NIGHTS IN MUHARRAQ

The city’s premier December cultural event gets underway.

The Muharraq Nights Festival, a major cultural event celebrating the Kingdom’s deep and rich heritage, has opened in Muharraq’s historic old quarter.

The festival is set to feature a wide variety of events at numerous venues across the city and is being held on two occasions (December 1 to 3 and December 8 to 10) from 5pm to 9pm.

The event is co-organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research as part of the Pearling Path project. Taking place from Siyadi Majlis in the north to Qal’at Bu Mahir at the southern tip of Muharraq island, the celebration will feature a wide variety of activities such as musical performances, exhibitions, workshops, markets and much more across the many historic neighbourhoods.

Activities will be split into eight categories to appeal to a wide variety of age groups and interests: arts, design, crafts, food, music, cinema, activities and tours.

Tours are being organised around the Pearling Path, Fakhro House, Siyadi Majlis and Murad House, including a photography tour and a food tour to familiarise visitors with the city’s historical and cultural sites.

Visitors at the festival can also stop by a variety of art studios and galleries, including the Busaad Art Gallery, Studio Anne Holtrop, Ta’a House and others that are scattered throughout Old Muharraq. The public is also invited to the Suq Nights in Amarat Fakhro I and II, where designers and entrepreneurs are showcasing their original creations and goods that cater to a variety of tastes and interests. Additionally, they can check out the Suq Al Qaysariyyah, which has many newer stores and design studios.

Shops selling traditional swords, gold and jewellery, the world-famous Bahraini Halwa, woodwork, antiques, and Kurar embroidery will all be on display during the event.

The festival will also offer a variety of perspectives on eating Bahraini and contemporary cuisine at venues such as Suq Al Qaysariyyah, Archaeologies of Green, Siyadi Shop, House of Coffee, Lugmatina House and others from the city’s rich cultural past.

At the launch, His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, said: “The Muharraq Nights Festival demonstrates the significance of the city as a local, regional and global cultural hub. It was the first capital of Bahrain, the largest pearl trading centre in the Gulf region and the cradle of Bahrain’s literary, scientific and cultural movements.”

He highlighted the significance of the event and further appealed to the people of Bahrain to attend the festival, noting that it features activities for people of all ages and backgrounds, is great for families and will offer visitors a new perspective on the city of Muharraq. ✤

GO: VISIT WWW.PEARLINGPATH.BH OR FOLLOW @PEARLINGPATH FOR MORE INFORMATION.