SummerFest lets the fun begin

SummerFest lets the fun begin Staff Reporter / 28 June 2013 The annual SummerFest Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s blockbuster seasonal promotion, kicked off on Thursday. The 52-day event, which includes a three-day, first-of-four ‘STOMP at Emirates Palace’ show until August 17, spans mid-summer, the Holy Month of Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr and the destination’s traditional EidFest celebrations. “These high-energy STOMP performances will get SummerFest Abu Dhabi off to a rousing start with new music and choreography and two recently added routines — ‘Trolleys’ and ‘Frogs’ — which have never been seen before in the UAE,” said Sultan Al Muhairi, Manager, SummerFest Abu Dhabi. Tickets start at Dh150 with residents booking through www.summerfestabudhabi.ae and GCC show goers able to book through leading regional travel agents. Organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) to build the destination’s seasonal appeal, SummerFest Abu Dhabi features sizzling hotel deals with free tickets to some of the emirate’s leading leisure attractions. Guests booking a minimum of three nights’ stays at any of 40 participating Abu Dhabi hotels during the festival — with the exception of Eid — will receive free tickets to Yas Island’s headline attractions — Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, world’s largest indoor theme park, and the award-winning Yas Waterworld, named the Middle East’s leading attraction by the World Travel Awards. “With a new identity and our longest-ever line-up, SummerFest Abu Dhabi sends a resounding message that there is now much more to see and do in Abu Dhabi,” added Al Muhairi. “We anticipate huge interest in our Adnec hub with its world-class schedule of live Show World performances while the line-up at du Forum on Yas Island adds to the entertainment appeal for all ages.” At Show World, an action-packed bill of 98 shows over 47 days features seven blockbuster acts performing twice-daily during week-long runs at Adnec. With varied performance times, the Show World schedule sees regional premieres of 90-minute live action shows from Cartoon Network’s Lazy Town and perennial favourites Bananas in Pyjamas during its opening fortnight. By the time Cartoon Network’s Ben10 rounds out Show World proceedings in mid-August, the international stars of Scooby Doo, Freej and Sesame Street will all have trodden the Adnec boards. Tickets to Adnec, which include entrance to Show World, are Dh40 for adults and Dh20 for under-12 children while kids under two-years-old enter free. “SummerFest Abu Dhabi is one of the emirate’s key events during summer months and we anticipate thousands of visitors attending this year’s festival and enjoying a delightful calendar of family-focused activities at Adnec,” said Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Chief Commercial Officer at Adnec. Elsewhere, the side-splitting United Nations of Comedy makes its UAE debut at du Forum on July 4 and 5, before international sports stars including tennis star Tim Henman, ex-Manchester United and England striker Andrew Cole and seven-time NBA champion Robert ‘Big Shot Rob’ Horry take centre-stage during ‘SportFest’ – a programme of weekly jiu-jitsu, tennis, badminton, basketball and football clinics, masterclasses and tournaments rolling out during Ramadan evenings. Other Abu Dhabi attractions are getting in on the SummerFest act with their own seasonal activities. Al Forsan International Sports Resort, the multi-sport facility behind Abu Dhabi Golf Club, is running summer camps from July 10 to August 3. — news@khaleejtimes.com Taylor Scott International