A variety of cultural and entertainment shows for all ages highlighted the opening of the annual 15-day Souq Waqif Spring Festival on Friday.

Traditional performances on stage by male Qataris and an all-female musical parade started at 3.30pm, enthralling a large number of spectators, including foreign tourists.

Using a variety of musical instruments, including drums, local performers serenaded the crowd with Arab songs and dances.

“Though I do not understand Arabic, I am very much impressed and fascinated by Arab music and dances,” said a tourist from Sweden who regularly visits his friend in Doha during the winter.

He also regularly visits the Souq Waqif Art Centre (zone 4) which hosts a number of art activities, forums and workshops.

This year, the Centre features Spring Flowers Ceramic and Decoupage workshops, Murals Line – Spring Poems, Ebru Art (water painting), Revere Glass Art, Spring Festival Artists Forum, and Desert Rose Carving Workshop for 15 days from 4.30pm to 9.30pm daily.

For entertainment shows, the first week (until February 5) of the festivity features Harlequin stilts, Lights, LED Stilt Walkers, and Toy Bridge shows at Souq Alley (zone 2) while Stilt Butterflies, The Pigeons, Jumping Acrobats, Harlequin, Nature Parade, and Fine Arts Park (open theatre) are being held at the Souq Waqif park. Some of the shows run from 4.30pm to 10pm with regular intervals.

The second week (from January 29) will showcase Bloopies, 80’s boy’s, Stilt Walkers, and The Intermutants shows at zone 1 while Spring Garden, The Cybers, Circus Parade, Candy Parade, The Plantman, and Fine Arts Park shows are also expected to attract hundreds of visitors.

The main show – The Giant Fountain Circus – takes place at zone 1 (near Al Bidda Hotel and Al Rayyan TV) daily at 4.30pm for the first performance and 7.30pm for the second.

Children can also watch some of the short (24-minute) animated films such as Pangea, The Alchemist’s Letter, Tuurngait, and Ruin at the Souq Waqif Dome from 4pm to 8pm.

There are also some side activities and attractions at the event such as snakes and a monkey, a number of young horses, camels, and pony rides.

Visitors, especially families and their children, were fascinated by colourfully-dressed mascots and stilt walkers roaming around souq and park.

A coffee shop at the park has also started serving snacks and drinks such as karak and coffee while its playground attracted many children.

Commuters are advised to use designated parking areas (North, Al Shuyoukh Mosque, Fanar and Mid City) including the park’s underground parking. Valet parking is also available.