From rocking out at a Toploader concert to reading outdoors to cheering on female golfers and racetrack drivers, there’s a lot to do around town this weekend (provided it doesn’t rain too much!)
Here are our picks:
Reading village
To get more people to embrace reading, Qatar Foundation will host its largest-ever national reading campaign this weekend at the Ceremonial Court and Green Spine.
Under the title Character’s Village, the event will also feature real-life characters, each of which will have its own designated area with educational activities.
The structures near Green Spine are for @QF's National Reading Campaign's event "Characters' Village," taking place Nov. 24-26. @QatarReads pic.twitter.com/jFtAJcUUxg
— The Daily Q (@yourtdq) November 20, 2016
Planned activities include jigsaw puzzles, a story maze, a magnetic wall, an over-sized scrabble game, puppet shows, a make your own puppet activity and calligraphy, among others. Several food vendors will also be available.
The event will run from 5pm to 11pm on Thursday, 3pm to 11pm on Friday and 11am to 11pm on Saturday, weather permitting. The event is free and open to all.
Toploader concert
Popular UK band Toploader will perform a concert this weekend at the Hilton Doha Hotel.
The concert will take place tomorrow, Nov. 24, from 8pm to 2am. Doha-based band Jive Turkey and DJ Legacy will also be performing. Attendees must be 21 years or over to enter.
Tickets are still on sale and cost between QR150 (for those who pay online) to QR200 a person (at the door).
For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.
*Doha News is giving away free concert tickets to new and existing members. Sign up here to claim them.
Qatar Ladies Open
More than 100 pro golfers from around the world are in Doha this week to take part in the Qatar Ladies Open, which starts today and runs until Nov. 26.
The tournament, which is in Qatar for the first time, is free and open to all. Tickets can be pre-booked through the Qatar Ladies Open website, which also has a full list of the players taking part and a basic schedule of events during the competition.
As well as the golf, there will be a QLO “village” with children’s entertainment. This includes bouncy castles, games such as table football, a ball-dribbling challenge and a ball-in-a-bucket competition.
Visitors can try their hand at other sports too, including badminton, handball, volleyball and table tennis.
There will also be snacks and drinks on sale at the Belgian Cafe at the hospitality pavilion, overlooking the 18th green.
Racing championship
The final round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) will take place this weekend at Losail International Circuit on Thursday and Friday (Nov. 24 and 25).
On Thursday, track activity begins at 4pm and ends at 9pm. Friday’s qualifying sessions run from 2:30pm to 3:30pm, while the Opening Race is scheduled to begin at 9pm. The Main Race will begin at 10:10pm.
Attendees can either watch the race for free from the paddock and grandstand areas, or pay QR1,200 for a VIP ticket that grants access during both days. A fee of QR700 fee can be paid for Friday’s show only.
Losail’s Go Karting track will also be open throughout the weekend from 4pm to 9pm. It costs QR100 per 15-minute session.
More information on the event and tickets can be found here.
White night in the desert
The Doha String Quartet will perform in the desert on Friday, Nov. 25 from 3pm to 9pm.
The event will take place 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 modern-day pieces. Interested attendees are requested to wear white, and can choose to be picked up from the Sealine Beach Resort at either 3:30pm or 4:30pm.
The event costs QR250 per person, and includes a traditional Arabic BBQ, beach volleyball, sandboarding, hiking, swimming and dune-bashing. For details and bookings, call 4436 1461 or 6603 1820 or email [email protected].
More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page.
Dhow cruise and yoga
Local eco-tourism company 365 Adventures Qatar and Yama Yoga Studios will host a day of yoga, swimming, a dhow cruise and a barbecue at Safliyah Island this Saturday, Nov. 26.
Participants will meet at 4pm and head back to Doha at 8pm. Pick-up and drop-off services will be provided. Attendees are advised to bring along their own sunglasses, swimwear, towels, flip-flops, snacks and sunscreen. Life jackets and a toilet including a showering facility will be provided.
Tickets cost QR140 per person and can be booked here or call 7008 6008 or 6698 3357. More information on the event can be found here.
Winter carnival
The International School of London (ISL) will host a winter fair carnival this Saturday, Nov. 26 from 11am to 3pm.
The event will include over 40 vendors of handmade holiday gifts and trinkets, along with musical performances, a bouncy castle, arts and crafts stations and food, among others. Attendees are required to pay a QR10 donation per person and a QR20 for families.
All proceeds will go to ISL Qatar’s “Sponsor A Child” charitable activities, in conjunction with Qatar Charity. More information can be found here.
Bonus:
- Samurai Festival: Today and tomorrow will be the last two days of the Samurai Festival, which is taking place at the Hilton Doha. It will feature film screenings, anime singing concerts and a kimono fashion show, among others. Today’s events will begin at 3:30pm and end at 9:30pm, while Thursday’s will begin at 3:30pm and end at 8:30. More information can be found here.
- Open Studio Night: The Fire Station Gallery is having an opening studio night on Thursday from 5pm to 9pm. Visitors are invited to meet artists and view their works in progress.
What are your plans for the weekend? Thoughts?
