Fab festive markets for families in Dubai

WAFI MALL’s DECEMBER TO REMEMBER: The Wafi Santa is always one of the favourites, and this year they have an entire Santa’s workshop to explore, as well as the usual traditional festive market, full of tasty treats and lovely present ideas. Tickets grant you access to the workshop – which is full of arts and crafts activities to enjoy - as well as a framed photo with Santa and a gift. Every few hours Santa will read stories to the children in English and in Arabic, and there’s even a life-sized snow globe, which kids can go inside to take pictures and videos. Every ticket purchase includes a booklet of promotions and discounts which can be redeemed at several restaurants and stores within the mall. DETAILS: A December to Remember at Wafi will open to all on December 3 from 3pm – 9:30 and December 4 – 24 from 8:30am – 9:30pm. In order to accommodate everybody, your tickets for the event can be purchased at: https://www.eticketing.ae/a-december-to-remember-at-wafi-mall.html

NAKHEEL MALL’S ROOFTOP FESTIVE VILLAGE: Nakheel Mall, Palm Jumeirah has transformed its rooftop into a Winter Wonderland, offering a variety of festive entertainment including a free Santa meet and greet, a market full of gorgeous gifts, a fun play area for the kids complete with Toy Factory Workshops, a winter-wonderland ice rink, and a 13-metre Festive tree and live music every day at the entrance of Santa’s hideout. It also features food and crafted gift pop ups by Ripe Market. DETAILS: Time: 2pm - 10pm on weekdays and 12pm - 10pm weekends (Thursday Friday Saturday), every day from 10 December 2020 – 2 January 2021, at Nakheel Mall Rooftop, free to enter.

MOE FESTIVE MARKET: Mall of the Emirates’ first ever festive market overlooks the magical snowy slopes of Ski Dubai and is held in collaboration with Ripe Market. This unique festive market is made of 19 vendors with a rich range of festive food and beverage favourites and holiday-themed trinkets and gifts. Guests and visitors to Mall of the Emirates will also be allowed to donate their SHARE rewards points to the Emirati Red Crescent in order to help vulnerable members of society and ensure everyone gets to enjoy a truly great and memorable festive season. Free entry, running daily until 24 December 2020.

RIPE FESTIVE MARKET: Ripe market has gone crazy for Chrimbo this December, and until 26 December will be offering all the ingredients of a traditional European festive market, including the usual line-up of excellent artisan retailers selling stunning craftware and gifts, a Santa’s Grotto, photos with Father Christmas, buying real Christmas trees, tree lighting ceremony, gingerbread making, cookie decorating, workshops and much more. Meanwhile parents can relax, enjoy the festive food and beverage, and listen to the seasonal songs. DETAILS: Ripe market at Police Academy Park, Umm Suqeim, Fridays 9am-7pm, Saturdays 10am-7pm, until 26 December. Dh5 entry to the park.

DESERT FESTIVE MARKET BAB AL SHAMS: Desert hotel Bab Al Shams has transformed its garden into a decadent desert wonderland, featuring a stunning 40-foot Christmas tree, 20 wonderful Christmas stalls full of trinkets and keepsakes to buy for loved ones, a meet and greet with Santa, and loads of delicious F&B offerings including mulled wine, hot chocolate and minced pies. DETAILS: Al Forsan Garden,12 December to 20 December 2020.

SOUK MADINAT WINTER WONDERLAND: The popular Winter Wonderland is back for 2020, where families can enjoy a central Festive Garden with traditional stalls, choral carol singing and garden games, outdoor movie nights featuring holiday favourites like Home Alone and The Grinch, kids crafting workshops and a Santa’s Grotto between 10 – 26 December. Entrance to Santa’s Grotto will be free and manned by elves, where children will be able to enjoy the magic of Christmas daily from 4pm to 7pm. The central courtyard will also be transformed Santa’s workshop with a packed schedule of kids workshops and art stations from 10 to 26 December, running between 12pm to 10pm. Activities include canvas painting, string art, creation of DIY snow globe jars; decoupage with Christmas themed cut-outs, and painting sessions where kids can paint their own Christmas house, and more.

SANTA’S ISLAND AT BLUEWATERS: Santa’s Island is back at Bluewaters, where you can enjoy drone light shows, live musical performances, roaming entertainers, a range of festive pop-up stores and retail offers, as well as a dedicated arts and crafts area for children. DETAILS: From 10-26 December, Bluewaters Island.

WINTER WONDERLAND AT JBR: Winter Wonderland at JBR features an all-new digital pavilion, several street performances, a glice-skating rink, a visit from Santa, as well as a wonderful market organized by Tiny Bean Events. The immersive multimedia show creates a realm of wonder using 360 projections with holograms. Enjoy a magical 15-minute walk through a narrated ‘Journey to the North Pole’, complete with twinkling palaces, lollipop trees and snow-capped forests. Adding to the magical setting are the incredible decorations that include thousands of lights, Christmas trees, life-size toy soldiers – and constant snowfall to add. The festive village also includes a variety of fun activities for the little ones, including a glice-skating rink, bouncy castle and slide, and Build A Bear stations. Food kiosks, set up along the walkway, offer festive favourites like mulled grape (non-alcohol), hot apple and cranberry pie, grilled raclette cheese and roast beef sandwiches, baked potatoes and turkey sausages, and hot chocolate with a selection of toppings. DETAILS: Entry for a single activity from Dh28, all activities from D123. Family packages for four from Dh463, digital pavilion show can be accessed separately for Dh70pp. Tickets must be purchased online in advance. From 12 Dec until 7 Jan, 12pm to 10pm weekdays, until 12am weekends.

DUBAI FESTIVAL CITY WINTER WONDERLAND: A host of festive retailers and Christmassy food kiosks await at The Festive Experience in Dubai Festival City, which also features a festive maze, enchanted polar bear valley, sing-a-longs, live performances, Gingerbread House workshops and a Santa’s Grotto. The enchanted Polar Bear Valley takes you on a magical walk through beautiful ever green fir trees, snow drifts, polar bears and reindeers to get to the Festive Market which features a huge tree, as well as a Santa’s Grotto with meet and greet available (through COVID-compliant screen, daily from 4pm, Dh50 for photo souvenir). A tree lighting ceremony every day at 6pm will feature snowfall and hourly sing-along performances, there will be carnival rides, festive jugglers and mimes. DETAILS: AT Dubai Festival City, from 6 to 29 December, 4pm to 10pm from Sunday to Wednesday and 4pm to 11pm from Thursday to Saturday, free entry and most entertainment is free.