Dubai: Dubai residents and visitors of all nationalities and age groups are being entertained at five most-frequented shopping malls through a variety of edutainment programmes, including the International Food Carnival, as part of the DSS-2006 Food Surprises theme week ending July 12.

The programme is aimed at entertaining the public along with health education and represents selected foods from different countries, including internationally popular dishes like burgers, pizzas and shawarma.

 The parade involves 10 artists in addition to three musicians.
 
The International Food Carnival is being held at Mall of the Emirates, Mercato, Deira City Centre, Ibn Battuta, and BurJuman Centre each evening from 5 to 10pm.

Artists, attired in colourful attires representing different dishes, moves around in music parades in each mall, attracting attention of the passers-by in large numbers.
 
Families and children stop by to take photographs with the characters for posterity.

 Food Surprises theme week is organised by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) as part of the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS-2006).

More than 600 chefs from 42 hotels of five and four-star categories are behind the themed week activities. The Food Surprises week has an impressive lineup of more than 300 activities.
 
DTCM Manager Events and Chairman of Food Surprises Committee, Marwan Bin Beyat, said, "Variety is the spice of life and what we are presenting will certainly please all."

Beyat added, "It has been our endeavour to make this year's events attractive to all."