Updated on Friday, Jan. 23 to note that the Color Run has been postponed.

This weekend, many of Qatar’s cultural hubs and sports complexes will be packed with unique activities and attractions including motor sport racing, theatrical performances and major concerts.

Here are our top picks:

Spring Festival

Souq Waqif’s annual Spring Festival kicks off on Friday, Jan. 23, bringing a plethora of family-oriented activities.

Running until Feb. 6, it will feature a dolphin show, camel and pony rides, clowns, drummers, circus performers, art and craft workshops as well as a live performance of Shaun the Sheep at Al Rayyan Theater.

Events run at intervals from 3:30pm to 10:30pm and take place on the main restaurant street, Souq Waqif Arts Center, Al-Ahmed Square, Al Rayyan Theater and Dolphin Show Square opposite Msheireb Hotel.

For a full schedule, timings, and parking spots, visit the festival’s website.

World Men’s Handball Championship

Preliminary round matches are well underway this week as handball teams from all over the world compete in Qatar.

Organizers have added a bonus for spectators attending some matches this weekend, recently announcing that international pop superstar Pharrell Williams will perform following the Thursday, Jan. 22 match at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall between Russia and Denmark.

Two day later at the same venue, Gwen Stefani will sing on Saturday Jan. 24 at the conclusion of a match between Denmark and Poland.

There are a handful of tickets remaining for both dates, with prices ranging from QR25 and QR500. Tickets can be bought online. For more information about the teams, schedule, and venues, visit the Qatar 2015 Handball website.

Auto sport championships

For a fast-paced racing experience, take a trip out of the city to watch three concurrent auto sport championships at the Losail International Circuit: the Porsche GT3 Cup, the Radical Middle East Cup and the Qatar Challenge.

Local and regional veteran, amateur and rookie drivers will compete in the two-day event for three separate titles.

The first race of the third round of the Porsche GT3 cup will take place on Friday, Jan. 23, at 3:20pm, followed by the fourth round of the Qatar Challenge on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 11:55am and the Radical Middle East Cup at 1:45pm.

The second race of the Porsche GT3 will then take place at 3:05pm, followed by the second Radical Middle East Cup race at 4:10pm. The event is free and open to the public.

Katara Festival

The second Katara Winter Festival, “Leshtah,” opens on Thursday, Jan. 22 at the Katara Esplanade.

Activities include educational theatrical performances, storytelling as well as workshops on science, falconry and agriculture. There will also be stalls featuring popular regional foods, games and a sand-making sculpture contest.

Events run from 4pm to 10pm, with the exception of the sand-sculpting activity, which runs from 10am to 5pm daily.

The five-day festival is free and open to the public. More information and a complete schedule is available online.

CAT Open Day

The Cat Assistance Team (CAT), a local feline support group, is hosting an open day at the Al Tamimi clinic this Saturday, Jan. 24, from 11am to 4pm.

Residents are invited to attend the event in support of CAT initiatives. Visitors can also enjoy baked goods, buy pet merchandise, accessories, books and handmade toys, as well as meet cats that up for adoption.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.

Art market

The eighth QatART Handmade Market will be held this Friday, Jan. 23, from 3pm to 9pm at the Katara Art Studios Courtyard (Building 19).

Organized by local handicrafts group QatART, the event will showcase locally made arts and crafts including clothes, jewelry, accessories, paintings, craft kits, bags, home decorations, cards, boxes and party supplies.

Workshops and crafting activities will also be held for attendees. The event is free and open to the public.

Bonus:

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  Color Run: Qatar’s first Color Run will be held this Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) has been postponed out of respect for the passing of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud. The first wave of runners leaves at 8:15am. Dubbed the “Happiest 5K on the Planet,” the run is an untimed 5km fun run in which participants are covered in colored powder at every kilometer mark. While online registration is now closed, organizers are selling a limited number of tickets, each costing QR140, today (Wednesday Jan. 21) from 3pm to 8pm at the QNCC. For more information, zones, parking, routes and other details, visit the event’s website.

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  Qatar Masters: Several of the world’s top golfers, including Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose, will be teeing off this weekend for the 18th Qatar Masters tournament. In addition to the golf, spectators can enjoy a concert headlined by British reggae/pop band UB40 on Friday. Single-day passes range in price from QR150 to QR250 and can be purchased through Virgin Megastores in person and online as well as at the Doha Golf Club and the Doha Rugby Football Club.

• University League Football Matches: The University League – a coalition of 12 local colleges and universities – will host its third-last match of the season this Thursday, Jan. 22, at 6pm. The match will be played at Pitch 3 at Qatar Foundation’s Recreation Center in Education City. The event is free and open to the public.

What are your plans this weekend? Thoughts?