Two immersive experiences bring heritage, storytelling and flavour to life in the heart of AlUla
AlUla : As Winter at Tantora continues across AlUla, the destination’s Old Town has become the vibrant stage for two of the festival’s most evocative experiences: Old Town Nights and the Old Town Culinary Voyage.
Together, Old Town Nights and the Old Town Culinary Voyage offer distinct yet complementary journeys through heritage, community and tradition, all set within one of AlUla’s most atmospheric historic districts. Visitors are invited to step into the rich stories, captivating sounds and authentic flavours that have shaped this remarkable place for generations.
Designed as hero experiences within Winter at Tantora, both activations celebrate AlUla’s living heritage through immersive storytelling, performance, and gastronomy, encouraging guests to slow down, explore, and connect deeply with the spirit of Old Town.
Old Town Nights: A live theatrical show and cultural dining experience under the stars
Old Town Nights unfolds each evening starting at the Old Town Amphitheatre through a large-scale live theatrical performance inspired by AlUla’s Old Town and the lush oasis that sustained its people for centuries. Blending live acting, immersive projection, heritage musical performances, and storytelling, the experience brings together memory, imagination, and community in a dynamic celebration of AlUla’s past.
At the heart of the story is Grandma Hessah, a warm and wise matriarch whose bedtime tale transports her grandchildren and the audience through moments of memory, celebration, and Old Town living. From the rhythms of the oasis and harvest traditions, to wedding celebrations and the role of the historic Tantora sundial, the performance vividly captures how heritage continues to be passed down through generations. Guests can enjoy the show in Arabic or English.
Premium ticket holders can enjoy front row seats to the show, and continue the evening celebrations, with a lantern-lit walk through Old Town, culminating in a curated cultural dining experience at the historic AlUla Fort, where panoramic views and a delicious multi-course menu provide a memorable close to the night.
Old Town Culinary Voyage: tasting the stories of AlUla
Perfect for food lovers and curious explorers, the new ‘Old Town Culinary Voyage’, offers a first-in–kind guided tasting tour through AlUla’s Old Town. This two and a half hour journey leads guests along an exclusively curated route, stopping at four Old Town restaurants to sample a heritage-inspired menu, whilst learning about the ingredients,, flavours and the artistry of its food makers, that have shaped local cuisine.
In the company of knowledgeable guides, the experience pairs multi-course menu tasting with hands-on moments, from spice blending to tea rituals, allowing food to become a lens through which memory, place and tradition are explored. Each stop is thoughtfully paced, creating an intimate and immersive journey through AlUla’s culinary heritage.
Available as two distinct bookable experiences, these limited edition activations bring heritage to vivid life in the Old Town, with the Old Town Culinary Voyage offering visitors a lunch or dinner experience and Old Town Nights providing a thrilling after-dark entertainment option. Available for 15 nights only, both offerings extend Winter at Tantora’s cultural programme beyond the stage and into the streets, homes and hearts of the people who have long defined community life in AlUla.
Both experiences are part of Winter at Tantora, AlUla’s flagship cultural festival running from 18 December 2025 to 10 January 2026. Named after the historic sundial in AlUla Old Town, the festival celebrates heritage, creativity, and community through performances, immersive experiences, and cultural encounters across the destination.
Winter at Tantora sits within the AlUla Moments 2025/26 calendar, a year-round programme of festivals and events showcasing the best of AlUla across culture, heritage, nature, sport and the arts.
To explore upcoming events and plan your AlUla experience, please visit experiencealula.com.
