Muscat: To promote Muttrah's contribution the heritage and culture of Oman, the Muttrah Heritage and Tourism Festival will kick off today and will continue till March 28.

The festival will be held at Riyam Park, Muttrah Sabla and Sultan Qaboos Port, and it will include a number of entertainment, social, art, cultural, and commercial events.

For the first time in Sultanate's festivals, an art event will be held where a number of famous artists from Oman and abroad will create art on traditional Omani boats. After the event, Dar Al Atta'a will hold a charity auction for those boats.

"The festival aims to revive the folklore of Muttrah," His Excellency Ahmed Bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Wali of Muttrah, and the General Supervisor of the Festival said.

"The festival will start with the operetta 'Muttrah Story', which sheds light on its long and bright history. It is blessed with the achievements of the Renaissance. There are a number of other events associated with the festival, which will take place on the corniche road — an exhibition of birds, a fine arts competition for Muttrah most recognisable features, a police dog show, and different shows of traditional Omani art," he added.

Ahmed said, "In the second week, there are artistic performances of Rizha and Malid (dances) and the photography competition of the state landmarks. There's also a parade of motorcycles and classic cars, traditional song performances of Hambal and Tgroud, and more."

The ship Shabab Oman will also participate actively throughout the days of the festival, since its arrival at Sultan Qaboos Port at 8:00 am on Wednesday, March 14. The book fair will open on Thursday, 15 March. At 6:30 pm, a special visit will be held for visiting cruise ships. On Saturday, a traditional boat race will be held at the port.

Riyam Park in Muttrah will host a number of recreational events, with 80 home-business families and 45 craftsmen specialising in traditional Omani crafts from Muttrah will exhibiting their products to visitors.

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