The fifth edition of Qatar Summer Festival (QSF) will kick off on June 14 and continue until August 31, the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has announced.

The QSF, which is being held under the theme ‘Colour Your Summer,’ is the country’s longest festival and will start its first week with special Eid Al Fitr celebrations, reported Qatar Tribune.

“The summer festivities form a key part of our efforts to energise the tourism sector through diversifying Qatar’s events calendar and tourist source markets,” QTA’s festivals and tourism events director Mashal Shahbik was quoted as saying by Gulf Times.

From the first to fifth days of Eid Al Fitr, QSF’s participating malls will put on free special entertainment shows for shoppers and families. 

In addition, the following shows will be performed three times a day on rotation basis at all participating malls: The Fluffy Bears (20 minutes); Aladdin & The Genie (25 minutes); Beauty & The Beast Adventure Parade (30 minutes); Madagascar: A Musical Adventure (45 minutes); and Disney Princesses Parade (45 minutes). 

For a flavour of local tradition, the Qatari Ardha dance (20 minutes) can also be enjoyed across malls this Eid. 

The QSF’s participating malls include Al Khor Mall, Al Mirqab Mall, B Square Mall, Doha Festival City, Gulf Mall, Hyatt Plaza, Landmark Mall and Mall of Qatar. 

Lagoona Mall is also participating with special World Cup activities, allowing shoppers to watch the tournament’s matches live.

Fun City

The QSF family favourite Fun Park will once again be open to the public at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. It will feature some incredible entertainment options including the world’s largest bouncy castle, an 18-hole mini-golf course, an ice skating rink, exciting rides, skill games, video games, as well as live entertainment shows. 

Visitors to the City will also be able to keep up with the World Cup excitement through while enjoying food, beverage and shopping options. It will be open daily from 2pm to 11pm. 

An individual entry ticket costs QR15 and a day pass is QR150. Individual game prices range from QR10 to QR35.

Retailers at 11 participating malls will be offering up to 50% discounts and special promotions.

For every QR200 spent at any of the outlets in QSF’s participating malls, shoppers can enter three raffle draws for a chance to win one of 27 cash prizes worth QR2m or a Lamborghini Hurricane (2018 model) super car.

FIFA World Cup fan zone 

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the Ministry of Culture and Sports (MCS) and Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) will join forces to launch a 2018 FIFA World Cup fan zone at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena this summer. 

Set to open on June 14 and run until July 15, the Qatar Fan Zone will be one of the key highlights of the fifth Qatar Summer Festival (QSF).

The fan zone will give people a taste of the atmosphere they can expect when Qatar hosts the next edition of the FIFA World Cup in 2022. 

Held in one of the country’s landmark multi-purpose indoor sports venues, the fan zone will screen live matches from the 2018 FIFA World Cup while offering visitors family-friendly entertainment, delicious food and numerous football-related activities.