Celebratory events and record-breaking preparations

Sheikh Zayed Festival illuminates the New Year with a panel of optimism

• Festival performances succeeded in attracting visitors.

  Photography: Eric Arazas

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With the aim of presenting a distinguished show that marks an optimistic start to the new year, the Sheikh Zayed Festival, currently in the Al Wathba area in Abu Dhabi, is witnessing huge preparations for the reception of 2021, as it has prepared a bouquet of events and celebrations, foremost of which is the huge fireworks display announced by the festival management, and it is scheduled to continue 35 minutes straight, to break two world records set in the "Guinness" world record.

The fireworks displays seek to break the record for the largest straight-line fireworks display, and for the first time in the world, Girandola technology will be used at the Sheikh Zayed Festival, with the aim of presenting a dazzling display to the festival's goers and its wide audience.

The Supreme Organizing Committee of the Sheikh Zayed Festival announced that the festival will open at three in the afternoon for the public today, until midnight and to welcome the new year.

Folkloric performances

The celebrations of the Sheikh Zayed Festival 2021 are not limited to fireworks displays, as there are the Emirates Fountain and Laser shows, which are organized every half hour daily, and have been able to attract the admiration of the festival-goers, young and old, since the launch of the current session, with its musical performances and dazzling laser shows.

The pavilions of the countries participating in the festival also represent open spaces for happiness and joy, as they provide the public with international artistic and folkloric performances throughout the day, so that the festival area turns into an international artistic carnival in celebration of New Year's Eve.

The visitors of the place can move between the wings, and watch the colors of folk arts that each country is famous for, including dances, music and songs, presented by specialized teams on theaters that have been distributed to all neighborhoods, and the joy and beauty of the folkloric costumes worn by the folk troupes, reflecting the culture and heritage of each country.

At the forefront of these performances are traditional Emirati dances, such as Al-Yolla and Al-Razfa, which are performed by Emirati teams and visitors interact with them clearly.

As well as the folklore of Arab countries, such as the Lebanese Dabkeh shows, Al-Tahteeb from Upper Egypt, Omani folklore, the Sudanese wedding and its distinctive henna rhythms and inscriptions, Yemeni folklore shows that are characterized by their strong rhythms and hit-and-run movements, and other traditional shows of Arab countries.

From international folklore, the festival provides an opportunity for its visitors to learn about different performing arts, including the "Malambo" art, which is considered one of the most famous performing arts in South America, and its performance depends on the accelerated beating of drums accompanied by hitting the heel of the shoe quickly to make a sound like a woodpecker.

And Russian arts presented by the "Rosimka" folklore troupe, which vary between quiet and military shows.

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In addition to the performances held at the pavilions theaters, there is a daily procession in which the various folkloric groups participate in the festival, to roam the festival corridors with popular traditional songs representing different civilizations of the world.

The preparations for the Sheikh Zayed Festival to welcome the new year included activities for children, which will be witnessed in the "Kids Nation" area designated for them, and includes many artistic performances and plays dedicated to children, and folkloric and artistic performances.

In order to avoid congestion and facilitate access to the festival site for the public, the organizing committee identified alternative ways to reach the site, and the parking spaces available in the vicinity of the venue, especially after the festival, through its past sessions, became a favorite destination for the public to spend holidays and events and receive the new year.

Precautionary measures

In conjunction with the huge public attendance expected to be on the grounds of the Sheikh Zayed Festival to receive the year 2021, the Supreme Organizing Committee of the festival affirmed its keenness to hold all activities for this year's New Year's Eve celebrations in a completely safe and healthy environment, by applying all the precautionary measures recommended by the competent authorities To prevent the Coronavirus, as there will be a careful follow-up of the number of visitors in the festival area in a manner that maintains distances and ensures the safety of everyone, so that visitors enjoy all activities, and welcome the new year with more joy, happiness and optimism.

Advanced ranking

Last year, the Sheikh Zayed Festival broke world records in fireworks in celebration of New Year's Eve, and was ranked high in the most important international cultural and entertainment festivals.

• The pavilions of the participating countries ... open spaces for the joy of what they offer to the public.

• 35 minutes of fireworks displays.

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