This year’s Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) has moved to a new venue, but will still retain many of its usual offerings, officials confirmed this week.

For the first time, the annual event be held at the Hotel Park on the Corniche, from March 29 to April 8.

Previously, few details were available about the upcoming event. But more information was shared by the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) yesterday.

Perhaps most importantly to some, the QTA confirmed that fireworks shows will indeed be held each night at 8pm.

There will also be food trucks and Dinner in the Sky, as well as a live cooking theater from 5pm to 9pm daily.

The new venue means parking should be a bit easier than in previous years, as there is an underground pay-for-parking garage with spaces for 2,500 vehicles onsite.

What’s different

Besides the move from the MIA Park, this year’s festival has a few other new features.

For example, Qatar’s 2017 Year of Culture partner Germany won’t have a special pavilion to itself.

Instead, it will showcase its cuisine and entertainment at a “Cultural Zone” that includes nine other embassies, such as Ethiopia, Mexico, the Philippines, the US and Qatar, among others.

Another new addition includes a garden picnic where families can buy a basket, collect a blanket and sit on the grass to eat their meals.

Food-related movies will also be screened outdoors from 9pm to 10pm, courtesy of the Doha Film Institute and Qatar Foundation.

And as previously announced, set menus will also be on offer from March 23 to April 8. Visitors can purchase at least three items for QR59, QR99, QR139 and QR179.

Meanwhile, kiosks, food trucks and stalls will continue to sell small bites for QR5 to QR35 a dish.

And to avoid wastage, unsold and “untouched” food will be given to Eid Charity to distribute to those in need.

The festival will go from 2pm to 10pm on weekdays and from 2pm to 11pm on weekends until April 8.

Who’s excited? Thoughts?