As the city prepares to party it out for the rest of summer, here are our top picks of what to do, where to go and what to see during Dubai Summer Surprises
Walk on the wild side
Walk on the wild side at Dubai Festival City until August 8 as roaming characters donning wild animal costumes do their thing. The Animal Parade, featuring a gorilla biking inside a cage, an elephant, a tiger, a hippopotamus and a zebra, will roam the mall and produce animal sounds to grab your attention at 5pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm. Then, those cute online Moshi Monsters will entertain little shoppers during a fun meet-and-greet until August 9 at 5pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm daily. They will be back from August 15 to 25.
Fly high with Skylanders
For gaming enthusiasts, the popular dragons from Skylanders will roar to life at the World Premiere of Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure at City Centre Mirdif and City Centry Deira. The interactive live show will include a musical and will feature purple dragon hero, Spyro, who is set to soar across the stage and go head-to-gill with the brave and courageous Gill Grunt and his water cannon. Catch it at City Centre Mirdif from August 7–17 and at City Centre Deira from August 21–31 at 5pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm daily.
Watch Transformers battle it out
If you’ve still not met the robots from Transformers, head to Burjuman until August 9. Shake hands with the three legendary Cybertron inhabitants: Optimus Prime, Megatron and Bumblebee, and watch them in action or take pictures with the a yellow Camaro, similar to the one in the movie. There are three performances daily at 6pm, 7.30pm and 8.50pm, each followed by a meet-and-greet.
Help Pinocchio transform into a real boy
The famous wooden boy is preparing to team up with Jiminy Cricket, Gepetto, the Blue Fairy and the puppet master Mangiafuoco to present The Adventures of Pinocchio at Reef Mall from until August 16. There are shows daily — at 6pm and 8.45pm — featuring performances by circus acts, music and dance pieces woven around Pinocchio’s exciting journey to life.
Defying gravity
If you’re up for a bit of an adrenaline rush, don’t miss The Aerialist Show at Mall of the Emirates featuring three skilled aerialists taking to dizzying heights with their strength and flexibility. They’ll perform hoops, back flips and other acrobatic stunts until August 15 at 5pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm daily.
Groove to some jungle jive
Team up with your favourite Cartoon Network stars including Dexter, Dee Dee, Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls and Mojo Jojo, as they take you on an adventurous musical holiday to the jungles of Africa. Shows at 4.30pm, 6.30pm and 8pm, until August 17 in Mercato Mall.
Catch up with Modhesh
It’s summer in Dubai, so can Modhesh be far behind? This yellow star of the season is everywhere: You can catch him at the Modhesh family art exhibition from August 14-27 and then at meet-and-greet sessions, both at Ibn Battuta Mall.
From August 21 to 27, he’ll be the star of Modhesh Celebration Show at Burjuman, where he will joined on stage by six performers who will dance and sing along with him.
But of course, you can always catch him at Modhesh World at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, the venue is hosting the World Premiere of interactive experiences featuring one of our favourites — the Angry Birds Universe. There’s also an interactive experience related to the Transformers and more games, contests, activities and workshops. Modhesh World is open from 10am to 10pm, Saturday to Wednesday; 10am to midnight on Thursday; 3pm to midnight on Friday. Until September 8. Entry is Dh15.
Laugh-a-thon
Kuwaiti comedic troupe and Arabs Got Talent stars Sheyaab are in town from August 21-23 at City Centre Mirdif. These young guys dress up as really old men, imitating their behaviour, moves and dialects. Catch a laugh with Romeo, Mirshiego and Alijandro as they sing, dance and play various musical instruments. Daily shows. For timings, call 800 6422.
For the young geniuses
For the aspiring scientists, there’s the Dexter’s Laboratory Interactive Science Show at Dubai Festival City from August 13-20, featuring Dexter, an eight-year-old boy genius who has a secret laboratory. Unfortunately, his older sister, Dee Dee, always manages to gain access to it and delights in destroying his creations. Help them settle an argument via fun experiments with lots of science and magic. Three shows daily, each of 25 minutes duration. Call 04-2325444.
Learn style with Kimora
Fashion designer and reality star Kimora Lee Simmons will take part in a fashion session at The Dubai Mall on August 10 and judge a styling competition. The event will see Simmons engage the audience by taking questions in between each look, in a session co-hosted by Mohammad Sultan Al Habtoor. Three Dubai personalities will also outfit the models from head-to-toe for the style session, featuring clothing and accessories from Galeries Lafayette. For more information on the event, go to thedubaimall.com
Celebrating India
To celebrate India’s Independence Day on August 15, the Maa Tujhe Salaam variety show will entertainment audiences with more than 40 musical renditions covered by classically trained musicians and reality TV singing sensations from Indian TV as well as Bollywood singers. The line-up includes Harish Kumar, Angika Trivedi, Karan Purohit and Naina. At Shaikh Rashid Auditorium. Tickets start at Dh30. Go to dubaicalendar.ae.
Bollywood music, live
Vishal — Shekhar, the popular musical duo, are back for a live concert on August 29 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The two are known for their hit songs for Bollywood films such as Jhankaar Beats, Om Shanti Om, Salaam Namaste, Dus, Bluffmaster, Dostana, Ra.One, Student Of The Year, Chennai Express, Hasee Toh Phasee and many more. Tickets start at Dh100. Go to dubaicalendar.ae.
For more events and activities, go to summerisdubai.com.
