore dances and a host of cultural shows, he added. Authorities are also planning to educate people about the Kingdom's rich historical past by distributing brochures, he said. “We have devised an elaborate plan to celebrate the country's National Day this year and it is bigger than the previous year,” Al
