AL AIN
Al Ain Palace Museum
Traditional games and workshops, on the second and third days of Eid Al Fitr. Highlights include a workshop on making clay incense burners, a traditional clothing photo studio, and folklore sessions. Call 03-7517755.
Al Jimi Mall, Al Ain
Three days of performances with acrobats, LED and magical box ballerina dance shows. There’s also a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory show, roaming face painters, balloon benders, stilt walkers, clowns and caricaturists. 9pm-midnight.
ABU DHABI
Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi
Stilt walkers, tannoura dance shows, clowns and balloonists, games, art corners, roaming magicians, a beauty station and food. All day, July 6 to 8.
Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi
The theme park will take on Eid decorations and host traditional shows and activities from across the GCC, and will stay open until 10pm from July 6-9. Expect Emirati Al Ayala, Harbia and Khaleeji dances, Al Jenadriyah dance from Saudi Arabia and Oman’s Al Az’i. There’s also a balloon twister, face painter, henna artist, falcon handler and a bubble performer, and an Eid crafts area. Those under 18 get a Dh10 Eidiyah voucher to use in the park. Dh230 (guests below 1.3 metres) and Dh275.
Splash Fest
Test your water-gun skills with this challenge, on the second and third days of Eid at Al Seef Resort & Spa by Andalus. There’s a prize for the team that performs best at the series of challenges, plus entertainment including appearances from the resort mascot Mr Clown and a bouncy castle. It’s free for those going to brunch at the Al Seef Summer Tent, Dh150 per person (children 6-12 Dh75 per child, those 6 years and under dine for free) . Call 056-4051039.
Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi
This week is a big one for Ninja Turtles’ fans, with the release of the latest film starring the four heroes on a half shell, and a live show at this mall during Eid. There’s a daily show and obstacle course, 4.30-10.30pm for four days from the first day of Eid. Tickets are Dh25 (Dh50 for VIP). Shops open daily 10am-2am (restaurants until 3am).
Yas Island
Fireworks on July 6 at 9pm beside du Forum and Yas Beach. Yas Waterworld has an Iftah Ya Simsin (Sesame Street) show starting July 7, with games and a DJ. Hours are extended starting July 7 (until October 7) until 10pm on Fridays and 8pm on Saturdays and weekdays.
DUBAI
BurJuman, Dubai
Tanoura dance performances (8pm and 9pm), Arabic coffee and dates from 7-10pm, and henna painting, 3-10pm, July 7-9.
The Dubai Mall
Musical maestros celebrate Eid Al Fitr at The Dubai Mall.
The Souk, The Village and the First Floor will be the stages for five daily performances by seven musicians from Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and Serbia, playing cello, accordion, bagpipes, harp, nay and an ouz-kora drums. The shows run from July 6-8, at noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm.
Dragon Mart, Dubai
Bugs Bunny is in town for daily performances of Looney Tunes’ Wun Wabbit Wun show, from the first day of Eid until July 11 (5.30pm, 7.45pm and 9pm). Other family activities at Dragon Mart 2 include workshops and activity zones (2-10pm) and a cupcake decorating and creative pretzels workshop (3-11pm).
Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai
Looney Tunes parade with favourite Looney Tunes characters, stilt-walkers, jugglers, a unicyclist and a marching band, 3-8pm daily from the first day of Eid until July 11. Also: Play-Doh Activity Zone (2-10pm in India Court) and Sweet Melodies Workshop (2-10pm in India Court and Persia Court).
Dubai Marina Mall
Take the kids to Dome Atrium, which will be turned into an interactive children’s play zone with an arts and crafts section and a soft play gym, games, singing and dancing sessions and puppet shows, starting from the first day of Eid and running until the end of Dubai Summer Surprises.
Mall of the Emirates
‘Those Funny People’, a show featuring giant puppets, five times a day from July 6-12.
City Centre Deira
Cat Choir, a show featuring two purring feline puppets. July 6-12.
City Centre Mirdif
Voca People perform. July 6-12.
City Centre Me’aisem
Sing the Beatles song ‘Hello and Goodbye’ in a virtual karaoke setting. July 6-12.
Dubai Festival City Mall
Activities at the mall include a mascot parade, traditional dancing, an oud player, breakdancing and an arts and crafts activity zone. Love pictures? Head to the free Eid photo booth at Festival Square. July 7-9.
Mercato
Check out the circus fiesta, with acrobats from the Beijing Chinese Circus, Italian comedy juggler Jacopo and kids circus workshops. July 6-August 20.
NORTHERN EMIRATES
Al Hamra Mall and Manar Mall, Ras Al Khaimah
Arts and crafts workshops, face painting, balloon benders and parades with jugglers and mascots, Emirati cane dancing and Far Eastern dances, 8.30-11.30pm.
Al Majaz Waterfront
Bubble-shows, face-painting, balloon-modelling, a Brazilian circus, for the first three days of Eid, 5pm to 9pm at Mini Splash Park.
Ramadan Village, Expo Centre Sharjah
A heritage village, food courts, health awareness programmes, quizzes, rides and games. 8pm-2am daily.
Going to the movies?
If you need to get your movie fix, there are a handful of films hitting theatres just in time for Eid, following a pause of new releases during Ramadan.
Independence Day: Resurgence (Tuesday)
Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Jessie T. Usher
Director: Roland Emmerich
20 years after the 1996 disaster epic Independence Day comes Independence Day: Resurgence, the story of what happens when alien battalions respond to a distress call and return to earth with a destructive gravitational weapon.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (Thursday)
Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett
Director: Dave Green
A sequel to the 2014 reboot, Out of the Shadows follows the Turtles as they face off with an even greater enemy than Shredder — the infamous Krang.
The Purge: Election Year (Thursday)
Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell
This horror sequel brings the concept of the Purge, an annual killing-free-for all, bang up to date with a US election-year setting.
