Live comedy acts, an entertainment zone for families, hotel discounts and fireworks are being planned for this year’s summer festival, which begins Monday, Aug. 1.
The event aims to attract more tourists from outside of the country, as well as provide entertainment to residents during the normally quiet month of August.
Speaking to media yesterday, the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) said the festival will run through Aug. 31.
Events will be held at the Corniche, the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC), Al Gharafa Sports Club and malls across the country.
Here are five things to know about what’s coming up:
Fireworks
For the first time, fireworks on the Corniche will bookend the monthlong festival.
Shows will take place during both the first and last days of “Color Your Summer” (on Aug. 1 and Aug. 31) at 9pm.
Entertainment City
Children’s activities, including games, rides and live stage performances, will be hosted at the DECC from 1pm to 11pm daily. On Fridays, Entertainment City will remain open until midnight.
This year’s Entertainment City will be double the size of 2015’s, with 30,000 square meters of space.
Offerings include inflatable games, an entertainment stage, video games, Go Karting and a food court.
There will be an entry fee of QR15 per person and game tickets will start at QR5. Visitors can also purchase a VIP ticket for QR120/person for unlimited entertainment.
Doha Comedy Festival
The QNCC will hold a three-day festival that features 18 different stand-up comedians from the Middle East, running from Aug. 18 through Aug. 21.
Confirmed performers include local comedian Hamad Al-Amari, as well as renowned pros Bader Saleh, Fadi Alshehri and Ahmed Al Shammari.
The show will be in Arabic and attendees must be 13 years and up. Ticket prices range QR145 to QR1,000 and can be purchased at all Virgin Megastore branches or online.
‘Street Madness’
This men’s only competition will feature several sports activities including short football matches led by social media influencers, with in-between break performances by comedians and artists.
The event will take place on Friday, Aug. 12 at the Al Gharafa Sports Club.
Ticket prices start at QR25 and are being sold at all Virgin Megastore branches.
Hotel and shopping offers
According to QTA, collaborations with hotels have doubled in number since last year’s festival, now extending to more than 50 venues across the country, including five-star hotels and deluxe apartments.
Some of the hotels with offers include the Sheraton Grand, Ritz Carlton, La Cigale, Mövenpick and Radisson Blu.
Special packages will include a “pay for two nights and stay for three” at hotels. Some venues will also offer free breakfast, late check-outs and free transportation from Hamad International Airport (HIA).
Shopping promotions will be available at the Lagoona, Landmark, Ezdan, Gulf, Al Khor, Hyatt Plaza and City Center malls all month long.
The malls will also feature weekly raffle draws with an offer of 15 prizes per week, among them four Jaguar cars and cash prizes worth QR800,000.
The raffles will be held on every Thursday of the month, starting with Al Khor Mall during the first week, and Hyatt Plaza Mall, Dar Al Salam Mall and Lagoona Mall for the following weeks, respectively. All raffle draws will begin at 7:30pm.
Who’s planning to go next month? Thoughts?
