It’s a three-day weekend people, rejoice! Here are 17 things to do in Dubai to keep you happy and busy over the break. 

WEDNESDAY 14

1. Lace in for your first Roller Derby night

Tonight Dubai Roller Derby are hosting a ‘Fresh Meat Night’ so that new skaters can get a feel of what the skating sport is all about – you can even try it out in running shoes rather than skates tonight if you’re worried about whizzing around on wheels. Dubai Roller Derby has both a competitive and a recreational team so all levels are welcome. The actual sport is women’s only, but they are also on the lookout for referees and coaches if any of you lads are keen to join in.

Al Sufouh Secondary School, near the Al Wasl Road Union Co-op, starts at 7pm but get there at 7.30pm to gear up, this session is free, skate rental Dhs20. Skating for ladies only and 21+. More info on Facebook. 

2. Try pizza made by a Sicilian expert

Sicilian pizza chef Pasqualino Barbasso will be twirling and tossing pizza dough to impress guests at Italian restaurant Prego’s (where the pizza is already great). So if you fancy trying authentic pizzas made according to the traditions from chef Barbasso’s hometown in Sicily, get down there.

Prego’s, Media Rotana Hotel, 12pm to 3.30pm & 7pm to 11.30pm, daily, chef Barbasso will be in the kitchen until October 17. Tel: +971 4 435 0201. More info on website.  

THURSDAY 15

3. Have a giggle with the whole family

Today marks the first day of Dubai Comedy Festival, and throughout the week there will be family-friendly street comedy performed on The Walk at JBR. Today the show will be at 4pm, while tomorrow and Saturday the street performances will happen at midday.

The Walk at JBR, various times until October 24. More info on website.

4. Try the new menu at Zheng He’s

This Mina A’Salam classic is one of our favourite food spots in Dubai – and, after closing for three months, Zheng He’s has re-opened with a fresh new interior (the lime velvet chairs have gone straight to our Pinterest board) and a solely Chinese menu (none of that fusion guff). The king prawns and beef short rib. 

Don’t leave without trying the char siew bao honey roasted chicken bun (Dhs45 – like an edible pillow they’re so soft); the golden king prawns with Chinese mustard and spicy mango (Dhs90 – we didn’t know prawns came in XL), the slow-cooked beef short ribs with barbecue sauce (Dhs185 – beef so soft you can eat it with chopsticks) and – now this is an essential – the deep fried mango cheesecake with vanilla ice cream (Dhs45 – need we explain why this is amazing?).

Jumeirah Mina A’Salam, Madinat Jumeirah, 12.30pm to 3pm (all days except Fridays) and 6.30pm to 11pm (daily). Tel:+971 4 366 5866 . Taxi: Mina A’Salam. More info on website.

5. Check out a local film

Tonight at Creekside they’re showcasing SUNSETSTATE – a Cannes Film Festival featured flick that takes us on a journey into the minds of two men, an American novelist, and an Emirati college student. The screening will be followed by a Q&A discussion with the filmmaker Mustafa Abbas.

Creekside, near Textile Souk, movie starts at 7.30pm, free. Metro: Al Ghubaiba. Tel: +971 4 359 9220. More info on website.  

6. Be spooked by a stage show

The Woman in Black is widely known as one of the scariest plays ever written (you may have seen – and been freaked out by – the Daniel Radcliffe film version). The thriller is being showcased on the stage here until tomorrow night, so book a seat if you fancy a fright of the intellectual variety.

Madinat Theatre, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, 8pm tonight and 3pm and 8pm Friday October 16. Taxi: Souk Madinat Jumeirah. Tickets and info on website. 

7. Test out your spoken word skills

On Thursday night at Fraiche Cafe & Bistro in JLT you’ll find an evening of poetry and spoken word – the time limit is three minutes per reader, so if you’re heading down just to listen you’re sure to hear a wide variety. Keen to get up behind the mic yourself? Then head to the Facebook page for contact details.

Fraiche Cafe & Bistro, Cluster Y, Swiss Tower, JLT, starts at 8pm sharp. Metro: JLT. More info on Facebook.

FRIDAY 16

8. Adorn your walls at The Art Fair

This annual art fair brings in galleries and artists from around the world so that you can find a piece you love: the key to this particular fair, however, is that the art is affordable. No pieces the price of a house here.

The Address Dubai Mall, 10am to 10pm today, 10am to 6pm tomorrow. Metro: Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa. More info on website. 

9. Hit up Rocktoberfest

Who needs Octoberfest, when there’s Rocktoberfest? This full day event – which runs from midday to midnight – will feature a car show, concerts and a tattoo competition. The car show will show off around 250 vehicles, while three bands will be on stage from 7pm to 11pm – Queso, Slapshock and Greyhoundz.

Dubai Autodrome, Motor City, 12pm to midnight. More info on Facebook. Tickets at Platinumlist.

10. Try a new autumn menu

New York-style restaurant Soul has just introduced a new menu that features the flavours of autumn: highlights include garden green pea risotto, confit duck leg, beetroot and shaved pear salad and – wait for it – triple chocolate napoleon with orange chiboust.

Book a table outside by the pool and enjoy the fact that the evenings are finally cool – plus, go tonight, and you’ll catch a brass band from 8pm to 11pm.

Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach, JBR, 5pm to 1am daily. Tel: +971 4 449 8888. More info on website.   

11. See Hannibal Buress live

Some of you will know Hannibal Buress from his awkward deadpan comedy, others may have seen him on Justin Bieber’s roast or Broad City and many of you will know him as the comic who exposed Bill Cosby when a shaky YouTube video of his comedy went viral. Tonight he’s performing live along with the charming Jerrod Carmichael. Carmichael’s set is sure to be riddled with tales of celebrities and quirks of the digital age.  Here’s Jerrod on the Conan show:

Meyana Auditorium, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, doors open at 6pm show starts at 8pm, tickets Dhs295 to Dhs395. Tickets from Platinumlist. 

12. Eden’s season opening

Before heading off to Amsterdam Dance Event, French DJ and producer Technasia is passing through the UAE to kick off Eden Beach Club’s new season. We can’t wait to hear the tune Suga: which our sister mag Hype has dubbed “a tech-house roller with rumbling low-end bass that’s been carving up dancefloors across Europe”.

Rixos The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, 10am to 11pm, free after sunset. Taxi: Rixos The Palm. Tel: +971 55 277 1477. More info on Facebook. 

13. Check out some Indian electronica

Tonight at The Music Room you’ll find FuzzCulture, an energetic electronica duo from India made up of Arsh Sharma and Srijan Mahajan.

Here’s what to expect:

Majestic Hotel, Mankhool Road, Bur Dubai, 8pm to 3am. Dhs75. More info on Facebook. 

SATURDAY 17

14. Try a new indoor cycling studio

Dubai has a new indoor cycling studio, and it’s pretty epic. They offer serious cycling and triathlon training, but they also do group cycling classes (that use actual bikes with real gears). The coaches enter your max power value and create a “time-versus-percent threshold test”, you will then be able to see where you are on the course in relation to other cyclists and see specific metrics to help gauge performance improvement. Intense but satisfying stuff.

Marabea Street, Al Quoz (next to Art Sawa Gallery), today there is a ‘Power Hour’ class at 8am and 3pm, Dhs100 for one class. Taxi: The block before Grand City Mall when coming from Sheikh Zayed Road. Tel: +971 4 348 4288. More info on website. 

15. Buy some waste

Wasted is an up-cycling initiative that sees waste products turned into things of beauty. Today, The Urban Yogi is selling repurposed pieces (that used to be one man’s trash) without a price tag at Injoy Giving’s pop-up market. Why no set price? They’re using the stall as an experiment in generosity, human connection and trust (so best not be stingy then). You can also go along and create something wondrous from waste if you’re feeling crafty.

Times Square Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, 12pm to 3pm. Tel:+971 4 379 4943. More info on Facebook. 

16. Hear the tales of a record-breaking climber

Tonight, former rugby player turned extreme athlete and author Richard Parks will be sitting down to share his stories at the Dubai International Writers’ Centre. The first person to climb the highest mountain on each of the world’s seven continents and stand on all three poles (North Pole, South Pole and the summit of Mount Everest) within the same calendar year, he’s sure to have some great yarns to tell.

House 290, Al Shindagha Historical Neighbourhood, Al Khaleej Road, 8pm to 9.30pm, Dhs50. Tel: +971 4 355 9844. Metro: Ghubaiba. More info on website.  

17. Freshly Ground Sounds

End your long weekend well as Freshly Ground Sounds take over Alserkal Avenue’s A4 Space. Moh Flow and Soul Ninja, Craig Perry, STOIC, Prithvi, David Beats Goliath and more will be on stage, and there will be some lovely food to tuck into and pop up stalls to check out. Here’s a taste of Moh Flow:

A4 Space, Alserkal Avenue, Street 8, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, 4pm to 7pm, free entry. Taxi: Alserkal Avenue. More info on Facebook. 

18. Head to a hops fest

Oh, and if you fancy a bit of sunshine and greenery with your revelry, this weekend is Reform’s cider & craft weekend, which features exclusive hops from breweries all around the world.

Reform Social & Grill, The Lakes, Dubai, 12pm to 7pm, Friday and Saturday, Dhs200 for five tokens or Dhs350 for 10 tokens.  More info on website.