AlUla, the city of the Medina Region in north-western Saudi Arabia will host series of events starting from December 21 this year, which will run until March 31, 2022.

As the winter season is soon to begin, Saudi Arabia’s AlUla is bracing itself with a plethora of events—from astronomy to gastronomy, the kingdom is all set to host exciting events.

AlUla, the city of the Medina Region in north-western Saudi Arabia will host series of events starting from December 21 this year, which will run until March 31, 2022.

The events have been categorised into four sections —Winter at Tantora, AlUla Arts, AlUla Skies, and the AlUla Wellness Festival, all of which is set to present a feast of arts, culture, music, and wellness.

Among the events planned for the jewel in Saudi Arabia’s heritage crown is an haute couture show — Ikmah Fashion Calvary for horses. Other equestrian highlights this year will be the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Race and AlUla Desert Polo.

This year, there will be a new Citrus Festival that will celebrate AlUla produce and the Harrat Observation Deck with Back to Black restaurant that will offer stunning sunrise and sunset views of AlUla from the top of the Harrat Uwayrid.

The event will also have archaeology and cultural workshops that will be introduced at the heritage sites, and there will also be live immersion shows at AlUla Old Town and in the oasis.

Another highlight this year will be the ‘Winter at Tantora’, the very first music and arts festival in the Kingdom. The event which will take place in a six-week format is a stunning candlelit symphonic concert taking place at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra.

Most musical performances will take place in the beautiful Maraya Center.

The AlUla Arts festival will commence in February 2021, bringing together events centred around artistic talents. The ‘Art of our time’ exhibition will boast innovative contemporary art created by Saudi artists.

An outdoor cinema, the Cinema El Housh will be showing the beauties of the oasis and other landscapes within AlUla. Saudi filmmakers will also contribute to these projects.

Another festival that will take flight is the ‘AlUla Skies’, which will give tourists the chance to float over the Hegra in a hot air balloon, glide in a vintage plane over the oasis, and take a helicopter above the Madakheel.

Leaning into AlUla’s history as a place for respite and relaxation, the Alula Wellness Festival, running from March 17 to 27, will focus on the well-being of the mind and body, including yoga, meditation, mindful practices.