Arab News

Jeddah Season opens with fireworks, drones show

Saudis travel from across the country to witness the vibrant festivitie­s

- Deema Al-Khudair Jeddah

The second edition of Jeddah Season kicked off on Monday, showcasing a creative drone display in the shapes of balloons and children on swings — all symbols of Eid Al-Fitr celebratio­n — along with Jeddah’s landmarks.

Fireworks by the sea decorated the sky with beautiful, complex designs at Jeddah’s Art Promenade, and dazzled visitors next to Al-Rahma Mosque, a sentimenta­l landmark for Jeddawis.

Many visitors from Riyadh came to attend the season.

Basma Al-Aqeel, a Riyadh local, drove all the way to enjoy the activities. She said she was very happy to see the return of extravagan­t seasons in the Kingdom after the repercussi­ons of COVID-19 and its social restrictio­ns.

“It was a very wonderful change after all this quietness, we really needed these activities,” she told Arab News.

“I really enjoyed the fireworks show by the sea, it was a spectacula­r display and I really do feel like we don’t need to travel abroad anymore to attend such shows,” she added.

The drone show displayed the word “Jeddah” in the Jeddah Season font, and Al-Aqeel said that was her favorite drone image.

Nahla Al-Beeshi commented on the neat organizati­on of the opening day.

“The opening was wonderful as we expected, as if this country did not go through any crisis,” she told Arab News.

Al-Beeshi described the fireworks display as “dreamlike” because of its enchanting designs.

“Every year the fireworks are

simply more and more beautiful, as if we were in a beautiful dream,” she said.

“The pictures made with the drones were all beautiful, especially the shape of the diver, the fish, and the shape of the swing because it gave me a feeling of freedom and happiness,” she added.

She said the taste of Eid is back with these high-quality festivitie­s, adding that the seasons will boost the Kingdom’s popularity for tourism.

“The seasons are imaginativ­e and up to internatio­nal standards, and soon we will be No. 1 for tourist destinatio­ns, with the efforts of the Kingdom’s leadership and its people. Thank you from the heart for bringing Eid back,” she said.

Ahmed Al-Mali, a Jeddawi who lives in Riyadh, traveled back to his city for the activities. He said he has never attended a fireworks show before Jeddah Season’s opening day.

“It’s the first time in my life that I have attended a fireworks show like this; the drones and the fireworks together were an amazing show and so beautiful,” he told Arab News.

Al-Mali highlighte­d that the Kingdom’s entertainm­ent field had evolved significan­tly for job opportunit­ies as well.

“I’m in the engineerin­g field, but I love the field of entertainm­ent and I work in it as well. This field is really developing and has great opportunit­ies for both men and women,” he added.

 ?? AN photos by Huda Bashatah ?? The event showcases a creative drone display in the shapes of balloons and children on swings — all symbols of Eid Al-Fitr celebratio­n.
AN photos by Huda Bashatah The event showcases a creative drone display in the shapes of balloons and children on swings — all symbols of Eid Al-Fitr celebratio­n.

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