MAKKAH: The sixth edition of the Fawanees got underway on Tuesday evening in Makkah, with local people, visitors and pilgrims all taking part in the fun. The event, which runs until April 15 and will include entertainment, commercial and other activities, including daily competitions to win prizes, was inaugurated by Ismat Abdul-Karim Maatouq, secretary-general of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This year’s event is being held in cooperation with the Saudi Ministry of Culture as part of the Ramadan Season Calendar and organized with the support of companies and institutions promoting products, services and unique activities inspired by the holy month. The chamber’s center for exhibitions and events has been transformed to provide a platform for local entrepreneurs, craftspeople and family businesses to promote their products and services. There are also food trucks offering a range of tasty treats, as well as entertainment and awareness areas. “The Fawanees event provides participants and visitors with the opportunity to live a Ramadan experience,” Maatouq said, adding that it was driven by the chamber’s belief in social responsibility and commitment to staging events that supported local businesses. “Since the launch of the Fawanees in 2018, the event has represented an annual attraction during the holy month. The second edition achieved a record attendance, welcoming 30,000 visitors.” Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fawanees was never canceled, Maatouq added, with a digital version with electronic platforms introduced to ensure the event could go on. “The fourth edition was launched in a hybrid version, combining virtual and physical presence,” he said. The event had a model display that provided “a trip down memory lane” for parents and lots of modern features to make it “a dream come true for children,” he said.