Whether it’s sports, music or culture you crave, there are plenty of ways to spend the next few days in Doha. Here are our weekend picks:
Aspire Inside Out Run
Get active this weekend with a 6km run through never-before-seen areas of Aspire. The event will be held at 7pm on Thursday, June 5, at the warmup track at Aspire. The exact course of the run will be revealed at the start of the race.
Spot prizes will be awarded to runners throughout the route. The event is free and open to all, but prior registration is required here. Participants have to be at least 12 years old, and anyone under 17 has to be accompanied by an adult.
Qatar Brazil: A Journey from the Amazon to the desert
Check out the favelas of Rio, the thick jungles of the Amazon, and the all-so-familiar Doha skyline at this month-long exhibition, which opens this week. The photography exhibition is free and will run at the Qatar Photographic Society’s Gallery 18 from 10 am to 11pm until July 1.
The exhibition is part of the Qatar Brazil 2014 Year of Culture. Two Qatari photographers were sent on a two-week expedition across Brazil to photograph its landscapes, people, food, culture, and touristic highlights.
Meanwhile, two Brazilian photographers were invited to Qatar to experience its history, people, tradition, food and culture through Brazilian eyes. This display showcases the best photographs taken during both trips by Aref Hussein, Abdullah Al Tamimi, Andrea Joaquim, and Leonardo Wen.
Showcase of the Philippines
Join the Filipino community in Qatar on a two-day cultural extravaganza at the Hyatt Plaza Mall Food Court. Kicking off on Thursday, June 5, the event will feature local dance troupes performing dances from different provinces in the Philippine in a unique “travelogue” style.
Under the title “Mga Kwento ni Lola Nasyang” (The travelogue of Grandma Basyang), participants will be taken on a journey through the eyes of Lola Basyang, a renowned character in traditional Filipino folktale. The event is free and open to all.
Doha Film Institute movie screening
DFI will host a screening of Long Live The Queen (Lang Leve de Koningin) in conjunction with the Museum of Islamic Art.
The film, by director Esmé Lammers, tells the story of Sara, who enters the world of chess in an attempt to reunite her parents. This comedy-drama will play two shows – at 6:00 and 7:00 pm – at the MIA Auditorium. Tickets cost QR35/each and can be bought online here.
#TalkDirty – Environment and Sustainability Forum
Held in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, the Youth Company will host an event on World Environment Day, which is Thursday June 5, from 6 to 9pm at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University Ballroom inside the Education City Student Center.
A host of speakers and interactive discussions will take place, in hopes of encouraging Qatar’s residents to become more environmentally conscious. The conference is free and open to all, but those who register in advance here could win a variety of prizes from the W Hotel, including meals and a free overnight stay.
Open Water Paddle Series
The Pearl Qatar will host the seventh race in their Open Water Paddle Series this weekend on June 6th. Hosted at the Lido Venezia Beach in Qanat Quartier at The Pearl, the race is open to anyone with a SUP, kayak, or surf skis.
Boards can also be booked for free of charge for those without necessary equipment. Registration opens at 8:15am, while the race will commence at 9am. For booking, see here, email [email protected], or call John Reeves at +974 5562 2802.
Qatar Offroaders
Local group Qatar Offroaders is offering a ride to the Inland Sea to see old villages and flamingoes. The team will meet at 3am on Friday, June 6, at the Woqod Mekaines.
Speaking to Doha News, organizers explained the early timing:
“Offroading needs light in order to take in the scenery. Since it’s too hot, we can’t do it during the day. So instead, we move out at 3am in order to be on the actual trail when the light is up.”
A mid-day BBQ is also provided. The event is free and open to everyone. For more information or to register, see here.
Bonus:
- Qatar Music Academy – End of Year Recital: Join the musicians at the Qatar Music Academy for a night of Arab and Western student ensembles on Saturday, June 7 at 5pm at the Qatar National Convention Center (Auditorium 3). Admission is free and open to everyone. For questions, call +974 4454 8191, or email [email protected]
- Red Bull Winning 5 Registration: Thought the event is not for another week, registration for the Red Bull Winning 5 Football event closes this weekend on June 6th. Held on June 13th for the second consecutive year, event will test football-lovers in a unique, challenge-based tournament. Create your team of 5 and apply by sending your team name, member details (name, age, contact information, email addresses) to [email protected], or call +974 66004820. See here for more information.
- Dance by Vasile IOVU Folk Group: Join the Embassy of the Republic of Molodova as it celebrates its national day through a dance performance by Vasile IOVU folk group. The event will be held at the Drama Theatre, Building 16, at Katara, on June 6th from 7:30 to 10pm. Admission is free of charge.
- European Copic Color Program (ECCP – Paper Crafting): Hone your art skills with these lessons on June 4 and 5, at Tribe Bookstore in Education City. The two-day basics class will be held from 4 to 7pm and will cover applications of Copic, a famous Japanese brand of marker pens and inks, with over 358 colors. The pens are refillable and inks can be mixed separately, or airbrushed, and participants will learn blending techniques, as well as how to color faces, hair and clothing. The registration fee is QR1,000/person. Contact Tribe at 44817196 to register and for more information.
What are your weekend plans? Thoughts?
