Dates for your diary

¥ Award-winning singer Celine Dion will perform live at a concert in Dubai on March 5 at the new Four Seasons Golf Club in Dubai Festival City. Tickets for event are: Platinum (front field) - Dh980, Gold (center field) - Dh660, Silver (rear field) - Dh425 and Silver (rear field). For details visit www.showbizme.com or contact 0097143662277.

¥ The Al Ain Classical Music Festival is set from March 6 to 16.

The festival's main attraction will be the first Arabic performance of Mozart's 'Don Giovani' opera performed by a cast of opera singers from Lebanon accompanied by 63 artists from the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra - one of Europe's most prominent orchestras. It will also feature the first Wagner concert recording made in the Arab world when Sony TV records a concert by Staatskapelle Dresden under the direction of renowned conductor Fabio Luisi.

Performances will be held across five venues - Al Ain's historic Al Jahili Fort and the town's Municipality Theatre and the Emirates Palace, National Theatre and ADMA Theatre in Abu Dhabi.

There will also be workshops with four of Europe's leading artistic directors - Cecilia Balestra, Carmelo Di Gennaro, Risto Nieminen and Gaston Fournier-Facio.

It will be open and free of charge for all on a first-booked basis and will cover a range of performing arts management issues. They will be held on March 9, 11 and 12 from 10am to 6pm in the ADMA-OPCO theatre.

For more details contact Bassem Terkawi on 0097124443000.

¥ The Dubai Desert Rock Festival will take place on March 7 and 8 at the AlSahra Desert Resort hosted by the Center Stage Management in Dubai. Bands performing include Korn, Slapshock, Machine Head, Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, Muse, Juliana Down, Nervecell, Marky Ramone, Velvet Revolver and Spoon Feedas. Also performing for both days will be the winner of the Shamal 'Battle of the Bands' that will be held a few days prior to the rock festival. Other attractions include a fire sculpture - BoneHead and BoneWheel, a suspended bar, slingshot, cable slide, skate park and an infusion dance tent with rock music DJs. To book tickets or more details contact 0097143390550 or email tickets@csmentertains.com.

¥ 'Pukka Up' at the BJ's in Adliya featuring Ibiza resident DJ Rob Wilder on March 12. he has featured on Hed Kandis, Summer mix, Twisted Disco, Summer Sampler and Classics albums amongst others. For details contact 39532530.

¥ Award winning Turkish Ney player Suleyman Erguner is set to perform at a Sufi concert to be held at the La Fontaine Contemporary Art Centre in Manama on March 13. He will be accompanied by his student and singer Murat Necipolu. Mr Erguner has written a book Ney Metod explaining the techniques of playing Ney. His albums include Erguner Ensemble Instrumantal-Choeur Musique Turque, Suleyman Erguner Mevlevi Heyeti, Mevlev” "Dervishes Tourneurs", Fasil, Enderžn Musique Ottoman, Nefes "Mevlevi Bektasi", Harem Ensemble of Istanbul Woman, Sufi Music of Ottoman Court and Tende Canim. Doors open at 7pm and concert begins at 8pm. tickets are at BD 14 for concert only and BD20 inclusive of buffet dinner. For details contact 17230123.

¥ The Manama Singers and Bahrain Concert Sinfonia will stage two concerts on March 14 at The Golden Tulip Hotel, Manama at 4.30pm and 8pm. Tickets are priced at BD7 for adults and BD4 for children and will be available at the Bookcase, Al Osra Supermarket and the Dilmun Club. For details log on to www.manamasingers.com.

¥ The Ramee International Hotel will celebrate St Patrick's Night at the Rock Bottom CafŽ on March 17. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by the Irish by wearing green or orange and eating authentic Irish food. Hip2 Soul, the resident band, will entertain guests alongside DJ Tom Easter. The cafŽ has a newly furnished dining section and the hotel's Chef Wilfred Coelho will cook up a palatable menu for the diners. For details contact Prathamesh on 36426738 or Ozzie on 39098607 or 17727230.

¥ A night of Tarzan and Jane at the Club 1 at the Metropolitan Hotel on March 19. There will be live entertainment by resident band Emerge playing jungle related tracks. The evening will also offer packages for dinner and unlimited beverages. For details contact Segar on 36546490.

¥ Enigma at the Windsor Tower Hotel will host a Western themed party 'Coyote Ugly' on March 21. The event will feature a specially choreographed performance by resident band High Intenz and hip hot and retro music by DJ Neil. Timings are 9pm to 2am. Tickets are at BD5 inclusive of dinner buffet. For details contact Pranay on 36788281 or Nancy on 39852148.

¥ The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Sports Club and Spa is preparing for an Easter family fun day on March 23. The event will feature a family buffet, face painting, bouncy castle, games, prizes, Easter eggs hunting, an Easter painting and drawing contest and a pet farm with rabbits, ducks, a pony and a camel for children. Tickets for Sports Club members are priced at BD8 for adults and BD4 for children, while non-member tickets are available at BD10 for adults and BD6 for children. Free entry for children under two. The party takes place on the Private Island from 2pm to 5pm. For details contact 17589380.