:: Elaborate arrangements have been made by the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s 87th National Day in a grand manner in 17 major cities in the Kingdom.

The General Entertainment Authority is a government-sanctioned body based on Vision 2030. The authority looks to develop, promote, regulate and fund a competitive entertainment infrastructure in the Kingdom, partnering with both government bodies and the private sector to achieve this ambition.

As part of the preparations of the GEA, on Saturday the features of Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, Geshla Palace in Hail and Governance Palace in Najran will be changed to a colorful festive look.

The “Raise The Green Flag” event is expected to amaze the public with its international multimedia show, state-of-the-art fireworks technology, Aurora 3D projections, laser shows and lighting, adding both a spectacular and beautiful ambience throughout the festive national day celebrations.

The GEA has registered its appreciation to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) in Hail and Najran for their support and efforts which will contribute to the success of these events.

In Riyadh, Tahlia Street will witness the launch of the Entertainment Avenue festival on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23-24. Parades, marches, aerial sculptures, Chinese folklore, camels and horses, and motorcycles, as well as theatrical performances, circus shows, a popular bazaar, and musical performances by a number of eminent artists, will be responsible for making it an unforgettable event.

The GEA will present the “National Day Box” event, which will be held in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam on Saturday. The public will have the opportunity to enjoy several entertainment activities for over 60 minutes before an exciting countdown. When the timer reaches zero, the box will take the public by surprise with an eight-minute hologram show presented for the first time in the Arab world.

The event will be held at the garden of King Fahd Library in Riyadh, at the Palestine Street Walk in Jeddah, and the Waterfront in Dammam from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight.

The authority also announced that the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh will welcome families for the first time in the Kingdom, and the event will be free of charge. Both families and singles will be welcomed to attend the “National Epic” from 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Electronic registration will be open for families, singles and individuals with special needs through the following link www.roznamah.sa/ar/events/national-epic. Free tickets can be booked by entering personal information during the registration process. Confirmation e-mails and SMSs including the QR code will be sent to the individual on completion to confirm registration has been completed.

More than 500 actors will be performing a cultural operetta telling the national story of the Arabian Peninsula and the Kingdom in three artistic chapters, all using impressive high-end technologies.