First Qatar Toy Festival opens

The much-awaited first edition of "Qatar Toy Festival” kicked off yesterday (July 13) at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), featuring an array of wholesome family-friendly entertainment shows and activities that attracted a large number of visitors.This one-of-its-kind event, organised by Qatar Tourism (QT) in collaboration with Spacetoon, promises to be the largest toy festival in the region. Running until August 5, it is showcasing more than 25 renowned toy brands, including favourites such as Barbie, Blippi, Bluey, Cocomelon, Disney, HapeeCapee, Marvel, Fortnite, and Transformers, among others."The activities (and attractions) at the festival is differentiated through all different ages so kids from 2 till 12 can enjoy... the variety of the brands is massive,” Ahmad Weiss, spokesperson for Spacetoon TV, told reporters on the sidelines of the event’s opening."We chose our international brands very carefully to bring those that are popular, and suit our region, our culture, and loved by the kids,” he said.Themed "Live the Tales and Enjoy the Games,” the festival forms part of QT’s dynamic and diverse ‘Feel Summer in Qatar’ campaign - an extension of its 'Feel More in Qatar’ brand platform aimed at further establishing the country as the premier family destination in the Middle East."The purpose of this festival is to gather the family, for parents to enjoy their time with their kids where they are happy and laughing and enjoying themselves, especially during the summer because this is an indoor area and it's a controlled temperature,” Weiss said.He highlighted the festival's commitment to cater to children of all ages with a wide range of activities suitable for them.To make the event accessible to families, Weiss noted that ticket prices have been set at affordable rates. For just QR50, an entire family can enjoy the festival. A premium option for those seeking a Fast Track experience is also available for QR100.In addition, a family package for five members can be purchased for QR400, granting them access to the golden plus ticket and the VIP lounge for an enhanced experience.Weiss said that the festival has already reached full capacity for the upcoming concert by Rasha Rizk, the celebrated singer of nostalgic kids' songs in the Arab world.As part of Qatar Tourism's 'Feel Summer in Qatar' campaign, the festival aims to provide entertainment and fun for visitors of all ages. It is being held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center and will continue until August 5.One of the festival's highlights is a special concert by Rasha Rizk, the golden voice of Spacetoon, which will take place on the upcoming weekend, July 14 and 15, at 8:30 pm each night. This concert promises to be a memorable experience for attendees.On July 16, several popular characters will take centre stage: Miraculous and Bluey will perform at 3:10pm and 6:35pm, followed by Strawberry Shortcake and Barney at 4:15pm and 8:45pm. The Smurfs will conclude the day's performances at 5:30pm and 9pm.QT noted that the festival is divided into four distinct areas, referred to as islands, catering to different interests and age groups: Fancy Land, which features Disney Princess, My Little Pony, Barbie, and Hayati Girl, suitable for children aged 4 to 12; Champions Land, offering Nerf, Marvel, Transformers, Beybattle Burst, Free Fire, Hot Wheels, and Fortnite for ages 5 to 15; Cutie Pie, providing a delightful experience for children aged 2 to 6 with Blippi, Cocomelon, The Smurfs, and Bluey; and Hyper Land, an exciting zone with Scrabble, Race, Monopoly, Angry Birds, and Sonic the Hedgehog for kids aged 5 to 15.Apart from the interactive areas, the festival presents more than 15 captivating live shows on stage, including performances by Louna Land, Strawberry Shortcake, The Smurfs, Barney, Miraculous, Bluey, My Little Pony, and many other beloved characters.According to QT, the festival follows the success of the 'Disney On Ice' show, which mesmerised audiences with its twelve magical performances at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall as part of the 'Feel Summer in Qatar' campaign.