Muscat: Muscat Nights, one month-long celebration of culture and heritage, gastronomic delights and fun and frolic and the first edition of the Muscat Flower Festival, began at the major venues in and around Muscat city on Monday.
Muscat Nights is arranged at a number of locations including Al Qurum Natural Park, Al Amerat Public Park, Al Naseem Public Park, Oman Automobile Association, Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), Al Hail Beach, Wadi Al Khoudh, as well as several cultural centres and shopping malls. The festival will come to an end on January 21, 2025.
Side by side, the first edition of the Muscat Flower Festival, bringing flowers and floral artistes from across the world and a celebration of the beauty of nature, arts and diverse environments, also began welcoming visitors and transforming Al Qurum Natural Park into an impressive floral spectacle.
"The one-month-long-family-festival called Muscat Nights 2024 is a celebration of culture and tradition besides showcasing nearly 700 Small and Medium Enterprises and their products which range from toys to foods from various governorates and beyond. This is an opportunity for these companies to showcase their offerings to the nearly one million anticipated visitors but also makes a complete family festival," said Dr Shawqi bin Abdulrahman al Zadjali, Head of Marketing and Promotions at the Muscat Nights.
To aid the visitors from across the governorate, as many as 500 volunteers who speak different languages have been arranged at various festival venues to help manage the largest event of-its-kind in Muscat.
The first-ever Muscat Flower Festival is happening in Oman, the first country in GCC to be a member of the World Association of Floral Artists (WAFA), during the winter days which is a positive factor to the increasing number of visitors, according to the organisers.
“We have arranged a Grand Floral Centrepiece, Roots of Wonders, Canopies of Dreams, measuring 9m in height on the highest point of the display, this stunning piece of art will surely captivate all festival goers. Witness the unique and beautifully designed Show Gardens specially created by an international team from Singapore, Thailand, China and USA,” Hanan bint Abdullah al Shraiqiyah, Technical Supervisor of the Muscat Flower Festival at Muscat Municipality said.
She assured that the inaugural event is a sureshot to be a captivating celebration of nature’s beauty, featuring world-class floral displays from international floral designers and spotlighting Omani talents. The festival will showcase the artistry of internationally renowned floral designers from France, Netherlands, USA, alongside Oman's own celebrated florist, Madhvi Ramesh Khimji and her group of local designers.
There are also a bustling marketplace, featuring local vendors, where visitors can purchase fresh flowers, handmade crafts, and floral-inspired food and beverages.
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