Muscat Festival
The biggest event in Muscat (if not Oman) is the annual Muscat Festival, held for a month from early January in several outdoor venues around the city. The festival showcases Omani and neighbouring Arabic culture with poetry recitals, traditional dancing and craft displays. The event also attracts dance and acrobatic acts from other countries and includes fireworks and shopping stalls, mainly from the subcontinent and Far East.
The festival provides an ideal opportunity for visitors to experience the true essence of Oman, its traditions, its culture and its modernity, which has been achieved without eroding the traditional standards of the society. At the Qurum festival site a large Heritage Village provides visitors with an insight into the traditional skills and customs of Oman through various artistic and cultural activities held daily.
Location: Muscat
Time: Between January and February
Salalah Tourism Festival
Salalah Tourism Festival is one of the popular Salalah Festivals & Events held in the town during the month of mid June and august. It lasts for six weeks and is one of the major events that bring to the limelight the cultural aspect of Oman. Held in the tropical parts of the town, Festival at Salalah is held on the coast that is about 1030 kilometers from Muscat. The place can be easily accessed by air and takes only about an hour from Muscat. One can also drive down to the venue of Festival in Salalah by road. It would take approximately 12 hours to reach the place.
Salalah Tourism Festival is famous for the carnival which is organized during this time. The performers parade through the street dressed in colorful garments and provides a lot of musical and dance entertainments to the common public. The children are dressed in traditional apparels and wave cheerfully to the crowd while displaying the conventional uniforms. The Salalah Tourism Festival includes the Municipality Friends Camp and Salalah festival, but the Government also arranges for shopping centers that is a paradise to the visitants.
Royal Opera House Muscat
The opera house is located in Shati Al-Qurm district of Muscat, Oman. Built on the royal orders of Sultan Qaboos of Oman, the Royal Opera House reflects contemporary Omani architecture, and has a capacity to accommodate maximum of 1,100 people. This opera house is first in the world equipped with Radio Marconi's multimedia interactive display seatback system, Mode23. The opera house complex consists of a concert theatre, auditorium, formal landscaped gardens, cultural market with retail, luxury restaurants and an art centre for musical, theatrical and operatic productions.
Location: Muscat
Website : www.rohmuscat.org.om
Al Flayj Castle Theatre
Every year, during the period from December to the end of March, the Ministry of Tourism organises a number of cultural evenings at the ancient Al Falaj Castle Theatre, hosting popular groups from around the world.
Location: Barka
Website: www.omantourism.gov.om
Renaissance Day
In celebration of the day Sultan Qaboos ascended to the throne in 1970, this holiday is marked with traditional dancing, feasts and fireworks in many parts of the country. Location : Around Oman
Time: 23rd of July
Oman National Day
Consists of lots of images of the head of state, Sultan Qaboos, along with fun events like camel racing and fireworks after dark. This holiday marks the birthday of the sultan.
Location : Around Oman
Time : 18 November
Eid ul-Fitr
Marking the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, Eid is a joyous occasion of prayer, feasting and colorful clothing when Omanis put on their best outfits. Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon .
Eid Al Adha
Occurring about 70 days after the end of Ramadan, the date of this three-day festival changes according to the lunar calendar. It is marked by prayers at the local mosque and a feast on Eid Al Adha day.
Ramadhan
Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims consider this whole month as a blessed month. They fast during the days of this month and make special prayers at night. People also give more charity and do extra righteous deeds. Also, in this Holy Month, The Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of Al-Qur'an. Ramadhan is the month of celebration as well as the month of discipline and self-control. Muslims always wait for the first day of Ramadhan to come.
Omani Women's Day
A decision to designate October 17 as Omani Women’s Day every year was also taken. There is no doubt that among the other countries in the region, Oman has been in the forefront in ensuring equal rights for its women.
Most women feel the nation is moving in the right direction in giving them credit but seek to work with renewed determination for a future of equal rights, opportunities and progress.
Date : 17th October