Visitors flock to Entertainment City at DECC

Qatar Summer Festival (QSF) 2016 has seen a large turnout of local and foreign visitors since its opening on August 1.Organised by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), the month-long event features an array of indoor entertainment shows, live performances and shopping promotions aimed at showcasing Qatar as a family destination. The Entertainment City at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) received more than 40,000 visitors in just six days, and many more people are expected to visit the place due to its growing popularity among families and children.Thrill rides, different games (skill, interactive and life-size), stage shows and other attractions have proved to be crowd-pullers at the 29,000sqm entertainment facility, the main venue of this year’s QSF.Qatar Foundation’s National Reading Campaign, in partnership with QTA, has also engaged visitors in reading through a number of fun-filled games and activities daily at the City.The Pearl-Qatar, another QSF venue, started entertaining visitors with its two-day “Musical Clowns” last night, running from 8.50pm to 9.25pm. It will also host a two-day ‘Marching Band’ activity from August 19 to 20 and a ‘Marine Parade’ from August 26 to 27 with the same timings.Like the participating malls, select stores at The Pearl-Qatar are offering sales promotions to shoppers who are given a chance to win cash and prizes.“The hospitality and retail sectors at The Pearl-Qatar will be actively engaged in ensuring the success of the August festivities themed as ‘Colour Your Summer’, aiming to entertaining visitors,” The Pearl-Qatar’s master developer United Development Company (UDC) said in a statement.“With a wide range of live performances, shopping promotions and entertainment activities, residents, visitors and their families can make the most of unbeatable deals across the month-long annual countrywide fiesta,” UDC added.Shoppers at the participating malls (Ezdan, Lagoona, Landmark, Al Khor, Hyatt Plaza, City Center Doha, Dar Al Salam and Gulf) and The Pearl-Qatar get a coupon for every purchase worth QR200 at several shops and boutiques.The next raffle draw will be held at Dar Al Salam Mall on August 18 at 7.30pm.Many shops and boutiques at these malls have recorded an increase in sales in the past two weeks due to the influx of shoppers, it is learnt.The third edition of QSF also featured a sports entertainment event dubbed ‘Street Madness’ yesterday, which draw a huge crowd at Al Gharafa Sports Club.Social media influencers, comedians and celebrities from around the region participated in a mini football league of six teams and enthralled spectators with their performances on stage.Featuring 18 popular stand-up comedians, QTA is also set to welcome visitors for a “weekend of laughter” at the Doha Comedy Festival from August 18 to 20 at Qatar National Convention Centre.