Southern Celebrations Festival

About Southern Celebrations Festival

The Southern Governorate holds Southern Celebrations as part of Bahrain's National Day season in December. National Day falls on 16 December, with 17 December marking the King's accession, and events run through the month. The festival has taken place at Khalifa Al Kubra Park in Riffa in December 2024 and December 2025.

The 2025 edition included heritage pavilions, a poetry corner featuring young poets from the Folk Poetry Society, a traditional clothing pavilion, a coffee-making corner, stands for local entrepreneurs and folk performances. Southern Governor Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa has described the festival as a way to revive the governorate's heritage and pass customs on to younger generations. It is aimed at families and local residents.

As of October 2026 the 2026 dates had not been announced. Watch the Southern Governorate's channels in late November. The wider National Day programme across Bahrain includes events in every governorate, so the festival is one of several heritage evenings families can attend in December. Entry has been free, and the park setting makes it easy to combine with a stroll and dinner in Riffa.

Watch

Highlights

• Heritage pavilions on traditional crafts and trades
• Poetry corner with young folk poets
• Traditional dress displays
• Arabic coffee corner
• Folk music and dance

Good to know

• Entry has been free.
• 2026 dates were not announced as of October 2026.
• Evenings are cooler and busier; expect family crowds.
• Park parking fills up on festival nights.

Getting there

At Khalifa Al Kubra Park in Riffa; reached by car

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