From comedy to fireworks to a Broadway musical, celebrating German culture and singing karaoke, there’s a lot going on around town this weekend.

Here are our picks:

Cats The Musical

The “greatest musical in the world” will debut in Qatar tonight, Feb. 1.

Broadway musical Cats runs daily until Feb. 4 at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC). The award-winning show includes a mix of songs, dance and verse.

Performances will be held at 7:30pm each night through Saturday. There is also a 2:30pm show on Friday and Saturday.

Ticket prices start at QR150 and go up to QR2,000, and a buy one, get one free offer is available for certain shows using the promo code CatsDoha2for1. They can be purchased online or at Virgin Megastores across Qatar.

Doors open 30 minutes before and the show starts promptly at advertised time. It is family friendly, but babies under two years old are not allowed.

Fireworks and food trucks return

The Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) is closing out the Shop Qatar festival by bringing back outdoor festivities this weekend from Feb. 2 to 4.

There will be at least 10 food trucks set up along the Corniche from 4pm onwards, and a fireworks display at the Sheraton Doha Park at 8pm.

Additionally, four daily screenings of Siraj, Qatar Foundation’s new 3D animation “edutainment” TV series (6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm and 9:30pm) will be on at the park each day.

Doha Comedy Festival

Also part of Shop Qatar, the Doha Comedy Festival will take place this weekend at Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) starting Feb. 2.

Fifteen comedians will take the stage over three nights, including Arabic-speaking comedians Nemr, Wonho Chung and Mohanad Al-Hattab, Bader Saleh, Ahmad Al-Shammari and Bashar Al-Jazzaf.

The final night of the shows, which features famous South African comedian Trevor Noah, is sold out.

But the two Arabic-language comedy shows on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 still have some tickets available.

They cost QR120 to QR495 per person and can be bought at Virgin Megastore outlets and online here. The shows are for those 13 years and older.

Souq festivals

Head over to Souq Waqif this weekend to check out the annual Spring Festival from 4pm to 10:30pm everyday.

This year’s attractions include cultural performances, a dolphin show, amusement rides for children, and musical parades, among others.

Another offering includes Kingdom of Snakes, a play that tells the story of a princess who gets kidnapped by a villain.

The show will be showcased at the Al Rayyan Theater and runs until the end of the festival, which will run through Feb. 3. Regular tickets cost QR70 and QR100, while VIP tickets cost QR250.

A separate “Kids Show” will also be hosted at the Abdul Aziz Nasser Theatre at Mirqab Hotel until Feb. 2.

Meanwhile, Souq Al Wakrah is also hosting a Spring Festival that runs through Feb. 13. The festival includes family entertainment and games for children.

Qatar, Germany Year of Culture

Qatar’s new Year of Culture with Germany kicks off with a concert by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) at the Katara Opera House tonight at 6pm.

The concert will feature four movements from the “Doha Secrets” symphony. These will be performed by a number of Qatari artists, including Wael bin Ali, Dana al Fardan and Haamed Hussein al Naama.

The orchestra will be conducted by German Conductor David Neimann.

Tickets are sold out for tonight, but are still available for tomorrow’s show and can be purchased here. Prices range between QR75 and QR100 per person.

More than a dozen events will be held as part of the Year of Culture in the coming months, including a friendly football match as well as art and photography exhibitions

Check out the event’s Facebook page for more information on the orchestra.

Mendelssohn Octet for Strings

Another concert by Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) is happening this weekend, except this one is for free.

The concert will take place the Museum of Islamic at 6pm on Thursday, Feb. 2.

Mendelssohn Octet for Strings will feature eight different artists playing chamber music, with instruments including the violin, the viola, the cello and a double bass.

For more information, check out QPO’s website.

Dune bashing and karaoke

Local ecotourism company 365 Adventures will host two events this weekend, including a karaoke cruise and desert trip.

Thursday’s event will feature a karaoke cruise from 7pm to 10pm. Participants will meet at the Dhow Harbor at 7pm and head out from there. Barbecue will be served and attendees can bring their own shishas.

Tickets cost QR140 for card payments and QR150 for cash payments.

Friday’s event will feature a five-hour desert trip that will include dune bashing, swimming, sunset-watching and stunts at Doha’s Inland Sea.

Pick up and drop off services from/at Hardee’s at the Old Airport will be provided. Groups of six can request a car to their location.

Tickets cost QR150 for card payments and QR160 for cash payments.

Those who wish to pay in cash must send in their full names, email addresses, number of adults and kids, the name of the event and their local phone numbers to either 6698 3357 or 7008 6008.

Bonus:

• Dugongs of Qatar talk: The Qatar Natural History Group is hosting a lecture on dugongs at the Doha English Speaking School (DESS) tonight at 7pm. Dr. Christopher Warren of ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) will be giving the talk and sharing his research with attendees. Refreshments will be served at 6:30pm. The talk will be followed by a Q&A session. More information is here.
• Fashion show: Tomorrow, Feb. 2, 15 designers will present their work during a fashion show at Lagoona Mall’s Piazza. Bridal couture, abayas and ready-to-wear outfits are among the highlights. A red carpet event will be held before the show at 8pm, and all are invited to enjoy it all free of charge. However, children under the age of 12 are now allowed into the venue.

What are your plans for the weekend? Thoughts?