JEDDAH — The Jeddah Heritage Festival that opened at the historic Balad district on Thursday night attracted thousands of local Saudis and expatriates as well as visitors from other parts of the Kingdom. Makkah Emir Prince Mishal Bin Abdullah and Prince Sultan Bin Salman, head of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), inaugurated the event in the presence of Jeddah Mayor Hani Aburas, Chairman of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Saleh Kamel and several other dignitaries. The SCTA and the JCCI are jointly organizing the festival, which for the first time is featuring the Hijazi lifestyle. The second day of the festival, which will run until Jan. 26, was full of fun and excitement. The entire downtown area was jam-packed with enthusiastic crowds who were enthralled by a wide variety of musical entertainment, handicraft displays, photo exhibitions and an assortment of the Hijazi food. The visitors scoured the old city throughout the night to experience all the activities going on. “We came here to enjoy a traditional night that really took us back to the times our forebears lived. I am one of those visitors who remember the good old times and I have brought with me my kids just to make them see how life was like then,” 52-year-old Hamid Sabban told Saudi Gazette. Sabban said Jeddah's old city is an exceptional piece of history. “It's like going back in time and seeing how people actually lived then.” Another visitor, Abu Nawaf, added: “My family lived exactly like this 50 years ago. Children today have no idea what life was like then. It's important to know your roots and heritage. I think festivals like this are great fun and educational, too.” On display are stalls representing how people used to cook, eat, sing, dance and make goods for everyday life and for special occasions. A stage has also been set up for standup comedy by well-known comedians. There are also freebies of heritage items, handicrafts, souvenirs and traditional cuisine. A Jordanian visitor sat down at a Hijazi Majils, a traditional seating area, to learn more about the Hijazi life. “It is an interesting event and we are enjoying our time,” said Anwar Abdulrahman. Commenting on the festival, district mayor Abdulsamad Abdulsamad, said: “It is important to understand that the Hijazi people are deeply attached to their tradition and are proud of it. So it is no surprise that officials recognized the need and value of renovating this important area and making sure that this tradition continues.” While strolling down the historical area and shaking hands with visitors, Mohammed Al-Amri, executive director of the SCTA in the Makkah province, pointed out that the festival was not about creating entertaining events for visitors but to preserve and develop the area and transform it into an attractive urban district while preserving its culture and heritage. “The SCTA has allocated an annual budget of SR50 million to renovate the historic city. We urge the owners of the buildings in the area to work with us and preserve its historical charm,” he said.
