ABU DHABI, With its strong focus on the community, the 3rd “Mother of the Nation Festival” is one of the country’s most family-friendly events. Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism � Abu Dhabi, DCT Abu Dhabi, the event opened its doors on 22nd March and welcomed its guests with a spectacular fireworks display.
Located in an area of over a kilometre of the Abu Dhabi Corniche at Miral’s new beachfront leisure development, A’l Bahar, the festival has four distinctive activity zones and a main pavilion to commemorate the “Mother of the Nation,” H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF). This year’s themes of empowerment, conservation, collaboration and sustainability will pay tribute to her legacy and celebrate the values of tolerance, collaboration, camaraderie and community spirit.
The festival is known for its quality entertainment, such as music, entertainment, comedy shows, art exhibits and interactive workshops, as well as for its various food and beverage options and unique shopping and retail stalls.
To promote good habits and education for the sustainability of future generations, the “Seed and Plant” area, created in collaboration with Mariam Hareb Almheiri, Minister of State for Food Security, invites families to plant seeds, paint pots and harvest nutritious produce. Participants can also follow the journey of every produce and take part in several cooking workshops and chefs challenges across the Progress Zone.
Art lovers can head to the “Artscape,” where they can sculpt, draw and paint on a multi-dimensional canvas of various landscapes, using VR technology and bursts of colour. Aspiring daredevils and adrenaline-seekers can conquer their fears by jumping from a dizzying height and free-falling into a giant safety bag at the “Free Fly” feature. Meanwhile, over in the “Happiness Zone,” Courage Mountain’s combination of ziplines, climbing nets and rope bridges over a scenic skyline are guaranteed to get hearts racing.
The festival’s activities can work up an appetite, and there is no better place to refuel than in the “Beach Dining” area, where a variety of food trucks, kiosks and restaurants serve up delicious meals that can be enjoyed in a communal dining space with brightly coloured recycled pallets, before heading over to the “Souq Zone” to pick up a souvenir, from perfumes and handicrafts to jewellery, clothing, beauty products and leather goods, to take home.
The festival will close on Saturday, 31st March, and is open daily from Sundays to Thursdays between 16:00 and 24:00, and on weekends between 14:00 and 24:00.
Source: Emirates News Agency