Hello, friends. It's Wednesday, Oct. 21. Halloween is next week, so most events and activities I come across in my research are, unsurprisingly, geared toward the festival.
What do we have for you? Well, details on a baby expo, a bull-and-brunch event, and a month of fitness starting Oct 31. We also have something or the other in six emirates this week, from toddler clay in Abu Dhabi to esports in Sharjah.
So without further ado, let’s go!
THIS WEEKEND
100 BAKERS, ONE BULL, AND A MONSTER MOVIE
Cookie Haul Dubai's monthly cookie buffet is back with 100+ bakers and thousands of cookies. Bring your own tin to fill. Sun Oct 25, from 12pm, ages 5 and up. Gooder, Alserkal Avenue
George the Bull Sunday Brunch A cowboy brunch with a movie premiere, magic show, treasure hunt and a playroom, while parents get table service. Sun Oct 25, 12–6pm, ages 3–8. Rodeo Drive, Ibn Battuta Gate
CINEMINI Monsters, Inc. on Saturday, Hotel Transylvania on Sunday, at a sensible morning hour. Oct 24–25, 11:45am, ages 5–10. Cinema Akil, Alserkal Avenue
LEGOLAND A new sound-and-light show at Miniland, where a 17-metre LEGO Burj Khalifa towers over 20 million bricks. Open daily, ages 2–12, AED 295 online or AED 330 at the gate. Dubai Parks and Resorts
FOR THE LITTLE ONES
BABY EXPO, PETTING ZOO, CLAY, SOME INDOOR FUN
Baby & Kids Expo — Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City
The one we teased last week: 450+ baby and kids brands, Magic Phil on stage, workshops and parenting talks. Thu Oct 22 to Sat Oct 24, babies to age 8, from AED 55, kids under 12 free with a ticketed adult. Tickets
LEGO DUPLO, Let's Start Building — Explorers, City Centre Mirdif
Big bricks for small hands, with no instructions or set designs. Toddlers build whatever they imagine and make up the story as they go. Through Oct 31, daily 10am–10pm, ages 1.5–5. More
Art Studio Clay Play — Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi
Storytelling, clay and mixed media, not just for kids, but for teen and adults.
Learn more
YouPlay — Mina Al Arab, Ras Al Khaimah
RAK's new indoor playground has rides, VR games and arcades, with shade and snacks for parents. Sun–Thu 12–10pm, Fri–Sat 1–11pm, ages 3–10. Info
Petting Farm — Al Dhaid, Sharjah
Farm animals and a cafe, next to Fili heritage souq and a fort. Sat–Thu 9am–6pm, Fri 2–6pm, ages 1–7, free. See more
Funzone — Marsa Ajman
Free shows, prizes and costumed characters, with free entry to the Fun Zone area only. Ages 3–8, check show times first. Info
BEYOND Dome — Dubai Festival City Mall
Lie back in a 360-degree dome and swim with turtles on Expedition Reef, or tour the solar system and meet dinosaurs. Shows run 25 to 55 minutes. Fri–Sun, ages 3 and up, from AED 75. Book
TEENS AND TWEENS
KPOP, COMICS AND ANIME, WATER IN THE DESERT
Gong Cha Opening Party — BurJuman, Dubai K-pop crew The Pixies perform for the brand's first UAE store, with free merch, a photo booth, tattoos, and a claw machine. Fri Oct 23, from 5pm, ages 10–17. Info
The Twilight Saga — Reel Cinemas, Dubai Mall Team Edward or Team Jacob, back on the big screen for the teen who found the books on your shelf 😀 Oct 15–29, ages 13 and up. Book
Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference — Aljada, Sharjah Esports brackets in Smash Bros (Fri), FC 27 (Sat) and Tekken 8 (Sun), AED 7,500 prizes each, plus creature-design workshops on Gulf folklore. Oct 22–25, ages 12 and up. Register
(By the way, 90% passes to the conference have been sold out!..so act soon)
XDubai Pump Track — Meydan, Dubai Scooters, bikes, skates, and rollerblades roll the loop here. Helmets required. Free early mornings, paid slots later.
All ages More
Desert E Jet — Al Badayer, Sharjah Go-karting on water in the desert, ten laps of drifting and splashing. Fun, perhaps an occasional treat! AED 250.
Ages 12 and up. Info
ETCETERA
FREE AND CHEAP FINDS
MINT Market is free to enter, 10am–8pm: Villa Centro Spinneys on Wednesdays, Layan Community Spinneys on Thursdays, Marina Walk (indoors) on Saturdays. Thrift for Good brings pre-loved items Oct 24.
Readles Immersive fairy tale museum, Dubai Mall: AED 29 instead of AED 136.45, Oct 24–25 only, ages 3–8.
Free kids' bike servicing at Deerfields Mall, Abu Dhabi, Oct 23 to Nov 22.
Suhaila Lake, Hatta: free lakeside camping with BBQ stations, open 24/7.
Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial: free across the city through Nov 15, ages 8 and up.
Desert pop-ups. If you’re into desert pop-ups, or don’t know what it means. Some of these guys have real kid-appeal: kayaking, paddleboarding, mangrove tours, camels, fire pits, fire shows, falconry and sandboarding. Sounds like the family would love it.
DUBAI FITNESS CHALLENGE: 10 DAYS TO GO
Thirty minutes a day, Oct 31 to Nov 29, free to join. Register
Dubai Ride Dress Your Ride — Sheikh Zayed Road Decorate a bike or dress up, with a Best Family Costume prize and up to AED 10,000 across four categories. Sun Nov 1, routes open 6:15am, ages 6 and up, free with registration. Read More.
Dubai T100 Triathlon Weekend — Al Mamzar Pros race at the event's new home, with sprint and relay options for amateurs. Nov 13–15, ages 14 and up to race. Info
PLANNING AHEAD
OPERA, FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, A HUNGRY CATERPILLAR
Korean Culture Festival — B1 Mall, Al Barsha K-pop, cuisine, calligraphy and beauty. Nov 6–8, 10am–10pm, ages 10–17, free. Info
Children's Biennale — Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi The region's first outdoor children's biennale, with eight interactive installations of touch, sound and light. Nov 6 to Dec 6, ages 3–12, free. More
The Very Hungry Caterpillar — Meyana Theatre, Jumeirah Beach Hotel Nov 8 sold out, so a new show was added. Tue Nov 10, 4pm, ages 1 and up. Details.
They also have shows, Nov 6 & 7, at the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi
Diwali, Festival of Lights — Dubai Holding communities Rangoli, henna, live entertainment and festive treats. Info
The Phantom of the Opera — Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi Next year, but putting it out there. Info
In case you missed it from last week: Dubai Safari Park is open daily 9am–5:30pm, the Dubai Card Show runs Oct 23–24 at Studio City, free, and Ripe Market is back at Academy Park every weekend.
That's your week. What are you going to do? A baby thing? A teen thing? Or like me, a Sunday with a cookie tin 😉
— Parves
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