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A large plot in Bahrain Bay has been transformed into a radiating Festival City boasting bright neon lights, a colourful set up and carnival rides for families and friends to enjoy as part of the kingdom’s Shop Bahrain bonanza.
It is open to the public from 4pm to 10pm on weekdays and 4pm to 11pm on weekends until January 27.
Its launch last Thursday marked the start of the fourth edition of the Bahrain Shopping Festival, a 30-day annual promotion, organised by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), offering residents and visitors to the island a wide range of activities and deals at hotels, malls and restaurants.
The festival is held in cooperation with partners from the public and private sectors such as Tamkeen, VIVA Bahrain, YK Al Moayyed and Gulf Air. Zayed Bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, said: “We are delighted to launch the new edition of Shop Bahrain that aims to showcase the kingdom’s three main sectors: tourism, retail, and food. Furthermore, the Festival also aims to promote the kingdom as an accessible family destination, offering fun-filled activities and promotions that suit the entire family regionally.”
From the moment visitors walk through the venue’s rainbow-hued gate and geometric panels they are taken on a fun-filled adventure featuring a range of stalls offering a mixture of games, tasty treats and retail items, as well as live performances and street art.
Clowns and mime actors on stilts along with other roaming acts entertain adults and children as they participate in a variety of games in the play area such as Hook a Duck or Balloon Darts to win an assortment of stuffed animals and prizes.
There is a collection of carnival rides including bumper cars and carousels for people of all walks of life to revel in and keep them feeling young at heart.
Amongst the first visitors were Nurse Zainab Ali, 33, and her friend Zahra Jawad, an 18-year-old media student at the University of Bahrain, loved the overall set up and carnival vibes.
Zainab said: “I wasn’t able to attend last year’s festival but when I heard how much fun it was I made sure to make it this time around and I love it. The lighting is beautiful and the organisers have done an amazing job. The games look like so much fun and everyone looks so happy.”
Zahra especially loved the photo-shoot opportunities. She was snapping different pictures of Zainab posing around large-scaled lit words such as FUN, EAT and PLAY.
Zahra said: “The place looks awesome and has so many backdrops and locations for taking photographs. I can capture great moments here!”
As the girls wandered off in the direction of the games, dads and children were spotted kicking back and relaxing on hammocks hung around the shopping area while mums … shopped.
Founder and managing director of Gahwah 360o Esam Hadi introduced visitors to his easy and creative way of making coffee in the retail area. He said: “This is my first time participating at the festival and it’s a great way to meet families, which is perfect for me as families love our drinks!
“I’m enjoying introducing visitors to my brand, how easy it is to make using my technique and also tasting some great quality and flavourful coffee. I’m thrilled to be a part of the festival.”
After a taste of shopping, visitors flocked to the huge food vendor section to feast on sweet and savoury goodies produced by local businesses and big restaurant names.
Umm Ahmed and her sister Umm Fahad from the Bahraini Productive Families to fry up some crunchy kebabs and syrupy gaimat - fried dough balls in a sticky, sugary sauce. They have been cooking up their treats for the past five years and their experience showed with the amount of people queuing up for orders.
Umm Ahmed said: “This is my second time at the festival and it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s even better than last year. This festival is great for us as it promotes our food and our business.”
Meanwhile, Tariq Zainal, owner of tasty chicken wing restaurant Wingman, also gathered attention from diners with a new spicy sweet dynamite flavour which he launched at the festival.
He said: “All the stalls look fantastic and it truly has a carnival feeling. I like that everything is close together and gives it a family intimate feeling.”
Food buses are also parked around as well as mini-kiosks offering kaak - Lebanese style bagels alongside other delicacies scattered around the area.
The city also features a street art section and a line-up of daily live performances from bands on a main stage, plus a variety of family films are being screened on an outdoor cinema section.
Entrance to the Festival City costs BD2 and it’s free for children under four.
Throughout Shop Bahrain there will be chances to win valuable prizes until February 10.
The annual Taste Tour returns and will highlight more than 40 restaurants. Diners will be able to sample dishes and pick up a chance to win a Nissan Patrol as part of a raffle draw.
There is also a schedule of entertaining activities at participating shopping malls and hotels. Shoppers will be enrolled in the Festival’s loyalty system when purchasing directly from any participating outlet and partner allowing them to win a wide range of gifts, including one of 20 cars and more than 80,000 instant prizes.
Shoppers and visitors can learn more by visiting www.shopbahrain.com or through the account @shopbahrain on social networking channels Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. The Festival organisers have also launched a dedicated Whatsapp channel on 33480480.
Shop Bahrain main events
Festival City
Location: Bahrain Bay
Date: Running until January 27
Time: Weekdays 4pm to 10pm
Weekends 4pm to 11pm
Entrance Fee: BD2 (free for children under four)
The Festival City is a fun-filled event boasting a number of activities for the entire family including an outdoor market, carnival games and live performances.
Taste Tour
Date: Running until February 10
Time: Based on each restaurant’s operating hours
Price: Set menus will cost from BD5 to BD12
The Taste Tour will return this year and will include more than 40 participating restaurants. Participants will be able to sample dishes and vote for their favourite restaurants. They will also get the opportunity to enter the raffle draw and win a prize Nissan Patrol.
Raffle Draws
The festival will offer a fun-filled schedule of entertaining activities at the participating shopping malls and hotels, allowing visitors to collect through the electronic system. Shoppers will also have the opportunity to win more than 80,000 valuable prizes. Raffle draws will take place at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism headquarters.
Activities in Shopping Malls
The participating shopping malls will stage activities for families to enjoy.
Coloured Mirrors
Location: Seef Mall, Muharraq
Date: January 18 – 20
Time: 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm
Mr. Will & Mrs. Kate
Location: Seef Mall, Muharraq
Date: Until February 10
Time: 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm
Crystal Challenge
Location: The Bahrain Mall
Date: Until February 10 (during weekends)
Time: 4pm - 10pm
Musical Street Performance
Location: The Avenues
Date: Tomorrow – Saturday
Time: 5:30pm, 7:00pm, and 9:00pm
Musical Exhibition
Location: The Avenues
Date: Until February 10 (during weekends)
Time: 10am – Noon
Mirror House
Location: Dragon City
Date: Until February 10
Time: 4pm – 10pm
Sweets for Kids
Location: City Centre Bahrain
Date: January 25 -January 27
Time: 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm
Snakes & Ladders
Location: Yateem Centre
Date: Until February 10
Time: 4pm - 10pm
Traditional Game Tournament
Location: Bab Al Bahrain Mall
Date: February 2 – February 3
Time: 4pm - 10pm
Indian Dhol Walkabout Performance
Location: Gold City
Date: Tomorrow – Saturday
Time: 5pm, 7pm, 9pm
Winter Wonderland
Location: Al A’ali Shopping Complex
Date: Tomorrow – February 18
Time: Weekdays: 4pm – 1pm
Weekends: 4pm – Midnight
Connect Four
Location: El Mercado
Date: January 25 – February 10
Time: 4pm – 10pm
Giant Ludo
Location: Saar Mall
Date: Until February 10
Time: 4.30pm – 10pm
Camping Experience
Location: Saar Mall
Date: Until February 10 (during weekends)
Time: 4.30pm – 10pm
