From a magic show to a poetry contest to music at the Pearl and a round of drag racing, there is lots to do around town over the next few days. Here are our picks:
Drag racing
Experience homegrown fast and furious action by heading over to the Qatar Racing Club for the final round of the National Street Drag Championships, which conclude in May.
High-performance cars, SUVs and motorcycles will compete in short races over the course of two days from 4pm to 9pm on April 14 and 15, with test runs starting today.
The event is free and open to the public, though visitors are advised to bring along a pair of ear plugs. See more information and a full schedule here.
‘Great Merlin’ magic show
Magical Festival Village at Katara is hosting magician Cezar Balasoiu, who will perform through April 17.
The show includes a combination of close-up magic, appearances and disappearances three times a day: 4pm, 6:15pm and 8:30pm, except on Saturday when the shows are at 4pm and 6:15pm.
Tickets cost QR50, QR100 and QR150 per person and can be bought online. Children under the age of two years old are allowed for free, as long as they sit on a parent’s lap.
World Heritage Exhibition 2016
The Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) near City Center Mall is hosting a trade show with some 355 exhibitors from different countries that runs through April 19.
Vendors will be selling a wide range of products, including household items, toys, gift, gadgets, electronics, abayas, furniture, carpets, perfumes and accessories, among other things.
There will also be an activity area with entertainment and traditional musical shows. The trade show is open from 11am to 10pm daily and from 3pm to 11pm on Fridays.
Indian community festival
The Indian Cultural Centre is holding a festival this weekend to mark the 125th birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, one of the architects of India’s constitution.
The festival will be held at the Museum of Islamic Art Park on Thursday from 4pm to 10pm and Friday from 1pm to 10pm.
There will be dance performances, Indian cuisine for sale, arts and crafts, a live yoga demonstration and other fun. More information can be found online here.
Music at the Pearl
As part of a new weekly music series, the Pearl-Qatar will play three hours of “Western chill-out instrumental music” this weekend at its amphitheater in Porto Arabia.
The music will be on from 8pm to 10:45pm on Saturday, April 15. The theater is located at 30 La Croisette.
Fashion show
Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar is pleased is hosting its 17th Annual Fashion Show “Reach” at Salam Stores at The Gate Mall in Dafna/West Bay.
The show highlights the work of VCU-Q fashion design students as well as Rami Al Ali, a Syrian-born fashion designer. Currently based in Dubai, his designs are popular with several celebrities and have been worn by Beyoncé, Natasha Beddingfield, Kerry Washington and Petra Nemcova.
Tomorrow’s final show is sold out, but there are still seats for tonight’s show (April 13), which goes from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Tickets cost QR50/person and can be bought online here. Doors open from 5:30pm to 6:20pm.
Prophet’s poet festival
Katara Cultural Village is organizing a poetry contest that began on Sunday and runs until tomorrow, April 14 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm each night at the Opera House.
Contestants have a chance to win nearly QR1 million for poems that compliment the Prophet Muhammad and his traditions.
انتهاء الجولة الثانية لتصفيات #جائزة_كتارا_لشاعر_الرسول ﷺ المقامة في دار الأوبرا #كتارا #تجمل_الشعر_بخير_البشر pic.twitter.com/dnEWePFL9p
— كتارا | Katara (@kataraqatar) April 12, 2016
Poems must be written in modern standard Arabic and adhere to the horizontal syllabic poetry form, as well as range from 30 to 60 verses. Entrants must be 18 years or older and can be from anywhere in the world. More terms and conditions can be found on Katara’s website.
A shortlist of the best 30 poems after being selected from 828 poems submitted. The final jury will choose the five poets for awards during the festival. First place wins $300,000, second place, $200,000; third place $100,000; fourth place, $50,000; and fifth place, $25,000.
Bonus:
- How to be Happy workshop: Mind Body Empowerment Qatar is bringing a session entitled “How to be Happy” this Saturday, April 16 from 9am to 11am at Chef’s Garden in Qatar Foundation. The workshop will discuss how to focus on positive psychology and obtain holistic happiness. Registration for the workshop costs QR180 per person and can be done by emailing [email protected]. Price for the workshop includes refreshments and a book.
- Art exhibitions: Gina Hunt’s Liquid Crystal + Polymer, a collection of abstract paintings about the complexity of vision, is on exhibition at VCU-Q’s gallery until April 16. Meanwhile, an exhibition by students from VCU-Q and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar regarding the intersection of art and medicine is on display at the HBKU Student Center from now until May 14, 2016. Finally, Shifting Sands: A Journey of Qatar and its People, an exhibition curated by students at UCL Qatar, will be open at the Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani museum. The exhibition runs from 8am to 5pm at the museum until July 7.
- Paws disco night: Join Paws Rescue Qatar as they host a 80’s and 90’s themed disco night at the Rugby Club Doha on Thursday, April 14 from 7pm to midnight. Tickets cost QR100 per person and must be bought before the event on a first-come, first-served basis. They will not be sold at the door. For more information, see the events page or contact organizers at [email protected].
What are your plans for the weekend? Thoughts?
