Muharraq Nights
Bahrain's anticipated annual end-of-year fun cultural festival creates momentum
Hello, beautiful people.
I’m loving the cool breeze evenings and the warm daytime weather in Bahrain at the moment. It’s prime time for outdoor events, so December 2024 saw the 3rd and best edition of the month-long Muharraq Nights cultural end-of-year festival. I ended up going 3 times(!) as numerous newly renovated traditional family courtyard houses were added to Bahrain’s Pearling Path (a historic UNESCO World Heritage Site), including Bait Fakhro, Bait Al Jalahma, Bait Al Alawi, Bait Badr Ghulom & Turabi, Bait Al Ghous and Bait Murad.
We are lucky that Bahrain places significant emphasis on preserving its cultural heritage, with initiatives that protect historical landmarks, traditional arts, and intangible cultural practices. The festival was a way to engage the wider community (diverse audiences) and create awareness of the historic houses/projects on the Pearling Path that weaved through the souq by activating them through programming activities (art, craft, design, food, music) that created an electric atmosphere and buzz…
Focusing on engagement as a family-friendly event, it ensured the relevancy of the heritage sites’ in contemporary society, paving the way for sustainable heritage tourism. Visitors included Bahraini and expat families, grandparents or aunties/uncles showing younger family members where they grew up and played, and friend groups of all ages there for the vibes and taking pictures in front of trending spaces, artwork, or food...
Muharraq nights became the cool place to be and be seen in Bahrain, and all the art galleries, creative youth groups, and designers were invited to participate to add an intellectual and interactive layer involving workshops, talks, and engaging the public through public art on walls, in houses and empty spaces throughout the souq. Local businesses and designers (jewellery, fashion) were invited as pop-ups within and around the visitor’s centre…
A map and ‘pearl topped lamp-posts’, bulb clusters, and coloured branded Muharraq Nights signage helped guide people through the path and spaces. Decorated public streets, and installations or live bands occupied open areas or public squares, also serving as rest stops. Stepping in and out of the busy streets into the houses with curated family history memorabilia and stories, and cafe/art pop-ups meant people took their time exploring and taking pictures. Also ‘Bait Al Naqda’ gave the AlNaqda heritage ladies (preserving the craftmanship of women’s embroidery techniques) a permanent home.
You could hear traditional music carried over the evening breeze… in the past music was used as a tool (e.g. to keep things symmetrical whilst rowing, and to motivate divers.) It played a major role in Bahraini society. Today it serves as a nostalgic ode to past identity and is primarily a form of entertainment.
As a design and heritage lover, I was excited to see the houses. White-washed with key architectural features such as protective high walls, protruding wood beams, roof terraces, open courtyards, intertwined palm leaves and wood ceilings, etc., reflecting Bahrain's rich pre-oil era past when pearling was central to its culture, economy, and identity. Bait Fakhro was the largest one, belonging to one of the leading merchant families, with one of its rooms having a long table filled with beautiful memorabilia, another preserved ground floor room was like a simple time capsule with small round bulbs dancing up and down on the walls. A carpet of tiny seashells lines the central courtyard of Al Alawi house, and a silver fountain replaced the well that used to exist there, Bait Badr Ghulom & Turabi’s courtyard was filled with mashmoom plants (I love the smell). So many beautiful details.
Interestingly, a private antiques and artifacts collector (Ahmed Bucheeri) displayed part of his collection in a couple of houses (Haneen Sedraa) that launched with the festival opening. An architect and restorer of cultural spaces, he had bought a lot of his collection from auctions, as well as from a close friend of his who had collected for over 20 years before passing away... You could walk around the houses in a sectioned walkway with the collections grouped by category… TVs, photography equipment, Pepsi cans, Charles and Diana memorabilia, etc.
What was great about the Muharraq Nights festival’s strategy:
Creation of Themed Event / Destination - generated buzz and excitement, making it cool for certain people to visit places they wouldn’t normally visit. Set against the backdrop of the visitors’ centre and heritage sites, created a unique and memorable experience for visitors, blending recreation with cultural immersion and showcasing traditions. Family legacies through shared stories of the spaces created informal ambassadors for both the site and the culture associated with it.
Celebration of Local Identity/ Heritage - the event highlighted unique historical, cultural, and architectural features. Exploration of the Pearling Path and Souq reminded people of why Muharraq holds cultural significance.
Promotion of Local Surrounding Businesses & Community Spirit - local shops, restaurants, and vendors engaged with new customers. Traditional + modern food pop-ups, art projects, and musical performances drew people with specific interests and also let them explore other local attractions and vendors whilst in the area, creating opportunities for them to meet and collaborate with local businesses. Working spaces in the souq, such as Jamal Shaheen’s carpentry shop and Bu Zaboon’s woven palm leave mats shop opened their doors throughout, speaking and engaging with visitors.
Generated Publicity - media coverage, social media attention, and word-of-mouth promotion, put Muharraq in the spotlight, helping brand it as vibrant and relevant.
Viability for Future Activities & Boost to Local Economy - it proved the area’s potential to host more gatherings, making it appealing to future investors, businesses, or planners. Visitor spending boosted sales to local businesses in the area as well as reinforced the importance of funding / sponsoring projects like this.
Educational Opportunities - Families (especially the younger generation) learned about the history, architecture, and cultural significance of various sites through fun programs and tours, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their heritage.
Social Cohesion & Connection - the family-friendly event provided a space for social interaction, community connection, and shared experiences, fostering a sense of belonging. What was even greater was the intergenerational connections, allowing opportunities for different generations to engage with and learn from one another, strengthening bonds.
We can say the event was a success purely by the number of visitors, the way people recounted nostalgic stories, and social media reach.
It is important to remember that the spaces and souq are open year-round, and cool eateries have opened in some places e.g. Bait Nasser (hidden down an alley), Bread and Paper (a modern neighbourhood cafe nearby Al Jalahma house) and Depart Cafe (inside Bait Murad boutique hotel). If you come to Bahrain, spend some time in cultural Muharraq; it’s so beautiful!
Tamara x