Week End proposal in February

Hello everybody,

I am a new comer to this forum and a new comer in Riyadh. I’ll stay here two months until mid march. I'm a 29 yo french guy, who likes to travel, discover countries, getting lost in unknown places, listen to music (when it's possible), and many more things.

As many people, I m currently trying to figure out how to enjoy as much as I can my stay in the city, and get the most of it.
As such, I am trying to plan my forthcoming week ends:)
While it is very nice to go outside of KSA and visit the neighbouring countries, I would like to try to stay here some week end and discover the country/city, as I don’t know when I’ll have the opportunity to come back here, and meet new people.

So far I’d like to go to Maidan Saleh, and also visit the Janadriyah festival, weither between the thur 14- sat 16 feb, or wed 20 - fri 22 feb, or maybe the following wed-fri week ends.

1)  For Maidan Saleh, I understood that I need to go to madina and then take a bus or a car. The hotel prices the Madina – Al Ula trip at SAR 2500. Is there a cheaper way? If not, anyone planning/interested in going there on the thur 14- sat 16 Feb or the wed 20 – fri 22 Feb or the following week ends?

2) regarding the Janadriyah festival, I understood that “the Festival Janadriyah will be on Thursday 7 \ 2 \ 2013. to Sunday 10 \ 2 \ 2013 the festival will be open for men, but for the families is on Monday 11 \ 2 \ 2013, to Friday, 22 \ 2 \ 2013”. As I am only available on the week ends after the 11/02/2013, would you know if it is possible for a westerner male alone to go? If not, anyone would have a suggestion on how I can go there? maybe some people wanna go with me on the 15-16 February?

Eventually, would you have any suggestion for week ends in Saudi Arabia? Anything planned I can join?

Thanks a lot for all your input