QL Special: 11 things to do this weekend

Qatar Living is approaching its 11th anniversary and we are continuing with out series of posts to celebrate eleven years of contributing to Qatar's community.

We thank our readers for the continuous support, and look forward to celebrating many more joyous years!

Here is a comprehensive list of things you can do this weekend in Qatar. How many are you planning to check out?

1. HBKU Bazaar

Check for the new HBKU Bazaar this weekend from 6-8 October at the Student Centre HBKU campus in Education City.
There will be over 30 vendors that will revolve around food, fashion, art and much more. The Bazaar is family-friendly with activities for children including cupcake decorating, ceramic painting, bowling and an arcade.

Bazaar timings:

Thursday 11am – 9pm
Friday 3pm – 9pm
Saturday 3pm-9pm
Entrance: Free (Public Event)

2. Splash Water Park Katara

Splash Water Park is open till 1 November and features several exciting activities like slides, rides and competitions in September. Water slides, water blobs, water wheel, water Saturn, water seesaw, water iceberg, water park city, flying fishing boats, water trampoline, water volleyball, banana boat, bumper ball, zipline, inflatable tubes, bubble soccer, 50m slip slide, paddle boat, fun city, inflatable pool, water park city, inflatable football fields, as well as sunset activities, beach concert, party at the beach, and the fire show are all available and open to the public.

3. Garage Gallery

The Artists in Residence exhibition is a culmination of an intensive nine-month programme, featuring works by eighteen local contemporary artists who have been working in the artist's studios and spaces at the Fire Station since September 2015.

The exhibition showcases new work and projects created by the artists during their residency period, shedding light on the development of their innovative ideas and diverse studio practices. Photographic, sculptural, and installation based artworks fill the Garage Gallery and showcase these talented artists.

4. Focus on Qatar

The second edition of Focus on Qatar, a series dedicated to celebrating the vision and talent of filmmakers working in Qatar will take place this weekend, starting 6 October. The three days of cinema and events shine a spotlight on the on-going growth of the Qatari film industry.

The series opens with a collection of short documentary films. Following this will be the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel film 'Cities of Anxiety' and two panel discussions which look into the state of documentary filmmaking in the Gulf region, and highlight the next generation of documentary filmmakers.

All screenings and panels take place at Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium are free and open to the public. You must reserve a ticket for admission. For more information.

5. MIA Bazaar

The Bazaar will be held weekly every Saturday till end of April 2017. With a vibrant mix of around 150 stalls, MIA Park Bazaar is a modern version of the old souq tradition. You can browse and buy handcraft, accessories, paintings, clothing, food, jewellery, photography and art. So if you're looking for interesting or unusual gifts, the bazaar offers a wealth of options for both young and old.

Times: 10 am till 7 pm.

6. Turn off the Light

A French dance crew known as "Turn off the light" will be performing on 6 October at the Qatar National Theatre off Corniche, as part of their regional tour. The performances start at 7:30pm and will include dances with a blend of hip-hop and calligraphy, among others.

The event is hosted by the French Institute in Qatar and is free and open to all, although seats are limited. To register, send an email to [email protected]

7. Swimming World Cup

The FINA Swimming World Cup will take place this week between 8 and 9 October with around 140 swimmers competing from around the world. The fifth edition of the annual event will be at Hamad Aquatic Center.

One of the highlights of the event will be the chance to see four Olympic gold medallists competing in Doha.
The heats take place in the mornings, from 10am while the finals are held from 6pm daily. Race schedules can be found online and tickets can be purchased from Q-Tickets.com for QR20.

8. World Cycling Championship

For the first time in Qatar, the UCI Road Cycling World Championships will take place in Doha from 9 -16 October 2016. More than 1,000 cyclists from 75 countries, and over 5,700 participants, will be celebrating the spirit of cycling. The races take place at some of Qatar's most iconic locations, such as Aspire Zone, Qatar Foundation, Lusail, and The Pearl-Qatar.

There will a fanzone as well. For more details, check here.

9. Filipino Food Fiesta

Discover the exotic flavours from the Philippines at the Filipino Food Fiesta till 25 October at Hwang, Intercontinental Doha The City. A rich menu of traditional dishes, all curated by international celebrity Chef Michelle Adrillana, promises an authentic experience from the diverse archipelago in Southeast Asia.
For more information and reservations, call: +974 4015 8888

10. Treasures of China

Terracotta soldiers from the First Emperor's Terracotta Army will be on show at the Museum of Islamic Art where visitors will get the chance to meet the warriors who guarded a hidden empire. The exhibition will display 101 pieces dating from the Neolithic period to the Qing Dynasty, spanning over 5,000 years of China's history.

Potteries, bronzes, jades, porcelains, gold, silver, enamel and many other Chinese treasures will be on show, selected from 11 museums and heritage institutions from across China.

The exhibition is on till 7 January.

11. Collective Exhibit

Anima Gallery is housing the Collective Exhibition 2016 until 30 October 2016. The exhibition features nine contemporary artists from Lebanon, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, Spain and Iran. Anima Gallery is located at the Pearl, Qatar.

So what are your plans for this weekend?