Ittin Square comes alive as Festival blends culture, spectacle
Published: 06:07 PM,Jul 18,2025 | EDITED : 10:07 PM,Jul 18,2025
SALALAH, JULY 18: Ittin Square, the vibrant centrepiece of the Salalah Khareef Festival, invites visitors into a world of entertainment and culture, featuring shopping, international acts and unique family experiences.
This year’s highlight is the festival’s largest-ever theatre pavilion, inspired by the nearby mountains and equipped with interactive screens, laser games and cascading water features. Each night, the skies above Ittin Square light up with eco-friendly fireworks and captivating drone shows, offering a modern spin on traditional celebrations.
A rich lineup of international performances adds to the festival’s energy. Highlights include the futuristic Galaxy Shows with space-themed fashion and immersive lighting; the thrilling Crow Show with acrobatic stunts seen on America’s Got Talent; the playful Emoji Festival bringing 20 animated characters to life; the mesmerising Shadow Fantasy Show; and live music from Mexico’s Latin Band, the globally touring Argola Band, plus various Unesco-sponsored folkloric acts.
Roaming musicians and dancers enliven the festival with events such as the Music Carnival, European Carnival blending Russian and Oriental sounds, the lively Carnival of 100 featuring a 100-performer parade, the all-female Peter Dance Carnival and the whimsical Balloon Carnival with performers in balloon-inspired costumes, culminating in the stunning Luminous Balloon Show, which reimagines hot-air balloon entertainment.
Children enjoy endless fun at the Inflatable City, the region’s largest inflatable amusement park, while Culture Street offers interactive displays celebrating writers, illustrators and poets.
Adding a local touch, the Retail Area features women-led enterprises presenting a blend of traditional and contemporary products — from perfumes and incense to modern Omani fashion — reflecting the entrepreneurial spirit of local artisans and the drive to support homegrown talent.
As the cool Khareef mist settles over Salalah, Ittin Square once again pulses with music, lights, laughter and colour. From July 15 to the end of August, the iconic square hosts an energetic mix of entertainment that fuses tradition, innovation and family fun.
At the heart of the festival is the International Folklore Show, running until August 30, featuring dance and music from around the world and drawing crowds from across Oman and beyond.
Adjacent to the folklore stage, the Inflatable Entertainment City offers daily fun for children to bounce, climb and play to their hearts’ content.
Evenings at Ittin Square dazzle with nightly Fireworks Shows through August 30, alongside Drone Art Shows until August 13, where illuminated drones perform synchronised routines overhead.
Music lovers can enjoy the upbeat Latin Band Shows (until August 3) and the immersive Galaxy Shows (until August 23). The Emoji Carnival has become a hit with younger visitors, while the Crew Show delivers acrobatic sports and daring choreography until August 3. The Lights World Carnival transforms the square into a luminous wonderland with walk-through installations.
Coming up are the European Carnival (starting July 18) and the Illuminated Balloon Carnival (from July 20), both continuing into early August. The nostalgic Carnival 100 and the return of the Illuminated Balloon Shows will light the skies until August 29.
August’s lineup also features the circus-style Argola Shows, the energetic Peter Dance Carnival and the magical Shadow Fantasy Show — keeping the festival spirit alive through summer’s end.
This year’s Ittin Square programme reflects a strong ambition to position Salalah as a top regional tourism destination during the Khareef Dhofar Season. Beyond entertainment, the festival boosts the local economy, supports vendors, encourages domestic travel and offers a family-friendly showcase of Omani hospitality.
This year’s highlight is the festival’s largest-ever theatre pavilion, inspired by the nearby mountains and equipped with interactive screens, laser games and cascading water features. Each night, the skies above Ittin Square light up with eco-friendly fireworks and captivating drone shows, offering a modern spin on traditional celebrations.
A rich lineup of international performances adds to the festival’s energy. Highlights include the futuristic Galaxy Shows with space-themed fashion and immersive lighting; the thrilling Crow Show with acrobatic stunts seen on America’s Got Talent; the playful Emoji Festival bringing 20 animated characters to life; the mesmerising Shadow Fantasy Show; and live music from Mexico’s Latin Band, the globally touring Argola Band, plus various Unesco-sponsored folkloric acts.
Roaming musicians and dancers enliven the festival with events such as the Music Carnival, European Carnival blending Russian and Oriental sounds, the lively Carnival of 100 featuring a 100-performer parade, the all-female Peter Dance Carnival and the whimsical Balloon Carnival with performers in balloon-inspired costumes, culminating in the stunning Luminous Balloon Show, which reimagines hot-air balloon entertainment.
Children enjoy endless fun at the Inflatable City, the region’s largest inflatable amusement park, while Culture Street offers interactive displays celebrating writers, illustrators and poets.
Adding a local touch, the Retail Area features women-led enterprises presenting a blend of traditional and contemporary products — from perfumes and incense to modern Omani fashion — reflecting the entrepreneurial spirit of local artisans and the drive to support homegrown talent.
As the cool Khareef mist settles over Salalah, Ittin Square once again pulses with music, lights, laughter and colour. From July 15 to the end of August, the iconic square hosts an energetic mix of entertainment that fuses tradition, innovation and family fun.
At the heart of the festival is the International Folklore Show, running until August 30, featuring dance and music from around the world and drawing crowds from across Oman and beyond.
Adjacent to the folklore stage, the Inflatable Entertainment City offers daily fun for children to bounce, climb and play to their hearts’ content.
Evenings at Ittin Square dazzle with nightly Fireworks Shows through August 30, alongside Drone Art Shows until August 13, where illuminated drones perform synchronised routines overhead.
Music lovers can enjoy the upbeat Latin Band Shows (until August 3) and the immersive Galaxy Shows (until August 23). The Emoji Carnival has become a hit with younger visitors, while the Crew Show delivers acrobatic sports and daring choreography until August 3. The Lights World Carnival transforms the square into a luminous wonderland with walk-through installations.
Coming up are the European Carnival (starting July 18) and the Illuminated Balloon Carnival (from July 20), both continuing into early August. The nostalgic Carnival 100 and the return of the Illuminated Balloon Shows will light the skies until August 29.
August’s lineup also features the circus-style Argola Shows, the energetic Peter Dance Carnival and the magical Shadow Fantasy Show — keeping the festival spirit alive through summer’s end.
This year’s Ittin Square programme reflects a strong ambition to position Salalah as a top regional tourism destination during the Khareef Dhofar Season. Beyond entertainment, the festival boosts the local economy, supports vendors, encourages domestic travel and offers a family-friendly showcase of Omani hospitality.