With the winter solstice on the news over the weekend, I had my thoughts on what to do and where to go on the "longest and coldest night of the year" in the UAE. Though it was written on the news that it may rain, I chose not to bury myself under the warm fuzzy blanket at home. This sun-drenched girl officially said goodbye to the hot and humid summer days and welcomed the winter chill in an Arabian Winter Wonderland!
'Tis the season to be jolly... and 'tis the season for the Souk Festive Market! The annual winter wonderland at Madinat Jumeirah is back. This time it's bigger, better and brighter! From December 17 to December 27, 2013, Souk Madinat's outdoor amphitheater turns into an enchanting Christmas village from 3pm to 12mn on weekdays, and 1pm to 12mn on weekends!
![Souk Festival Market at Souk Madinat Jumeirah Souk Festival Market at Souk Madinat Jumeirah's amphitheater](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbXTkl_UmkK_S1mA1FjE-TMw_NhwoQSLiAKQm_70_wesF41NWprFhloSGInpfeL1LYSsZxOLEn7IylYFuJG62Lsgh4EJlAcMn84jx82-G6euHo82F2bN17dmekYxkFJxt1eSLUmtj0iM/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_609.JPG) |
entrance to the Arabian Winter Wonderland |
![Souk Festival Market at Souk Madinat Jumeirah Souk Festival Market at Souk Madinat Jumeirah](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzjJhHwN_c2ZopDnQK2JuXGTw-I8zuI4UYoRkWRmfhvF0S-3XwLwSkHkmx5-1dIdwqrVbwBQ6n9L0C6avD2ae05TdclG2epEQrFjvOT8U6Lh8xZ1KHuhQILmc35UMZTeFCN4QLbTcQLY/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_617.JPG) |
Christmas in Dubai |
The star of the festive market is the dazzling eight metre tall Christmas Tree. Adorned with red, white and gold Christmas ornaments, and a bright star on top, it is the most eye-catching attraction around the village. A kiddie train, or a North Pole Train in a child's point of view, runs around the gigantic tree.
![Souk Festival Market's Christmas Tree Souk Festival Market's Christmas Tree](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBrReEmq53rPwkxnC98N6rhHtrC_mKgoSYBDBPwrG0HAv2850tmQ2AcM6hwEV71uqaLj0Q5aK5_WvXXN8ndCxCgsWf0nLr3swtsZFxowhRWnwIDI3A7_3L_p_7KbAXQLrGHayxMCRNYc/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_627.JPG) |
the "star" of the Souk Festive Market |
![Souk Festival Market's North Pole train Souk Festival Market's North Pole train](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnngF9ZENIq4YQvbdEbbxVGhcGVN7N1yTlDzyJvRQppUKHSluvcaSKQkK_dl5GT-yirdmKZuzGv-6PzTr-VT7rRdf82dLQYRkVAXLS_Co60so7grSdxUL8Xrdh2QFqfnkMybjsTr3DLQ/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_614.JPG) |
the North Pole train rockin' around the Christmas Tree |
Santa Claus came to town! He posed for a photo and even gave me a high five! The Christmas Elf, who is ironically taller than Santa, brought additional holiday cheer as he performed tricks for the kids and the kids at heart.
There are loads of fun activities for the children; from the classic winter games like snowball fight and ice skating, to the unique Rodeo Reindeer ride and Zorb water ball at Madinat Jumeirah's waterway.
![snow ball fight at Souk Festive Market snow ball fight at Souk Festive Market](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hHhrohpiBSM_xdSVZDmZw1kZhd7GTwFtkJfTdrRqg6is6mX1x8Ua3svX40ptmQgzjclOE69aQka5jVwZAB49QzpgbslSUVJdTrWZvLsRjWB0zN3wVF53dSZn34bRV47gjUe6quUQEVg/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_626.JPG) |
Who's up for a snowball fight? |
![ice skating at Souk Festive Market ice skating at Souk Festive Market](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7VRIyYJvlnzhNXp0pSr3lfhxooEkBNgm9YPzv4euiH-Cg3IbmSRE6BvC4qzGTybtbkA1r0PivnFcfqrRrFNuMS8P05Eb5V78L7UibbV8RwNKZa3u84uR5BSjWZ3PTpELTOOgselvn4E/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_620.JPG) |
Or would you rather glide at the ice rink? |
![rodeo reindeer ride at Souk Festive Market rodeo reindeer ride at Souk Festive Market](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcajXU0WiQ2uM-mMZeY6kKal-G9ndySFRfXyyJjwQKwWWTJkV5Yb14I3QIrfQuCrlqdpCnqNdwGTeAbMlEtk3OAQ9-ari73K2L07B6sfVg-6pjV-izAWSqJO2HFAOgRhmCXLVF0qLiF4/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_623.JPG) |
How about a Rodeo Reindeer ride? |
![Zorb at Souk Festive Market Zorb at Souk Festive Market](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fX44lNtby8YHAvm4XRAMetI4ZpkjQg9jXCbvKSL52ITgn9M_HeAV-GMYe3YtpQwaANgu9jDe3a2xqJmQHQJDN19AVJ8t0SE_4Hkbw89TFKoWsyecFLR7zH5l4RDn1hdpMPIAvmgKrPM/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_624.JPG) |
Don't forget the Zorb ball! |
The Souk Festive Market is not just for the kids. Grown-ups went shopping at the festival booths, grabbed seasonal treats like roasted chestnuts and gingerbread, and watched a cooking show!
![Festival booths at Souk Festive Market Festival booths at Souk Festive Market](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07VINisVgVhj74ApdGhddDa4PbsJWXZEW4eie6u7IpsrJHblb4kd1TXNQMGws6oI411dGWtfZeNeNFYYonKupRu7n0AstKBdMi0B53a4uMxXkuZmRLDbwOv3SlIEoJ3uaoZ6Tnj5lHrQ/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_619.JPG) |
What to put in the Christmas stocking? You can find great gifts at Harvey Nichols and Bloomingdales' booths. |
![Seasonal food and beverages at Souk Festive Market Seasonal food and beverages at Souk Festive Market](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3haOqyJd1z8j7yhD0fslgBcGtQb1qWj1UTrT8POnyByIxyHkKCOxv9Um_wt19fqK5KvxffxH36gmyEaW9kwZHRIkLyztrdu0p-4W893Y-B_RI8K4mKfjzEzoLW0pVarkaZyHZUm6HLek/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_621.JPG) |
Hungry? Have some warm pretzel, roasted chestnuts and more! |
![cooking show at Souk Festive Market cooking show at Souk Festive Market](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PqfaEWEz5r1gjzQExdJaocPui4y_BJZsCDzZgaqOvX-MTcsBXyFRPQahLeUnox06E5VQPceZDJdyGGtEcUuE58Zu9NRKbgu7L_i8YMu9bdCkgbj-8reueIXo0If4qyfUqjxOI3HHgiE/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_622.JPG) |
learn to whip up a new dessert at Lindt's cooking show |
On a Saturday and the winter solstice, I never thought that the crowd would be that much at Souk Madinat. We had to wait for an hour to get a table for two at The Noodle House! While waiting, we listened to Tim Hassall's acoustic versions of popular Christmas songs as we chilled-out beside a grizzly bear and Frosty the snowman.
![Tim Hassall at Souk Festive Market Tim Hassall at Souk Festive Market](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExHf0W0W2GJMh_vMyVYMsZ8J0r_Ojj4ZYKXn16T0adkgIFMoC2l_MqJmjjLC0fLev75mOlNLGXqP_VE_uzfLjX3wOMnZJqofLV3FB5kvnPvF5kvcvN2-RtV8MngwqCObT8sWNyV7z5cA/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_618.JPG) |
acoustic versions of Christmas carols filled the air |
![grizzly bear at Souk Festive Market grizzly bear at Souk Festive Market](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRELswCfTe2aOXDCFjmsQfa9uwBaptuGALwp0u405ymzasbNPOndfw18Fkb9p2fMKuasWpGAOCRFBmaDLXGr6qldo8MzRQJHMctg1Nf6N2TfTPysih4HyF2CdesfBkoj4Bjof8e06G8U/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_629.JPG) |
Tired? You can sit beside a harmless grizzly bear... |
![Frosty the snowman at Souk Festive Market Frosty the snowman at Souk Festive Market](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCXMQwzUV5soB9xGCg7MDy0BfYUu8UqUnpihbpEfKdzj6yyDry2eb3R04OpmcYhPJ7bcp0rCOEvTT59cV5J-30STw63AfewpHWqil9NyIX8hP3wA87JW01Vm8KWFuCQpDFw_Zn8XNhSQ/s640/Souk+Festive+Market_611.JPG) |
...and chill with Mr. Frosty in a corner! |
In a moment, I almost forgot I was in an Arab country, until I saw the wind catchers of the luxurious Arabian resort and Burj Al Arab looming behind Mina A'Salam! I felt the magic of Christmas at the Souk Festive Market. So, if you're feeling cold, lonely and homesick this Festive Season, this is the place to get some holiday cheer!
Entrance: FREE
Location:
Souk Festive Market
Souk Madinat Jumeirah
Jumeirah Beach Road
This place really is wonderful! The Christmas tree is dazzling! Great post.
ReplyDeleteZoe
http://thatszoe.blogspot.com
Thanks for dropping by and for the comment, Zoe! :)
DeleteAng ganda! Love your post! It transports me there! Great pixes!
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