Daily performances at malls and a children’s musical at the Qatar National Convention Center are being planned for this year’s Eid Al Adha festivities, officials have announced.

The exact date of the holiday has yet to be declared, but is estimated to be around Sept. 11.

Under the theme “Capture Joy,” the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has helped organize a week of shows at several malls around town. These include Hyatt Plaza, City Center, Ezdan, Lagoona, Al Khor and Dar Al Salam malls.

The live entertainment at these venues includes Tarzan (City Center), Beauty & The Beast (Dar Al Salam), Flying Superkids (Al Khor Mall), Alvin and the Chipmunks (Ezdan Mall), Pirates from the Caribbean (Lagoona Mall) and Sinbad the Sailor (performed in Arabic at Hyatt Plaza).

In addition to stage shows, malls will host indoor parades and popular children’s characters.

Elsewhere, the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) near Education City will host Fafa Saves the Forest from Sept. 11-17. The show follows the adventures of friends who try to rebuild their forest after a storm.

Tickets cost QR150 to QR490/person and can be bought at Virgin Megastores or online.

Numbers booster

Qatar is counting on the Eid celebrations to boost visitor numbers this year. These were down 6 percent in the first half of this year from the same time in 2015 in part due to Ramadan, according to officials.

In a statement, a senior tourism official said this week that the Eid offerings will “further energize the hospitality and retail sectors” in Qatar.

Rashed Al Qurese, QTA’s chief marketing and promotion officer, added that the celebrations are part of Qatar’s strategy to grow and diversify its tourism sector.

During Eid Al Adha, special events and entertainment are also usually on offer at the Pearl-Qatar, Katara Cultural Village, the Aspire Zone and other venues.

Stay tuned for our comprehensive guide to enjoying the holiday soon. Thoughts?