Hundreds of families from the Eastern Province and neighboring GCC countries are thronging the Summer Shopping Festival at an open area near Dhahran- Al-Khobar highway in the Abdullah Fouad area here. The festival is a fun place for families and children to enjoy the summer nights. The one month-long festival, which began right after the schools closed for summer holidays, has been a major attraction for people spending their holidays in Dammam. Around 120 stalls are arranged under a huge tent with centralized air-conditioning system to beat the heat and humidity. Herbs, cosmetics, moisturizers and other creams, mostly home-made with different fruit flavors, henna, food items, dried fruits and nuts, Arabian confectionaries and snacks, clothes, bags, abayas, toys, gift items and artificial ornaments and other accessories are being sold in these stalls. Products from various countries like Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, India, China, Pakistan, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran are on sale in this summer festival. Traders expect a brisk business as people gather here to do special purchasing for Ramadan, especially for different varieties of dates. “Still it's not that good considering the rental fee which is a little bit high. I just hope that when Ramadan comes, business would pick up,” Abu Mohammed, a stall owner, told Saudi Gazette. Habib, another shopkeeper, said perfumes are a favorite item during these summer days, with original Indian Oud perfume in great demand. Chinese salesmen here have displayed indoor decorative items, blankets, towels and bathrobes from their country. “The turnout at our stall is good,” a salesman said. Apart from shopping pavilions, special area has been arranged for children to have fun. Salma, a visitor, is all thrilled about the shopping festival. “Shopping is good because the pavilions are set under air-conditioned tents. It's a good escape from the humid weather outside,” she said. “It's really fun to be out here, and we have a chance to buy so many things which are not available in the market, like special sweets, antique items, herbal medicines, and handmade products,” said one visitor. According to event organizers, the shopping festival will end on July 23 and the huge tent which accommodated the pavilions will be transformed as an Iftar tent during the month of Ramadan. __
