Back in the winter of 2019-20 Riyadh experimented with a series of state sponsored entertainment venues which were collectively known as the “Riyadh Season”. It was supposed to be the first of a series of events rolled out across different cities in the Kingdom, but Covid put paid to that ambition, and everything was shelved until the worst of the pandemic was supposedly over. If you have been slogging your way through my blogs for a long time, you may recall one entitled "‘Tis the Season" in November 2019 which described the first winter of Riyadh Season.

After the shutdown last year, this winter things are back, and are so much bigger and busier. Riyadh Boulevard is back, and comprises of a couple of stages and many smaller entertainment and eating opportunities. Also here is an ice stage where Cirque du Soleil are performing a show about the life of the footballer Lionel Messi. Other activities include a Dinosaur World, a Chocolate Factory and a Crystal Maze. A friend who has been there proudly informed me that this was an excellent opportunity for Saudis to learn the western art of queuing, with the waiting time to activity time being – in his estimate – 8:1.

The Winter Wonderland has also returned, and again is much expanded from last time. The outdoor ice skating rink has been enlarged and there are more rides too, now 52 in number. I’m not sure if the penguins are there this year – for their sake I hope not. (In 2019/20 there was a tiny pool inside a chilled tent with four unhappy-looking penguins therein).

One new event was the Middle East Music Festival (MDL Beast / Soundstorm) which was a 4-day outdoor music event held at Durrat Riyadh, to the north of the city, and it was apparently THE place for the younger people to go to. Whilst the list of artistes was extensive, I hadn’t heard of most of them, so I cannot relate to the music genres, but if it is what the young folk wanted that’s fine. I spoke to a couple of people who had gone and they were quite happy about the show itself, however one who had gone on the first day was scathing about the parking, park and ride and access. He said the P&R bus transfers were grossly insufficient and related a 5-hour walk from the car park to the venue, by which time the show had finished. He was able to get a lift back to the car park, stuffed into the luggage compartment underneath a bus with many other people. No social distancing there then. Apparently this issue was rectified from day 2 onwards.

And out at Nofa, they are again offering Safari Rides through the wildlife park.

New events this year are:

·       Qariyat Zaman, a recreated traditional Arabic village in downtown Riyadh, featuring music, dancing, crafts and foods of the bygone times.

·       In Al Salam Park in the city is an event comprising “entertainment workshops, music, karting and cooking”.  Looking at the website this includes bungee trampolines and a zipwire.

·       Nabad AlRiyadh is a new zone that promises “cultural heritage and traditions”.

·       “Oasis” is located some 50km north of Riyadh Airport, not far from the King’s Forest (see blog “We are going to see the Greenery”, of February 2020). Here there is a camping experience set in a park area with sculptures and various outdoors shows. Participants can get bonfire-cooked traditional fare of sheep or chicken kabsa.

·       At Alathriyah (just north of the airport and under the approach flightpath) is what is advertised as “luxurious and exclusive fine dining experiences, heritage retail shopping and music performances”. I don’t know anyone who has been to that, but I flew over it recently at dusk and the whole place was lit up like Blackpool.

·       Riyadh Front is a new shopping area just south of the airport and there is advertised “exhibitions, events and games”. I’ve been there a couple of times, but for more prosaic reasons, it is one of Riyadh’s drive-through Covid test centres.

·       And just east of the airport in the Janadriyah showground area is the “Combat Zone”. This comprises of “live action games, paintball, battlefields, escape rooms”, and exhibitions of firearms and artillery old and new.

Something for everyone? It seems so, and most of the events are selling-out. Entry to the general sites at Riyadh Boulevard and Winter Wonderland are 55 SAR during the week (Monday to Wednesday) and 110 SAR at the weekends (Thursday to Sunday). Participation in any of the activities is extra, and car parking is also extra with general, VIP and Valet parking options available. The events open at 4.00pm every day, thus catering for the nocturnal habits of the Saudis.  

So, what does the press have to say about Riyadh Season 2021?

Firstly, our old friend Saudi Gazette has the following comments:

(Before the start of Riyadh Season): Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the Board of Directors of General Entertainment Authority (GEA), announced that the Riyadh Season's second edition will start on Oct. 20, 2021.