By Reem Saad
From celebrating Christmas to cheering on your favorite team at the Italian Super Cup to enjoying the MIA Park bazaar for two days straight, there’s lots to do around town this weekend.
Here are our picks:
Hotel Christmas activities
Many hotels are hosting Christmas-themed dinners, buffets and lunches in Qatar.
Other festive season events include take-away Christmas lunches, gingerbread house making classes, and tree lighting ceremonies.
Though many of these have already taken place, Fraser Suites Doha is holding its lighting ceremony tomorrow from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in its lobby.
Meanwhile, the Ritz Carlton will hold gingerbread house making classes on Friday and Saturday. They will have both 10am and 3pm classes, each of which cost QR200 per house.
And the Radisson Blu will host a Christmas party for children this Friday, Dec. 23 at its Venus and Earth Hall from 5pm to 8pm.
The party will feature holiday music, a mini buffet, cookie decorating and baking, as well as a visit from Santa, who will be giving out presents. Entry price is QR70 for children between four and 10 years old. More info here.
Many other hotels are offering discounts and three-course festive menus throughout the weekend. Check out Marhaba’s detailed guide on these meals here.
Religious services
The Christian churches at Doha’s religious complex, on the outskirts of the city, will hold numerous services over Christmas weekend.
The Catholic church Our Lady of the Rosary will be hold a Christmas vigil this Saturday. Mass timings range from 5am up until 10:30pm. Services will be in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic, Malayalam, Tamil, Sinhala, Konkani and Maronite.
Details of exact timings of services are not yet available for the Church of the Epiphany, but we will update with the information when it comes in.
Secret Santa Village
Local eco-tourism company 365 Adventures — Qatar will host a full day of Christmas festivities on Saturday, Dec. 24 from 2pm to 10pm at Sealine.
Activities will include dune bashing, camel riding, camping at the Inland sea, Secret Santa gift distributions and a Mediterranean barbecue dinner.
Ticket prices for adults cost QR275 per person for online payments and QR285 for cash payments.
Tickets for children between six and 12 years old cost QR150 and are free for children below six. All can be purchased here. Check out the event’s Facebook page for more information.
Italian Super Cup
Italian football giants Juventus and AC Milan will face off in Qatar this Friday, Dec. 23 for the 2016 Supercoppa TIM.
Friday the 23rd of December. The #ItalianSuperCup @juventusfc Vs @acmilan at @AlsaddSC stadium KO 19:30 pic.twitter.com/wI8DRphziX
— Qatar Football Association (@QFA_EN) December 15, 2016
Although tickets are officially sold out, you could still win a pair if you take part in Twitter contests from the Qatar Football Association. These entail simply retweeting some of their tweets, sharing photos or videos, etc.
The match will begin at 7:30pm and will take place at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, so for those who aren’t going, be sure to expect traffic in the area.
Expanded MIA park bazaar
Qatar’s largest outdoor handicrafts and specialty goods is now open on Fridays and Saturdays. It will be open from 3pm to 10pm at MIA Park on Dec. 23 and from noon to 7pm on Dec. 24.
The bazaar is a homage to the old souqs of yore, featuring some 150 stalls selling food, clothes, accessories, arts, crafts, décor and the like. The event is free and open to the public. More information can be found here.
Those looking to celebrate Christmas with delicious pies can choose a wide selection of both sugar and savory pies at one of the booths. Check out this page for more information.
Bonus:
- Rare Banknotes exhibition: Katara Cultural Village is currently holding a banknotes exhibition that features rare collections by collector Hassan al Nuami. The exhibition will run until Dec. 30 from 10am to 10pm daily. It is also free and open to the public.
What are your plans for the weekend? Thoughts?
