The Unthinkable Party: A New Face for the Saudi Kingdom

The Unthinkable Public Spectacle
1. The image of thousands of young Saudis—many of whom grew up in an era of strict religious enforcement—publicly celebrating Halloween, a festival once considered an outright pagan and Western import, is perhaps one of the most vivid symbols of the Kingdom's rapid social transformation. This massive public party, often marketed as "Scary Weekend" or "Horror Weekend" and held in state-sponsored entertainment districts like Riyadh Boulevard, was a truly unthinkable spectacle just a decade ago. It represents a dramatic pivot from decades of ultra-conservative social policy to a new, modernizing vision being championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).