From enjoying food trucks and fireworks on the Corniche to listening to a free concert at the Museum of Islamic Art to cheering people on a marathon, there is lots to do in Qatar this weekend.

Here are our picks:

Shop Qatar events

As part of the month-long Shop Qatar Festival, several events will be held from Jan. 12 to 14, including fireworks shows each night at 8pm on the Corniche.

Also from Thursday to Saturday, 10 food trucks and stalls will sell food to the public between 4pm and 10pm on the Corniche.

Meanwhile, Qatar Foundation will screen episodes of Siraj, the new 3D animation “edutainment” TV series. It will also host a mobile library for children.

In terms of mall entertainment, Hyatt Plaza’s outdoor area will host an African Circus show daily until Jan. 21. Shows begin at 6:30pm and run until 8pm during the week, while weekend shows vary between 5:30pm, 7pm and 9pm.

Retail outlets around the country are also providing discounts of up to 50 percent on a range of goods including clothes, cosmetics, electronics and accessories for men, women and children.

Ooredoo marathon

For those looking to burn off some calories this weekend, the fifth edition of the Ooredoo Marathon will be held on Friday, Jan. 13 from 6:30am onwards at the Museum of Islamic Art. 

Four different adult marathons will take place, including a full marathon (42.2km), a half-marathon (21.1km), and 10km and 5km for junior and adult races along the Corniche. There are also 3km and 1km kids races.

According to Ooredoo, prizes will be awarded to the best runners in a range of categories, based on gender and age. 

For safety reasons, the Corniche road will be closed to traffic from 6:30 to 11:30am on Friday to accommodate the races. Marathon spectators are requested to stand at the Corniche walkway to the MIA or at the many checkpoints lining the Corniche to get an unobstructed view.

Runners can park at the MIA port side entry from 5am to 7:30am, while visitors can do so at the Souq Waqif underground parking garage.

Participants must collect their race pack inside the MIA parking lot on Friday between 5am and 6am.

Free concert at the MIA

The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra will holds its free monthly chamber music concert in the atrium of the Museum of Islamic Art on Thursday, Jan. 12 from 6pm to 7pm.

Pieces from Antonio Vivaldi’s L’Estro Armonico will be played during the event, which is open to people of all ages. More information is here.

Football Five World Championship

Amateur football players around Doha who are 16 years and older are invited to play in the second qualifiers round of the F5WC this Friday, Jan. 13.

The tournament will take place in Al Sadd Sports Club between 9am and 3pm and costs QR1,000 per team, which can be paid at the registration desk. A team must consist of a minimum of five players and a maximum of seven.

Winners get an all-expense paid trip to Beijing, and will play in the World Finals representing Qatar alongside 31 other countries.

Only Qatar nationals and permanent residents are eligible for registration. Participants are encouraged to register no later than today (Jan. 11) to secure a place.

More information on registration, the schedule and standings is here.

Al Dana Green Run

The 12th edition of the Al Dana Green Run will take place this Saturday, Jan. 14 at Aspire Zone.

The race, which is hosted by Doha Bank, will begin at 1pm and feature a 3km circuit around Khalifa Stadium. The event is free and open to both men and women.

According to Doha Bank’s website, more than 3,400 have already registered for the race.

To register, visit Doha Bank’s website or visit Doha Bank’s branch in City Centre for free registration and a fitness test between 6pm and 9pm.

Bonus:

• Boot camp: The Tivoli Spa at Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels will hold free bootcamp sessions every Saturday morning until the end of February. The sessions, which feature high-intensity cardio workouts, will take place at the Corniche between 8:30 and 9:30am and are open to both men and women. To attend, head to Souq Waqif at 8am, where all participants will take off from there. For more information, call 4433 6444.
• Arabian Horse workshop: Head over to Al Shaqab tonight (Jan. 11) at 7pm to learn about the history of the Arabian horse and its importance in Qatar’s history. The talk will be given by Dr. Mats Troedsson, consultant director of Al Shaqab Equine Veterinary Medical Center, and will take place in the Al Shaqab multipurpose hall in the Main Arena building. 

What are your plans for the weekend? Thoughts?