With reporting from Neha Rashid
From splashing around at the water park to dancing with colors to desert off-roading and enjoying a performance from the Celtic Tenors, there are plenty of things to do around town over the next few days. Here are our picks:
Aqua Park opener
Qatar’s only water park opens for the season on Friday, April 1.
The park is open from 10am to 8pm from Sunday to Wednesday; 10am to 10pm on Thursdays and Fridays; and 10am to 8pm on Saturdays (family only days). Ladies-only days are on Tuesdays and will begin on April 12, running from 3pm to 11pm.
Ticket prices are QR180 at the counter, or QR155 online for those 120cm in height or above. They are QR130 at the counter for those between 90-120cm, and QR105 online.
Regarding the dress code, Aqua Park recommends (but does not require) swimwear that respects Qatar’s tradition and culture, a spokesman said.
To buy tickets or for more information about the park, here’s the official website.
Rang Barse
A week after the Indian spring festival of Holi, local events company Red Apple is hosting Rang Barse, a colorful dance festival on April 1, at the Doha Marriott Hotel Beachfront.
The event, which starts at 3pm, features several international DJs playing Bollywood beats, a food court with Indian cuisine, color stalls and other features.
Tickets cost QR150/person for regular entry, QR200 at the door, and can be bought online or at various Doha Rocks Cafe locations, Aalishan Restaurant (Muntazah), Zaffran Cafe and the Doha Marriott lobby.
For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page. The afternoon will be family-friendly and children under 11 years old can enter for free.
Celtic Tenors
Famous Irish band The Celtic Tenors will return to Qatar to perform at the Radisson Blu hotel on Thursday, March 31 at 8pm.
The band will perform classical, folk, Irish and pop music during the evening at the Al Ghiwana Ballroom.
Tickets cost QR395/person and are available at the hotel. It is inclusive of an international buffet with spirits. Only those 21 years and older will be allowed, and attendees must have a Qatar ID or passport. For more information, call 4428-1555.
Desert off-roading
Qatar Offroaders is holding a recruiting day on Friday, April 1 from 8am to 11:30am near the Sealine Beach Resort.
Organizers said that during the event, the club will introduce prospective new members to the group and teach basic off-roading skills in a safe way.
To become a member, one must first practice climbing, descending and traversing dunes with the team. People with no previous off-roading experience or no vehicles are still welcome. More details are on the event’s Facebook page.
Pearl diving & fishing competition
Katara Cultural Village will host its annual Senyar event from tomorrow, March 31 to April 16.
The event, which goes from 8am to 10pm each day, is meant to revive the ancient heritage of Qatar by following the traditions and customs of ancient marine life.
Registration to compete is already closed, but the public is invited to watch hundreds of people divided into 59 teams compete for prizes.
More information about the competition can be found online on Katara’s website.
Domestic affairs art exhibition
A traveling exhibition that explores the home as a public/private paradox, in which we encounter friends (our guests) but also strangers (via the internet), is passing through Qatar this month.
Domestic Affairs features the work of several international and local artists, and is on display at the Fire Station until May 15. It’s part of a joint collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar and the Fire Station’s artist in residence program.
The venue, located near Civil Defense Roundabout, is open from 10am to 8pm from Saturday to Thursday and 2pm to 8pm on Fridays.
Bonus:
- Fashion debut: Qatari artist Noor Abuissa is launching an exhibition as part of the new spring/summer collection at Salam Stores at the Gate Mall tomorrow, March 31 from 7 to 9pm. The event is free and open to all, and includes complementary manicures, food and music.
- Family Fun Fridays: Starting at 3:30pm in Porto Arabia at the Pearl-Qatar, there will be jugglers, clowns, balloon twisters, face painting and other entertainment for free.
- Comedy night: Resident comedians Khalifa Saleh Al Haroon (Mr. Q) and Hamad Al-Amari (The Qatari Guy) will be joined by guest comedian Ali “Finerz” Esbai from Bahrain tonight during a show at Jazz at Lincoln Center Doha at the St. Regis hotel. Tickets are QR50/person and can be purchased at the door. Doors open at 7pm and the performances start at 9pm. More information here.
What are your plans for the weekend? Thoughts?