Parade of Nations venue and program: February 29

Parade of Nations: Citizens of the world walking together 
Thursday, February 29 
The Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. from the TKS Basketball Court
See map  

  
Are you ready for Parade of Nations 2024, KAUST’s signature event celebrating the diversity of the 119 nations in our community? More than 80 countries have registered to share their national traditions, music, culture and food this year.  

Learn more about what to expect at this year’s Parade of Nations below.  

The Parade

All KAUST community members, faculty, staff, students, and friends are invited to the TKS Basketball Court on Thursday, February 29, at 5:15 p.m. for the Parade. Wear your country colors, cultural dress or just come as you are on the day.  

Parade route and road closure 

The Parade will move along the Zaytoun Lane and Oasis Lane to the Safaa Stadium.  All vehicle access to these roads will be closed from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. 

How to get to the Parade 

While you can still walk, bike or use the regular bus services to the venue, special shuttles have been arranged to run every 10 minutes as per the following schedule. 

• 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. from Tamimi parking to The KAUST School  
• 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. from Tamimi parking to the Safaa Stadium 
• 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. from Safaa Stadium to Tamimi parking with a stop at The KAUST School.  

At the Safaa stadium 

As the Parade reaches the Safaa Stadium, we will have the Circle of Nations and community performances. Set up your picnic and visit the country stalls to experience their culture and sample their delicacies. You will also find a variety of food available for sale at the Safaa Stadium.  

Water refill stations will be available. To help reduce waste and promote sustainability, kindly bring your own reusable bottles and containers when using the water refill stations and sampling the dishes. 

New kid’s zone 

Great news for parents of young children! You can now relax and enjoy the event without worrying about your kids. Dedicated staff will supervise your children and ensure they have fun in a safe environment. We have two inflatables – one for big kids and another for little ones. Additionally, we have coloring stations to keep the children engaged and entertained throughout the evening.  

The cost is 15 SAR per child, providing them with open access to all activities. 

Program

• 5:15 p.m. | Meet at the TKS Basketball Court and rally around your country’s flag (Map to location) 
• 5:30 p.m. | Parade to Safaa Stadium, led by the TKS Marching Band 
• 5:45 p.m. | Picnic, enjoy the music by Ministry of Disc Jockeys and visit the many nations represented by community volunteers in the Circle of Nations 
• 6:15 p.m. | Saudi national anthem and performance 
• 6:26 p.m. | Prayer break 
• 6:50 p.m. | Community cultural performances 
• 7:56 p.m. | Prayer break 
• 8:10 p.m. | Community cultural performances 
• 9:00 p.m. | Entertainment by the Agoraphonics and Ministry of DJs 
• 11:00 p.m. | Event concludes 

We look forward to celebrating the diversity of the KAUST community with you at the Parade of Nations 2024.