“Top Ten Things To Do At Janadriyah Festival” is a quick guide and tips on the most interesting things to do in the festival area.
The annually held Cultural Heritage festival Janadriyah is undeniably one of the most important cultural events of the year and a must visit for all expats in the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia. This is when you can immerse yourself in the Saudi culture, enjoying what the real Saudi-Arabia and the friendly hospitable Saudi people have to offer.
The vast festival area may seem daunting for first time visitors; there seems to be endless places to see and it might be hard to choose which areas to go to!
Check out new guide for 2018 festival on Blue Abaya: Janadriyah 2018: Complete Guide for expats. All info about the location, opening hours, activities and more can be found in this guide. Click here to go to the 2018 guide.
Here are Blue Abaya’s Top Ten recommended things to do at Janadriyah Village:
- 1. Sample the delicious foods of the Makkah area. Try the special drink Subiya, the mouth watering Kabab meero, special Saudi dumplings and the flat bread made on the fire. Enjoy your foods while watching a traditional Makkawi wedding party at the nearby auditorium.
- 2. Watch the famous Al-Baha region dances. Get carried away by the catchy quick paced rhythm of the drums and watch in amazement as the dancers leap high in the air with their daggers in hand. This area gathers the most spectators for a reason!
- 3. Take a camel ride at the Qassim region square. Children will especially enjoy this activity while parents can sample the tasty fresh Kleja bread and mammoul from the nearby Qassim souk.
- 4. Browse the Al Madina Al Munawara marketplace for exquisite perfumes, Saudi style leather sandals in a
multitude of colors, fresh herbs and spices, colorful woven baskets, a wide selection of dates, gold jewellery and antiques. - 5. See the hunting falcons at the Eastern Province area. The bravest visitors can get a chance to hold one too.
- 6. Get in the festive mood by decorating yourself with a necklace made of Jasmine flowers at the Jazan region marketplace. Men can join in on the fashion craze and wear a headband of flowers like the ‘Flower Men’ of Saudi Arabia do.
- 7. Discover the traditional treasures on display at the Najran area. Here you can find and purchase the traditional women’s dresses, unique Bedouin jewelry, pottery and wooden handicrafts all made by skillful Saudi craftsmen.
- 8. Wander around the Hail region museums and discover how people used to live in a traditional mud house.
- 9. For the best views of the Janadriyah Village, climb the Abha house up to the third floor. Don’t be discouraged by the rather unexciting appearance of the house from outside; once you step in you will be blown away by the colorful interior.
- 10. Get quick henna tattoos on your hands at the women’s only building while admiring the talented Saudi women weaving carpets from goat hair.


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Hello there! I’m Laura, the founder of Blue Abaya- the first travel blog in Saudi Arabia, established in 2010. Travel has always been my passion- so far I’ve visited 75 countries and I’m always on the lookout for new adventures inside and outside of Saudi Arabia! Follow my adventures in Saudi and beyond on instagram: instagram.com/blueabaya
:) wow looks super fun and interesting :D lovely photography. x
Did you see Jackie Chan there?
thanks muslimah mummy :) Sarah A I didn’t go this year, yet!! Will let you know on the fb page if he’s there when I go next week!
Nice basket.
You look so happy there!
Hi Laylah!
I have a question, what is a “Makkawi”?
Hi Nur, thanks but that’s not me it’s my friend :)
She told me everyone has started asking her if she is “Blue Abaya” hehe
Makkawi is something from Makkah /Mecca
11. Not be too handsome
wow. I love this kind of festival. where does it take place? In jedda or Riyadh or where? guess i moght just attend one day.
wow. I love this kind of festival. where does it take place? In jedda or Riyadh or where? guess i moght just attend one day.
In Riyadh.
Thanks Laylah for the report.
Looks awesome!
BTW, is this story true http://crazyinkuwait.blogspot.com/2013/04/being-too-cute-is-crime-in-saudi-arabia.html#comment-form ?
Assalam Alaykum, Layla!
Mash´Allah! I found your beautiful blog now and I am your new follower.
I loved the pictures and the cultural life, too.
It will be a pleasure if you visit my blog. And if you let a comment there, it will make my day more beautiful. Sometimes I write in english and in german. But I think it is easy to translate my texts from portuguese into english, if you be curious about them.
Well, best wishes for you and family.
@>——-
http://denisebomfim.blogspot.com
Janadariyah Story False
http://www.islawmix.org/the-man-too-handsome-for-saudi-arabia-who-wasnt/#.UYU-qZ8aySN
I so sos so want one of those dresses (with the florals) they are selling. Do you know how much they cost around?
OMani Princess-you mean the ones on the littl girls? they don’t cost much, maybe like 20-50 sar!
[…] It’s almost time for the annual Janadriyah Cultural Heritage festival, organized in 2013 for the 28th time. I for one have been waiting for this festival for months. I truly love going to Janadriyah and have been there every year since I came to Saudi in 2008 and some years I went on several days. The festival has surely changed a lot over the years but some things remain the same like the cheerful atmosphere. Check out this post for Blue Abaya’s Top Ten Recommended Things To Do At Janadriyah Festival ! […]
The Best Cultural event of the year in the Middle East: Al-Janadria Cultural Folk and Heritage Festival, K.S.A.
[…] Filed in: culture | events | gender segregation | Janadriyah | photography | saudi men | Saudi women | Saudi-Arabia | things to do in Riyadh | tourism | westerners6 comments Janadriyah Cultural Heritage festival of Saudi Arabia is held annually on the outskirts of Riyadh at the Janadriyah Village. This post depicts images from the festival in 2011. For more information about the folk festival itself, the timings and dates of Al Janadriya, check out Blue Abaya guides to the festival: Janadriyah Cultural Heritage Festival With Children Why I Love The Janadriyah Festival Complete Guide to Janadriyah Festival Top Ten Things to do at Janadriyah […]
Good morning, thanks for these useful & appealing infos
Is it ok to go to this festival with a camera or do people refuse that please ? Regards
yes you can take your camera.
[…] For more information on the different areas of Janadriyah and suggested activities go here: 10 Things to Do at Janadriyah A guide aimed at families with children for visiting Janadriyah: Janadriyah with Kids Complete […]
[…] TOP TEN THINGS TO DO AT JANADRIYAH FESTIVAL […]
Kindly share the ticket price
i love janadriya festival !