Post Category - What's OnWhat's On - Post Category - Things to Do With KidsThings to Do With KidsIt’s Christmas!!! Nearly…
Dig out your Christmas jumper Mama, as Festive Market season has arrived! Gather up the family and head on down to the events listed below to get in the mood, browse stalls for stocking fillers, chomp on mince pies and watch the kiddies having lots of festive fun – all to a jingly soundtrack, of course!
Friday, 20 November – Jebel Ali Village Festive Market
Times: 2 – 6pm
Location: Jebel Ali Village
Mamas, it’s time to kick off your festive season with a trip to this community market, which will give you lots of opportunity to shop for gifts, win some quite frankly brilliant prizes, and entertain the kids with festive crafts, face painting, balloon bending, bouncy castles, and even get the chance to meet the big man himself in Santa’s Grotto. And with barbecues fired up, the brood (and hungry husbands) won’t go hungry either!
More info: www.facebook.com/javfestivemarket
Friday, 20 November – SA Gemeente UAE Christmas Fair
Times: 4pm to late
Location: Greenfield Community School, Dubai Investment Park
Spend a festive evening at this fair, organised by South African church group SA Gemeente UAE. There will be Christmas stalls to shop for gifts and handmade goods, South African food to taste (boerewors roll, anyone?), a bouncy castle to tire out little people, and sing-a-long carols to ignite that Christmas spirit!
More info: (+971) 56 785 4738
Friday, 20 November, 27 November, 4 December, 11 December, and 18 December – Ripe Market
Times: 9am-3pm
Location: Zabeel Park
Ripe Market is back in full swing for winter – and we can expect things to get more and more festive as the Christmas season approaches. Browse the stalls in the sunshine for the perfect stocking fillers and gifts, while the kids let off steam in the play areas, visit the petting zoo, and get crafty with organised activities. On December 11th The BabySouk Soukettes (Santa’s Middle East representatives) will be at the market to collect letters to send back to the North Pole – each of which will receive a personalised reply! And as it gets closer to the big day, you may even spot the man in red walking amongst the crowds. We’ll see you there, Mamas!
More info: www.ripeme.com
Saturday, 21 November, 28 November, 5 December, 12 December and 19 December – Dubai Garden Centre Market in the Garden
Times: 11am-3pm
Location: Dubai Garden Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road
Today marks the relaunch of Dubai Garden Centre’s Market in the Garden, which will run every Saturday for you to get a shopping fix whilst surrounded by trees, flowers, shrubs, and herbs. There will be barbecues fired up, tables laden with stocking fillers and gifts, and tunes played by a saxophonist as you shop. Sounds pretty perfect to us!
More info: www.facebook.com/dubaigardencentre
Saturday, 21 November – My Ex Wardrobe Pop-Up Family Festive Fayre
Times: 11am-5pm
Location: Pantry Café, Bay Square
Got any plans today, Mama? If not, why not embrace the festive spirit and head to Business Bay to browse My Ex Wardrobe’s stylish selection of pre-loved Mum’s and Babies fashion bargains? There will also be a range of festive vendors, delicious food and drinks, and an exclusive goody bag handed out to the first 50 people to make My Ex Wardrobe purchases. We don’t know about you, but we’ll be there when the doors open!
More info: www.myexwardrobe.com
Wednesday, 25 November – Marina Souq
Times: 9am-8pm
Location: Fishing Harbour, Um Suqeim 1
We know it’s not even December yet, but there’s no harm making a head start on the shopping, Mamas – and this community midweek market will give you plenty of inspiration for fashion, accessories, and home décor buys (especially the Linen Souk Christmas Camel napkins). And if all that shopping leaves you feeling peckish, make your way to the Baker & Spice Pop Up to grab a bite between purchases!
More info: www.facebook.com/marinasouq
Thursday, 26 and Friday, 27 – Animal Action UAE Christmas Garage Sale
Times: 8am-12pm
Location: Umm Suqeim 1, Villa 49, Al Qeirab Street
Animal lovers, mark this one in your diary, as enjoying a little retail therapy at this community event will help animals in need in the region. There will be brand new and pre-loved items (all with bargain price tags) – and if you buy something too big to fit in your car (we’ve all been there. Mamas!), removal company Crown Relocations has volunteered to deliver to our doors.
More info: www.facebook.com/AnimalActionUAE
Friday, 27 November and 11 December – ARTE Market
Times: 11am-7pm
Location: Times Square, Sheikh Zayed Road
Things are starting to get festive at ARTE Market, so why not head to Times Square to start your Christmas shopping (or finish it off, if you are far more organised than us!) You’ll meet some of the most talented crafters in the UAE and you can take your time browsing, buying, and heading home feeling smug that you’ve got the ball rolling on your shopping.
More info: www.arte.ae
Saturday, 28 November – Nordic Christmas Fun Day
Times: 11am-4pm
Location: Jebel Ali Resort, Dubai
Organised by The Nordic Business Councils in Dubai, this family fun day will include a small market to browse and buy, arts and crafts for the kids, family competitions, and a chance to visit Santa in his grotto! The event aims to bring together Nordic families over the festive season, but everyone is welcome to join in – and we love the sound of the Christmas Dance around the Christmas trees at 4pm. What better excuse do we need to don our dancing shoes?
More info: www.nordicxmasdubai.com
Saturday, 28 November, 5 December, 12 December, and 19 December – Ripe Night Market
Times: 4pm-9pm
Location: Al Barsha Pond Park, Dubai
Great news, Mamas! Ripe Night Market is back from Saturday, 28 November and runs every Saturday from 4pm, giving you the chance to pick up those stocking fillers and browse for perfect gifts in the moonlight. That’s not all, as there will be entertainment from local artists, live movie screenings, activities from fitness groups and children’s activities for all ages, all set under the stars with a dazzling display of lights!
More info: www.ripeme.com
Friday, 4 December – Positive Paws Christmas Fayre
Times: 12pm-4pm
Location: Positive Paws, Al Quoz Industrial 4, 14C Street, Umm Suqeim Street
We love it when our shopping addiction helps to support a good cause, which is why we have the perfect excuse to shop til we drop at Positive Paws’ festive Fayre. Helping to raise funds for unlucky hounds in the region, there will be shopping, raffles, mulled apple juice, mince pies, and the chance to make a toy for a shelter dog for Christmas in Santa’s workshop (everyone say awwww!)
More info: www.facebook.com/PositivePaws2012
Monday, 7 December – Aquarius Christmas Market
Times: 10am-6pm
Location: Reform Social & Grill, The Lakes
No need to drag your kids around the shops for hours hunting for gifts, Mamas! Instead, take them to this fabulously festive market, organised by Aquarius Magazine and taking place at Reform Social & Grill at The Lakes. While you browse and buy, little ones can enjoy a petting zoo, face painting, arts and crafts, a festive photo studio run by professional magazine photographers, and even the chance to meet Santa himself!
More info: www.facebook.com/AquariusMagazine
Monday, 7 December – The Irish Village Christmas Tree Lighting
Times: 7-9pm
Location: The Irish Village, Al Garhoud next to Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium
OK so we’re cheating a bit with this one, as it’s not strictly a market (unless you count home baked mince pies and mulled wine as market fayre – and we’re not going to argue with that) – but with a choir singing traditional carols, kids welcomed with open arms, and the magical moment when the lights are switched on throughout The Irish Village, it doesn’t get much more festive than this.
More info: 04 282 4750 and www.theirishvillage.com
Tuesday, 8 December – Fashion Swap Shop Christmas Market
Times: 12pm to 11pm
Location: Media One Hotel, Media City
Picked your Christmas party dress? We’re right with you Mamas, which is why we will be heading to this festive fashion market today at Media One Hotel, where over 30 fashion brands will be showing their wears for snapping up gifts or adding to your wardrobe. You can also bring items of clothing you no longer wear anymore and swap them with other ladies! If that’s not enough already, there will be free mini manicures and makeovers, and lots of food and drink on offer to fuel your shopping spree!
More info: www.facebook.com/fashionswapshop
Thursday, 10 December – DBS Festive Fair
Times: 1.30-4.30pm
Location: Dubai British School, The Springs, Dubai
Remember going to school fairs when you were growing up, Mama? If you want to recreate that community feel for your own sprogs, this one is for you. Take the brood to Dubai British School for a dose of festive spirit, with stalls to shop, raffles to enter, Santa’s grotto to visit, and plenty of delicious grub to stop tummies rumbling!
More info: www.facebook.com/dubaibritishschool
Saturday, 12 December – Festive Baby Bazaar
Times: 9am – 2pm
Location: Sunset Mall,
Head to this pre-loved baby and toddler market for their final date before Christmas to stock up things you need for little ones, before browsing the stalls for gifts and stocking fillers at bargain prices. There’s easy parking and lots of cafes close by – and being just 2 minutes from the beach means you can combine your shopping spree with a spot of swimming and sandcastle building!
More info: www.babybazaar.org
Thursday, 17 to Saturday, 19 December – Dubai Winter Festival
Times: 4pm-10pm (Thurs), 3pm-1pm (Fri, Sat)
Location: Dubai World Trade Centre
Still struggling to feel festive? This is the big one, mamas! Dubai Winter Festival is running over three days at its new location of Dubai World Trade Centre, with enough entertainment to keep the brood happy all day long. Browse the Christmas Market, throw snowballs in the snow zone, watch a pantomime, meet Santa, decorate gingerbread houses, relax in front of the entertainment stage, and fill up on warming food and drinks. If you don’t feel Christmassy after all of that, there is no hope. So go and have fun, Mamas – and let the countdown commence!
More info: www.dubaiwinterfestival.com
Wednesday, 23 December to Sunday, 26 December – Santa’s Village 2015
Time: 3pm-midnight
Location: Emirates Golf Club
Christmaaaas, on the beach at Waikiki… you’re gonna love it! Okay, Christmas in Dubai is totally the next best thing, so why not celebrate on the day itself at Emirates Golf Club? Catch the lighting of the tree, Santa’s grotto where bubba can take their first picture with the jolly old man, live music and entertainment, food and more. The best bit is entry is free! See you there!
More info: www.facebook.com/events/1652311545053634
Saturday, 12 December – Things Yule Like
Time: 12 noon-6pm
Location: DUCTAC, Mall of The Emirates
Now in its third year, the #DUCTACmas festive-favourite is back! The stalls of Things Yule Like is set to satisfy every shopper’s need. There will be lots in store for us mamas, including unique pieces from local creatives and entrepreneurs in a carefully curated selection of unusual, stocking pleasing, hand-made and locally crafted gifts and goods. Running from 12pm-6pm, what better way to spend this exciting festive season? Extra bonus: It’s completely free to attend, and the market will coincide with a day of theatre! Fun for the whole family!
Featured image via Pinterest
