Doha Festival City celebrates 1st anniversary

Doha Festival City (DHFC) marked its first anniversary on Thursday with an "explosive cake cutting" ceremony at the destination's Centre Court, and launching a series of celebrations throughout the year.

A huge cake, which stood at 3m high, cast confetti sparkles over the audience who also joined DHFC's senior officials and employees in a one-of-a-kind festivity.

To say thank you, customers also received surprise gifts from VOX cinema, Toys R Us and Borders.

As part of its first anniversary celebrations, DHFC is set to host a special concert on May 10, which will feature a star performer set to be announced in the coming weeks.

“Following a hugely positive first year which has included 375 successful openings, the launch of our outdoor leisure trail and numerous events for our visitors, we wanted to celebrate by giving back to the community, through our first ‘shop and win’ campaign," DHFC's senior marketing manager May Marzooq said.

DHFC is also set to open four of its 'much-anticipated' theme parks this year, bringing 'a number of firsts' to Qatar and providing its residents with 'unique and fun-filled entertainment offerings'.Angry Birds World, a 'first-of-its-kind' facility in the Middle East, is a combination of indoor and outdoor park, which will feature more than 35 rides spread over a 12,000sqm area.

Designed exclusively for teenagers and adults, the Virtuocity park offers an immersive digital experience while the Snow Dunes, Qatar’s first indoor snow park, will feature a 'cutting-edge snow-making system'.Juniverse, an ‘edutainment’ park with more than 45 role play activities and rides, is also scheduled to open soon on a 6,000sqm area at DHFC.

The four theme parks are expected to attract a large number of domestic and foreign visitors, helping put Qatar on the map in terms of the variety of retail and entertainment 'not seen anywhere in the Gulf region'.DHFC’s 4.5km ‘Outdoor Leisure Trail,’ which opened in October last year, is also providing families and fitness lovers with a 'unique tracktarget="_blank"'>