Sponsored: There will be a full day of events – most of them entirely free – at Festival City for National Day this Saturday. Here’s the lowdown…

From 1.30pm to 11.30pm on Saturday December 2 Dubai Festival City will be hosting a bunch of free-to-attend events to celebrate the UAE’s 46th National Day.

The day will be bookended by two highlights: Festival Bay will host a patriotic, acrobatic fly over at 1.30pm (expect the planes to do breathtaking twists and turns) and then there will be a full fireworks display at both 9pm and 11pm.

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And, of course, the regular Imagine water show will also come alive after dark.

Aside from the record-breaking projection surface of the InterContinental hotel, the Imagine show incorporates six giant aqua screens that create ‘liquid walls’ across 1,271sqm, 30 illuminated fountains that reach up to 50m in height, and nine high-powered laser systems. Yes, lasers.

Here’s a glimpse of what the Imagine show looks like.

Families should also check out Paddington World while there – any family that spends Dhs250 at the mall will get to visit the installation, where you will be able to meet and greet Paddington himself, while also trying out a range of games (plus, there’s a family trip to London to be won). Paddington World will be at the mall every day until December 23.

Plus, the whole mall will be lit up in the colours of the UAE flag for National Day (which will make a particularly beautiful site from the Business Bay bridge).

Follow Festival City on Facebook and Instagram for further updates on the activities to expect on the day. Or, for more info call them on 800 332 or visit their website.