Browsing 'summer festival' News

byReem Saad
Photos
byReem Saad
Photos
Qatar Summer Festival
Photo for illustrative purposes only.
Qatar Summer Festival 2016

All photos by Reem Saad

Halfway through Qatar’s annual summer festival, Entertainment City is proving to be this year’s most popular attraction.

In its first week alone, the air-conditioned Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) attracted more than 40,000 visitors, the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) said.

According to many visitors, this year’s Entertainment City is a step up from last year’s offerings, due to new features like real-life Angry Birds and Candy Crush games, larger slides and the venue’s size, which is double that of last year’s.

But some young adults were disappointed to see that once again, the summer festival’s activities and events were only for children.

Qatar Summer Festival

Reem Saad / Doha News

Qatar Summer Festival

Speaking to Doha News, 20-year-old Palestinian expat Lana Yasser said that with Doha’s traffic congestion and soaring summer heat, opportunities for fun are very limited.

“We don’t usually travel during the summer and it gets boring. This is fun, but for my four- and seven-year-old siblings.

We want roller coasters and drop tower rides like they previously did a couple of years back. I really hope that for future purposes they host events that cater to both adults and children,” Yasser added.

Offerings

EC’s various thrill rides, video games and food cost anywhere between QR5 to QR20, and prizes for winners include plush bananas, Minions, doughnuts, teddy bears and round furry monsters.

Qatar Summer Festival

Reem Saad / Doha News

Qatar Summer Festival

Additionally, an entertainment stage hosts several daily performances from 2pm to 9:30pm. This week’s lineup included a magic show and The Smurfs: A Most Smurftastic Day show, among others.

Meanwhile, a mini-food court of 26 different restaurants offered different cuisines, including Arabic, American, Chinese, Indian and Turkish meals.

During a recent visit this week, excited kids could be seen eagerly running around the venue and pointing at several games, yelling “I want this one!” at their parents.

Pearl-Qatar

Around town, there are also events going on at several malls.

And at the Pearl-Qatar, roaming musical acts and parades at both Porto Arabia and Medina Centrale are taking place every Friday from 6:30pm to 9:30pm through August.

Last night on the island, several men dressed in colorful clown costumes marched around with drums, trumpets, saxophones and juggling balls, waving at passersby.

However, due to the humidity, not many turned up for the Pearl’s entertainment.

Thoughts?

byReem Saad
Photos
byReem Saad
Photos
Summer Festival 2016

All photos by Reem Saad

Bumper cars, a reading maze, real-life Angry Birds and Candy Crush games, slides and Go Karting are among the more than 100 activities on offer at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), starting tonight.

The center has been transformed as part of the Qatar Tourism Authority’s monthlong Summer Festival, and will begin welcoming visitors at 7pm.

The festival will take place at various sites around Qatar, including the Qatar National Convention Center, the Corniche and several malls.

It aims to attract more tourists from around region, as well as provide entertainment to residents during the normally quiet month of August.

Prices and offerings

Yesterday, the media got a sneak peek of the DECC’s Entertainment City.

It is double the size of last year’s EC, with 30,000 square meters of space holding more than 100 games, including 26 thrill rides and 75 video games.

There’s also a mini-food court with 26 different restaurants, live stage performances and a Play Doh area for kids.

Summer Festival 2016

Reem Saad / Doha News

Summer Festival 2016

There will be an entry fee of QR15 per person (kids under two years old are free) and game tickets will start at QR5.

Visitors can also purchase a VIP ticket for QR120/person for unlimited entertainment for a day.

Starting Aug. 2, Entertainment City will be open daily from 1pm to 11pm, and on Fridays it will open until midnight.

Other summer fest events

To mark the opening and closing of the summer festival, a fireworks show will take place at the Corniche tonight at 9pm, and on Aug. 31 at the same time.

Meanwhile, at the Pearl-Qatar, there will be entertainment activities, roaming musical acts and parades at both Porto Arabia and Medina Centrale from 6:30pm to 9:30pm every Friday and Saturday of this month.

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Takeshi M. Fukushima/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Elsewhere, QTA will host a three-day comedy festival at the QNCC from Aug. 18 to Aug. 21.

Confirmed performers include local comedian Hamad Al-Amari, as well as renowned pros Bader Saleh, Fadi Alshehri and Ahmed Al Shammari.

The show will be in Arabic and attendees must be 13 years and up. Ticket prices range QR145 to QR1,000 and can be purchased at all Virgin Megastore branches or online.

For more on the summer fest, see our five things to know story here.

Thoughts?

byReem Saad
Life
byReem Saad
Life
Qatar Summer Festival 2015

Chantelle D'mello

Qatar Summer Festival 2015

Live comedy acts, an entertainment zone for families, hotel discounts and fireworks are being planned for this year’s summer festival, which begins Monday, Aug. 1.

The event aims to attract more tourists from outside of the country, as well as provide entertainment to residents during the normally quiet month of August.

Speaking to media yesterday, the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) said the festival will run through Aug. 31.

Events will be held at the Corniche, the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC), Al Gharafa Sports Club and malls across the country.

Here are five things to know about what’s coming up:

Fireworks

For the first time, fireworks on the Corniche will bookend the monthlong festival.

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Takeshi M. Fukushima/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Shows will take place during both the first and last days of “Color Your Summer” (on Aug. 1 and Aug. 31) at 9pm.

Entertainment City

Children’s activities, including games, rides and live stage performances, will be hosted at the DECC from 1pm to 11pm daily. On Fridays, Entertainment City will remain open until midnight.

Qatar Summer Festival 2015

Chantelle D'mello

Qatar Summer Festival 2015

This year’s Entertainment City will be double the size of 2015’s, with 30,000 square meters of space.

Offerings include inflatable games, an entertainment stage, video games, Go Karting and a food court.

There will be an entry fee of QR15 per person and game tickets will start at QR5. Visitors can also purchase a VIP ticket for QR120/person for unlimited entertainment.

Doha Comedy Festival

The QNCC will hold a three-day festival that features 18 different stand-up comedians from the Middle East, running from Aug. 18 through Aug. 21.

Doha Comedy Festival 2016

Supplied

Doha Comedy Festival 2016

Confirmed performers include local comedian Hamad Al-Amari, as well as renowned pros Bader Saleh, Fadi Alshehri and Ahmed Al Shammari.

The show will be in Arabic and attendees must be 13 years and up. Ticket prices range QR145 to QR1,000 and can be purchased at all Virgin Megastore branches or online.

‘Street Madness’

This men’s only competition will feature several sports activities including short football matches led by social media influencers, with in-between break performances by comedians and artists.

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Osama Saeed/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

The event will take place on Friday, Aug. 12 at the Al Gharafa Sports Club.

Ticket prices start at QR25 and are being sold at all Virgin Megastore branches.

Hotel and shopping offers

According to QTA, collaborations with hotels have doubled in number since last year’s festival, now extending to more than 50 venues across the country, including five-star hotels and deluxe apartments.

Some of the hotels with offers include the Sheraton Grand, Ritz Carlton, La Cigale, Mövenpick and Radisson Blu.

Special packages will include a “pay for two nights and stay for three” at hotels. Some venues will also offer free breakfast, late check-outs and free transportation from Hamad International Airport (HIA).

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Qatar Tourism Authority/Facebook

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Shopping promotions will be available at the Lagoona, Landmark, Ezdan, Gulf, Al Khor, Hyatt Plaza and City Center malls all month long.

The malls will also feature weekly raffle draws with an offer of 15 prizes per week, among them four Jaguar cars and cash prizes worth QR800,000.

The raffles will be held on every Thursday of the month, starting with Al Khor Mall during the first week, and Hyatt Plaza Mall, Dar Al Salam Mall and Lagoona Mall for the following weeks, respectively. All raffle draws will begin at 7:30pm.

Who’s planning to go next month? Thoughts?