Dates Carnival in Buraydah Concludes as 20 Cities Celebrate Culinary Diversity through Creative Cities Exhibition

• From Thailand to Mexico, over 25 cities of the UNESCO’s Creative Cities in Gastronomy within the Creative Cities Network hosted pavilions
• Held in the city of Buraydah, the event celebrates culinary and cultural exchange.

Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, 18 September 2024 – The Saudi Culinary Arts Commission, one of 11 sectors under the Ministry of Culture, held a Creative Cities Exhibition as part of the Dates Carnival in Buraydah in collaboration with Al Qassim Province and the Qassim Chamber of Commerce. Concluded on September 15, the five-day exhibition celebrated the cultural and culinary diversity of 25 cities. From Thailand to Mexico, USA, Italy, Japan and China, all participating cities are members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.The UNESCO Creative Cities Network fosters collaboration with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. 

As part of cultural events held during the Dates Carnival – the largest dates carnival in the world –the exhibition also hosted Saudi cities that are members of the Creative Cities Network including Buraydah, recognized for gastronomy; Al-Ahsa for crafts and traditional arts; and Taif for literature.

Guests delighted in discovering the breadth of culinary and cultural diversity of participating cities, with live cooking demonstrations reflecting different traditions and transporting them across the globe with every bite. Amateur chefs and culinary enthusiasts interacted with professional chefs, learning about new ingredients, innovative flavor combinations and traditional cooking methods that are unique to each creative city.

The Culinary Commission also presented the Aloqilat Museum which included a collection of historical paintings and archaeological artifacts highlighting the culinary significance of the tribes of the Qassim region – a merchant community historically renowned for trading throughout the region.

The host city Buraydah presented pavilions dedicated to dates and alongside pavilion dedicated to Saudi coffee – both symbols of hospitality in the Kingdom. Creative Cities of Taif and Al-Ahsa also presented captivating pavilions in literature and traditional crafts and arts.

The Creative Cities Exhibition at the Dates Carnival celebrated culinary creativity, offering chefs and visitors alike the chance to discover culinary traditions and savor delicacies from around the world.

Participating Creative Cities:

1. Mérida – Mexico
2. Afyonkarahisar – Turkey
3. Petchurbi – Thailand
4. San Antonio – United States
5. Popayán – Colombia
6. Thessaloniki – Greece
7. Bergamo – Italy
8. Bohicon – Benin
9. Cochabamba – Bolivia
10. Paraty – Brazil
11. Florianópolis – Brazil
12. Belo Horizonte – Brazil
13. Macao – China
14. Nkongsamba – Cameroon
15. Iloilo – Philippines
16. Usuki – Japan
17. Tsuruka – Japan
18. AlTaif – Saudi Arabia
19. AlAhsa – Saudi Arabia
20. Buraydah – Saudi Arabia