The Unthinkable Party: A New Face for the Saudi Kingdom

2. The specific hosting of these events under the umbrella of Riyadh Season—a massive, government-backed entertainment and cultural festival—is crucial to understanding its context. The General Entertainment Authority (GEA), an entity established under the Vision 2030 reform plan, actively promotes and organizes these activities. By officially sanctioning, funding, and integrating the "Scary Weekend" into the national entertainment calendar, the Saudi government strategically places it as a domestic cultural offering rather than a purely imported, foreign custom, effectively normalizing it.