An indoor event that will help you survive summer in Abu Dhabi
Sponsored content: Spending a big portion of the summer in Abu Dhabi? Well this 20-day event is here to help…
Let’s be honest, summer in the UAE can be tough, especially if you have little ones bouncing around the house that have a lot of energy to expend.
Well, thankfully Fun Nation is here to help: this month-long family-friendly festival running in Abu Dhabi from July 14 to August 6 will help you keep the cabin fever at bay. The best bit? The entire thing will be held inside the du forum’s air conditioned tent on Yas Island, and it will be open from 2pm to 10pm.
Every day there will be something new, so it’s definitely something you could take your little ones to more than once, especially considering entry will be just Dhs20 for kids and Dhs40 for adults.
July 14 to 23 was all about cooking and sports, and now July 28 to August 6 will be all about gaming and fashion.
Here’s what to expect during the second half (scroll down for a full schedule)…
GAMING
– Charles Martinet – who is the voice of Super Mario (doesn’t get much more iconic than that) will make an appearance at Fun Nation from Thursday August 4 to Saturday August 6. As you can see from this video he’s quite the character…
– Fan of Cosplay? Well you don’t have to wait until the next Comic Con as there will be a cosplay competition on August 6, during which you’ll be able to win from a prize pool of Dhs10,000 (you just need to register here before July 14 to be able to compete). Prominent Cosplayers will be there too, including the UAE based Sumi Cosplay.
– Throughout the 10 days focused on gaming you’ll find tournament zones where visitors can battle it out in FIFA, Super Smash Bros and Street Fighter V. The finals will take place on a main stage and each game boasts a total prize pool of Dhs10,000.
– Ooh, and there will be an arcade area and a retro video games zone where you’ll get to try some of the world’s most iconic and classic arcade games. We could easily while away hours in these zones.
FASHION
– There will be a special ladies’ zone featuring makeovers, nutrition workshops, skin care experts and white henna. Also, from Thursday July 28 to Saturday August 6 you’ll be able to meet Kelly Lundberg, a prominent personal stylist (she’ll be full of tips on how to dress your way to confidence).
– Throughout the fashion weeks there will be daily workshops on how to upcycle and customise your clothes. There will also be a ‘Swap Shop’ where you’ll be able to find something new for your wardrobe by passing on something you don’t wear very often any more. Good deal.
– What about for the kids? Well, during the gaming and fashion week Shaun the Sheep will take to the main stage, while there will also be a dress up area where little ones can try on costumes and then experience a photo shoot while in their finery. Oh, and for little ladies aged 10 to 13 there will be a Banat w Bass zone where 13 girls will have a chance to change their lifestyle.
THE FULL SCHEDULE…
THURSDAY 28
2.30pm to 3pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
3pm to 3.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
4.30pm to 5pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: How to walk the catwalk
5.30pm to 6pm: Banat w bass on stage
5.30pm to 6pm: Skin care/laser talk
6pm to 7pm: Teacher gaming on stage
6pm to 6.30pm: Fitness talk with Salma Ismail
7pm to 7.30pm: How to walk the catwalk
7.30pm to 8pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
7.30pm to 8.30pm: Health and wellness with Essa and Rob
8pm to 8.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
8.30pm to 9pm: Fitness talk with Salma Ismail
FRIDAY 29
2.30pm to 3pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
3pm to 3.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
4.30pm to 5pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Fashion show by Designer 24
5.30pm to 6pm: Banat w bass on stage
5.30pm to 6pm: Session with stylist Kelly Lundberg
6pm to 7pm: Teacher gaming on stage
6pm to 6.30pm: The Real Fouz on the fashion stage
6.30pm to 7pm: Panel discussion on fashion
7pm to 7.30pm: Skin care/laser talk
7.30pm to 8pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
7.30pm to 8pm: Fashion show by USH Boutique
8pm to 8.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
8.30pm to 10pm: Gaming tournament SFV Finals
SATURDAY 30
2.30pm to 3pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
3pm to 3.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
4.30pm to 5pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Fashion show by USH Boutique
5.30pm to 6pm: Banat w bass on stage
5.30pm to 6.30pm: Nutrition talk with Hala Barghout
6pm to 7pm: Teacher gaming on stage
6.30pm to 7.30pm: Panel discussion on beauty
7pm to 7.30pm: Skin care/laser talk
7.30pm to 8pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
7.30pm to 8pm: Fashion show by Ayaso boutique
8pm to 9pm: Nutrition talk with Hala Barghout
8pm to 8.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
8.30pm to 10pm: Fifa ’16 invitational tournament
SUNDAY 31
2.30pm to 3pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
3pm to 3.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
4.30pm to 5pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
5pm to 6.30pm: Fabric painting by Soul Art Centre
5.30pm to 6pm: Banat w bass on stage
6.30pm to 8pm: Embroidery workshop by Aiisha Ramadan
7.30pm to 8pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
8pm to 8.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
8pm to 8.30pm: Shoe designing with Polka Dot
MONDAY 1
2.30pm to 3pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
3pm to 3.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
4.30pm to 5pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
5pm to 6.30pm: Fabric painting by Soul Art Centre
5.30pm to 6pm: Banat w bass on stage
6.30pm to 8pm: Embroidery workshop by Aiisha Ramadan
7.30pm to 8pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
8pm to 8.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
8pm to 8.30pm: Shoe designing with Polka Dot
TUESDAY 2
2.30pm to 3pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
3pm to 3.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
4.30pm to 5pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
5.30pm to 6pm: Banat w bass on stage
6pm to 6.30pm: How to walk the catwalk
7.30pm to 8pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
7.30pm to 8pm: Tales of a Hijabi beauty blogger
8pm to 8.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
WEDNESDAY 3
2.30pm to 3pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
3pm to 3.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
4.30pm to 5pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
5.30pm to 6pm: Banat w bass on stage
7.30pm to 8pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
8pm to 8.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
THURSDAY 4
2.30pm to 4pm: Cosplay workshop
2.30pm to 3pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
3pm to 3.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
3.30pm to 4.30pm: Charles Martinet on the main stage
4pm to 5pm: Yaya Han
4.30pm to 5pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
5.30pm to 6pm: Banat w bass on stage
5pm to 6.30pm: Aiisha Ramadan on the fashion stage
6pm to 7pm: Celeb signing sessions on the main stage
6.30pm to 9pm: Contouring workshop with Kaya Guerreiro
7.30pm to 8pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
8pm to 8.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
8.30pm to 10pm: Fifa ’16 Gaming Tournament (semi finals and finals)
FRIDAY 5
2.30pm to 4pm: Cosplay workshop
2.30pm to 3pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
3pm to 3.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
3.30pm to 4.30pm: Charles Martinet on the main stage
4pm to 5pm: Yaya Han
4.30pm to 5pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Fashion show by Mrs Keepa
5.30pm to 6pm: Banat w bass on stage
5.30pm to 6pm: Joelle Mardinian on fashion stage
6pm to 7pm: Celeb signing sessions on the main stage
6pm to 6.30pm: Panel discussion with Joelle
6.30pm to 7pm: Panel discussion on fashion
7pm to 7.30pm: Skin care specialist on the fashion stage
7.30pm to 8pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
7.30pm to 8pm: Fashion show
8pm to 8.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
8pm to 10pm: Colour coordinated makeup by Kaya Guerreiro
8.30pm to 10pm: Gaming Tournament SSB finals
SATURDAY 6
2.30pm to 3pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
3pm to 3.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
3.30pm to 4.30pm: Charles Martinet on the main stage
3.30pm to 4pm: Fashion pirate on the fashion stage
4pm to 5pm: Panel discussion on Cosplay
4.30pm to 5pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
5pm to 5.30pm: Kelly Lundberg on fashion stage
6pm to 7pm: Celeb signing sessions on the main stage
6pm to 6.30pm: Skin care specialist on the fashion stage
6.30pm to 7pm: Panel discussion on fashion
7pm to 7.30pm: Fashion show by Souhad Acouri
7.30pm to 8pm: Dancing with Shaun on stage
7.30pm to 9pm: Cosplay competition
8pm to 8.30pm: Tasali Ahla Alam on stage
8.30pm to 10pm: Award ceremony
Fun Nation tickets are available now at www.ticketmaster.ae and all Virgin Megastore outlets across the UAE. Adult day passes are Dhs40, day passes for those age two to 12 are Dhs20, while a season pass (which allows multiple entry throughout the month) is just Dhs150.
For more information see www.thinkflash.ae.
More events and special appearances are still yet to be announced – but we’ll definitely keep you up to date once they are so keep checking back.
Photos: Getty & Supplied.
