Offering an array of entertainment activities to make people happy particularly kids, 15-day long Spring Festival in Souq Waqif and Souq Al Wakrah, concluded on Saturday.
The Spring Festival in Souq Waqif and Souq Al Wakrah attracted large number of visitors, especially families, who enjoyed games, rides and circus shows.
This year’s festival combined traditional games and modern electronic games, which were not available in some previous festivals, and also traditional tents made of animal fur/hair were installed in the market squares, which attracted huge number of visitors.
The festival featured around 60 games and rides in the two souqs. Visitors could see wild animals like lions and tigers at the circus shows. Singers and dancers enthralled the spectators with a variety of songs and dances.
Director of Souq Waqif Mohammed Al Salem praised the huge public turnout that exceeded all past years for the various festival activities, whether the Russian circus shows and popular bands coming from multiple Arab countries as well as games for young and old, QNA quoted him as saying.
Regarding whether the Green Line of the Rail had a role in this turnout, Al Salem pointed out that the station in the middle of Souq Waqif facilitated the smooth transportation of many families who came in large numbers.
Souq Al Wakrah Director Khalid Saif Al Suwaidi said QNA that the public turnout at events throughout the festival was remarkable. Al Suwaidi pointed out that the distribution of events contributed to the smooth movement of Souq visitors, as no accidents were recorded, praising the members of the organizing committee that provided all amenities and guidance to the visitors.
He pointed out that the folklore shows of popular bands from Jordan, Oman, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Malaysia added a festive atmosphere to the market.
Mohammed Al Salem and Khalid Al Suwaidi thanked the Ministry of Interior and the Hamad Medical Corporation for their facilities and service to visitors in a festive atmosphere.
The festival has become a tourist destination for visitors from many Arab and foreign countries and has contributed remarkably to the economic boom in the shops of the two venues.
The festival also offered a number of diversified entertainment games at reasonable prices for children in addition to other cultural performances by popular teams from a number of countries, including Arab countries.
The managements of both the Souqs had deployed many supervisors and security men to secure events and help the public. To protect children in such big festivals that attract large numbers of visitors, the managements had distributed hand bracelets to children carrying child’s name and the phone number of parents.
Also popular groups from different countries including those from Arab world entertained visitors with cultural presentation such as folk dances and songs with the accompaniment of native musical instruments.
The Festival also attracted many Arab and foreign tourists, who flocked to Souq Waqif, to enjoy various events. A number of visitors praised the holding such activities at these Souqs which combines the originality of the past with the modernity of the present. —The Peninsula
