The free, family-friendly winter wonderland will open on Thursday December 5…

If you’re not already feeling very festive, perhaps this news will scare away your inner scrooge; the magical festive garden at Habtoor Palace in Habtoor City is returning next week.

Running from December 5 to December 24th, the gardens at Dubai’s Habtoor Palace are once again transforming into an enchanting winter wonderland for the 2019 festive season.

Open daily from 5pm to 10pm, the undoubted star of the show will be the huge, beautifully decorated Christmas tree, which will take pride of place right outside Habtoor Palace.

The Versailles Gardens will also feature fun rides for the little ones, mini golf, a merry-go-round and a snow fight zone.

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Be sure to make it down for 6pm, which is when Santa Claus will visit the festive garden, bringing gifts for the little ones.

To ensure you’re feeling as Christmassy as can be, a resident singer will take to the stage each day, performing a medley of festive favourites and singalong classics.

Guests will also be able to fuel up with a variety of kiosks and food stalls, each serving delicious festive dishes. Wash it down with mulled wine, eggnog, or other festive beverages, priced from Dhs25.

To celebrate the opening, there’ll be a big Christmas lights switch-on on Thursday December 5, and a local school choir will provide a festive soundtrack as the tree lights twinkle for the first time in 2019.

This year, the event will even be pet friendly, so your four-legged friend needn’t miss out on any of the Christmas celebrations.

Habtoor Palace, Al Habtoor City, daily 3pm to 10pm, December 5 to 24, free entry. facebook.com/HabtoorPalace