From concerts to carnivals to exhibitions by renowned artists from across the region, there are some cool things to check out this weekend. Here are the highlights:
White night in the desert
The Doha String Quartet will perform in the desert on Friday, Feb. 12. The event will take place at a traditional campsite in Al Khor Al Udeid as part of a night of music and good food from Arabian Adventures Qatar, a local inland tour company.
The quartet will perform a selection of baroque and classical pieces, along with compositions by Qatari composer and artist Dana Al Fardan in two sessions – at 6pm and 8 pm. Interested attendees are requested to wear white, and can choose to be picked up either from Family Food Center on Airport Road, or from the Sealine Beach Resort at 3pm on the day of.
The event costs QR300 per person, and is inclusive of a traditional Arabic BBQ. For details and bookings, call 4436 1461 or email info@arabianadventures.com.qa.
Journey to Qatar’s past
Local group Embrace Doha is hosting a trip to a 1970s Qatari house from 3pm onwards on Saturday, Feb. 13. The event includes a trip to Al Khor and Al Thakira to visit Bulahadan’s House, a restored Qatari home complete with themed rooms, traditional architecture, and vintage artifacts.
We just started our trip with arabic coffee made by Bu Lahdan in traditional way.#Embracedoha pic.twitter.com/OxxussSbXA
— Embrace Doha (@EmbraceDoha) January 30, 2016
The trip costs QR250 per person, payable at the door, and is inclusive of transport from Souq Waqif, hospitality and a meal. To book a seat, visit the Eventbrite page here.
Winter carnival in Al Khor
Al Khor Mall is hosting a winter carnival from Feb. 8 to Feb. 20. There will be family entertainment activities such as face-painting, bouncy castles, a rodeo bull and Angry Birds slingshot, from 5pm to 9pm.
As part of the “Chill ‘n’ Grill” events, there will also be a barbecue station.
Mahler’s Fifth Symphony
The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra will host a concert at the Katara Opera House tomorrow, Feb. 11, at 7:30pm.
Conductor Dmitrij Kitajenko will lead the orchestra in performing the works of Richard Wagnar and Gustav Mahler. Seating begins 20 minutes before performances, and latecomers will not be seated during the concert.
Tickets cost between QR75 and QR1,000/person and can be bought online here.
All ages are invited to attend, but children over the ages of six years old must have a ticket. Audience members in informal attire such as beach wear or shorts will not be seated. More information about the event can be found here.
Mathaf exhibitions
There are only a few more days left to check out the solo exhibitions of five artists at the Arab Museum of Modern Art (Mathaf). Until Feb. 14, Focus: Works from the Mathaf Collection will feature art by Qatar’s Faraj Daham, Lebanese artist Saloua Raouda Choucair, Egypt’s Inji Efflatoun, Farid Belkahia of Morocco and Abdulhalim Al-Radwi from Saudi Arabia.
Entry to the exhibition is free, and opening hours are 11am to 6pm daily except Monday when the museum is closed. On Fridays, Mathaf is open from 3pm to 8pm.
Bonus:
- Fun Fridays: The Pearl-Qatar is hosting “Family Fun Fridays” for the next two weeks from 3:30pm to 7:30pm in Medina Centrale. Each Friday, there will be jugglers, stilt walkers, balloon animals, face painting and cotton candy/popcorn for the kids.
- Click for a cause: A photography exhibition featuring the work of four Qataris will open at the Shangri-La Hotel Doha this week. “Click for a cause – scenes from the Souq” launches tonight from 5:30pm to 7pm, and is located at the exhibition foyer on level two of the hotel. Part of the proceeds from artwork sales will go toward supporting Syrian refugees.
What are your plans for the weekend? Thoughts?