Saturday 01 / February / 2025
Muscat: The Muscat Nights Festival, which began on December 23, concluded on February 1 after captivating both residents and visitors for more than a month.
This year’s edition included a rich variety of cultural and entertainment attractions across multiple venues in Muscat, including Qurum National Park, Al Amerat Park, Naseem Park, Oman Automobile Association, Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, Seeb Beach, Wadi Al Khoudh, Sur Al Hadeed, Muscat Grand Mall, Al Araimi Boulevard, and Seeb Bowling Centre, offering a vibrant mix of traditional and modern experiences.
Attracting nearly one million visitors, the organisers hailed the festival as an overwhelming success.
The Qurum National Park stood out as the main hub of the festival, featuring the first-ever Muscat Flower Festival, where over a million flowers from more than 20 countries turned the park into a stunning floral spectacle.
In addition, the Food Festival at the park offered a unique experience for visitors to cook and taste a variety of dishes, while the Global Village showcased the cultural heritage and historical legacies of neighbouring and friendly nations.
Mesmerising drone shows illuminated the skyline, and visitors enjoyed laser and light displays around the park’s lake.
The Lake Theatre hosted various artistic and musical performances, including poetry readings by Oman and Gulf poets, alongside open-air stage shows with acrobatic displays and traditional dances from around the world.
Amusement park provided exciting rides for children, while the atmosphere was further enriched with coffee kiosks and food stalls.
Over at Al Naseem Park, the Royal Oman Police’s equestrian shows were a big hit, attracting families and young visitors. The park also hosted drift trike experiences, a women’s shopping tent with colourful abayas, perfumes, and incense, and a heritage village where women prepared homemade food that delighted the crowds. The village also featured playful cartoon characters and fun contests for children.
Al Amerat Park became a cultural haven, featuring a heritage village where visitors explored traditional crafts, pottery, and beautifully designed notebooks with old-fashioned covers.
Henna artists adorned visitors with intricate designs, while local incense and perfumes filled the air. Folk singing, dancing, and poetry recitals in the Bedouin village added to the immersive experience.
In the food corner, visitors were treated to traditional snacks like luqaimat, rakhal bread, and sambusas.
At the Oman Automobile Association arena, the Gulf Cup freestyle car shows provided an exhilarating experience for young thrill-seekers.
The final days of the festival brought exciting challenges for the youth, with zip-lining and driving contests at Wadi Al Khoudh. As the giant moon illuminated the area, it quickly became a popular social media trend, with visitors capturing photos against its backdrop.
Meanwhile, Sur Al Hadeed beach was bustling with beach football, volleyball, kite flying, and fun activities such as magic shows, clown performances, and fire-show.
In addition to these attractions, the festival featured art and craft learning activities, including painting on fabric and cups, drawing, and playing with dough, making it a perfect destination for families of all ages.
The Muscat Nights Festival also played a crucial role in supporting Omani entrepreneurs, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who showcased their innovative products and services.
From mobile beverage trucks to ice cream ventures, the festival offered these entrepreneurs a platform to connect with a diverse audience and boost their visibility.
The Muscat Nights Festival proved to be a grand success, blending cultural heritage, family-friendly fun, and entrepreneurial support, while providing an exciting platform for local talent. It was an extraordinary celebration of Oman’s rich heritage and a testament to the vibrancy of the local economy.
