Cheering on swimmers racing across Doha Bay, sampling a slice of Southeast Asian culture and preparing for a wedding at one of the country’s largest expos are just some of the diverse activities taking place across the city this weekend.

Here are our picks:

ASEAN Festival

Traditional music, shows, artwork, handicrafts and food from seven Southeast Asian countries will mark Qatar’s first ASEAN Festival, which will be held from April 30 to May 2 at the Katara Village Esplanade.

Visitors will be treated to authentic cultural experiences from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore.

There will be some 28 Indonesian and 22 Malaysian dance troupes, according to the Gulf Times, who will entertain audiences alongside singers from Brunei and other troupes from the Philippines.

The event runs from 6 to 10pm daily.

Qatar Open Water Swimming Championship

In a rare opportunity for residents to take a dip in Doha Bay, the Qatar Swimming Association is hosting its annual open water swimming championship on Friday, May 1, starting at 3pm next to the Balhambar restaurant on the Corniche.

Though registration to compete is now closed, residents are welcome to cheer on the contestants at the event, which includes events ranging from 1.5km to 3km for various ages.

For more information, visit the event’s website here.

Charity concert

Le Trio Joubran, a band that plays traditional Palestinian music, will perform at the Katara Drama Center tomorrow, April 30 at 8pm to raise money for Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem.

The concert will be opened by Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi. Tickets cost QR150/person and can be bought by the amphitheater and the Blue Mosque at Katara.

iWed

The eighth annual edition of one of Qatar’s largest wedding expos, iWed, gets underway today (April 29) at the Doha Exhibition Center, next to Katara.

Running until May 2, the show is a one-stop shop for wedding products and accessories featuring local and international designers, accessory companies, photographers, event planners, stylists and more.

The event is free and open to the public daily from noon to 10pm. For more information, visit the event’s website here.

Qatar Stars League Final

Local teams Lekhwiya and El Jaish will square off in the final match of the Qatar Stars League’s Qatar Cup at Abdulla bin Khalifa stadium at the Lekhwiya Sports Club on Friday, May 1 at 6:45pm.

Tickets to the final are priced between QR10 and QR150 and can be purchased online here. The more expensive tickets include parking and food. Children aged 10 and under will be admitted free of charge.

Qatar Drift Championship

Outside the city, more than a dozen cars and 40 motorbikes will compete in the fourth round of the Qatar Drift Championship this weekend from April 30 to May 1 at the Qatar Racing Club.

The fast-paced event allows amateur and rookie racing enthusiasts to compete in modified vehicles over short distances in a series of five races held intermittently between October and May.

This weekend’s racing schedule kicks off with practice sessions and qualifying rounds starting at 5pm on April 30. Warm-ups and races start at 4pm on May 1.

The event is free and open to public spectators.

Bonus:

• The Pearl-Qatar is opening a “Rainbow Park” tomorrow, April 30, at 18 and 1 La Croissette in Porto Arabia.  The venue will feature colorful sand pits and other rainbow-themed activities and sections, where children can build sand castles, play and interact with each other.
• QatArt Craft Workshop: Vendors at the regular Saturday QatART craft bazaar are now offering creative workshops for children ages 5 and above. The new initiative starts this Friday, May 1, at the Katara Art Studios and costs between QR15 and QR100 per session. Classes cover duct tape crafting, recycling, felt crafting, jewellery fabrication and paper quilling. Sessions will be scheduled at different intervals between 2pm and 7pm. Interested participants can register by sending their names and phone numbers to [email protected] or by calling 4408-0233 or 4408-1357. For more information and a schedule of events, visit the workshop’s Facebook page here.
• MIA Park Bazaar: The Museum of Islamic Art Park will hold its last weekly bazaar for the season on Saturday, May 2, from noon to 8pm. A homage to the old souqs of yore, the bazaar features some 150 stalls selling clothes, accessories, arts, crafts, décor and other items. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the event’s website here.

What are your plans this weekend? Thoughts?