DUBAI - Little ones are going to have a lot of fun this weekend at the Dubai Mall’s Waterfront Promenade.

The Weekend Children’s Festival to be held from 3pm to 9pm on Friday and Saturday is a family leisure attraction that will appeal to the young ones. Featuring entertainers including jugglers, clowns, face painters and stilt walkers as well as game stalls, pony rides and children’s movies, the event further establishes the mall as the must-visit destination for families in the city.

Supported by Emaar Education, the festival will feature an array of stalls, including food and beverage stands. Apart from various activities tailored for children, special kids’ movies will be telecast on the large multimedia screens located at the atrium of the mall.

There will be special previews of KidZania and SEGA Republic, some of the leisure attractions to open at the
mall, shortly. Yousif Al Ali, general manager of The Dubai Mall, said, “The Children’s Festival will complement the successful leisure attractions of the mall such as Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Dubai Ice Rink and The Waterfall. “In the coming months, the mall will unveil newer leisure concepts for children such as KidZania, an edutainment concept for children; SEGA Republic, an indoor themed park; and REEL Cinemas, the 22-screen cineplex.” The Children’s Festival runs parallel to ‘International Village’, a two-week cultural and retail festival at Emaar Boulevard. Featuring 41 pavilions, International Village, which showcases an array of products from nearly 20 countries, began on April 17 and will continue till May 2, from 4pm to 11pm on weekdays and from 4pm to midnight on weekends and holidays.

The festival will have on display products, artifacts and general paraphernalia from countries panning Africa and Europe, and India, China, South Korea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tunisia, Vietnam, the UAE and several countries in the Middle East. Ahmad Al Matrooshi, managing director — UAE, Emaar Properties, said: “With over 180 nationalities living and working together, Dubai is the cultural hub of the region and Emaar is highlighting that cultural plurality with the International Village at Emaar Boulevard. The event is not only our tribute to the city’s cosmopolitan ethos but also aims to strengthen its tourist appeal while establishing Downtown Burj Dubai as a must-visit destination.”

The International Village will have pavilions set up along the Emaar
Boulevard and will showcase a collection of jewellery, handicrafts and artifacts, clothing and traditional dresses, home accessories, crystals and silverware, perfumes and food items,
among others.

(Published on http://www.khaleejtimes.com on 23 April 2009)