Festivities pay tribute to historic building

A selection of the celebration of Emirati culture and traditions.

Franco Dragone's workshop ahead of the Qasr Al Hosn Festival. Courtesy of Qasr Al Hosn Festival

Qasr Al Hosn Festival pays tribute to Abu Dhabi's most historic building with several events over 10 days from February 28 until March 9.
Here's a summary of what to expect. For more information, go to www.qasralhosnfestival.ae
Qasr al Hosn Festival Area: Live demonstrations of traditional crafts, interactive workshops, food stalls and souqs in four different zones: Marine, Abu Dhabi Island, Desert and Oasis life.
Qasr al Hosn Exhibition: An exhibit featuring historical photos of Abu Dhabi, along with videos and artefacts, with a special focus on Qasr Al Hosn.
Muntada Qasr al Hosn: A three-day forum sponsored by the Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation featuring discussions in both English and Arabic about the significance of Qasr Al Hosn and Abu Dhabi's history. Vistors are encouraged to engage in debate and take part in cultural workshops.
Fort Performances: Qasr Al Hosn will serve as a backdrop to live traditional performances featuring historic musical styles and illuminated by projection and lighting.
Story of a Fort, Legacy of a Nation: A show that tells the story of Abu Dhabi through the journey of a young Emirati boy and a falcon, created especially for the festival by Franco Dragone, creator of several Cirque du Soleil shows, and featuring international dancers and acrobats. Performances take place twice daily at 4.15pm and 8.15pm from Saturday, March 2 to Saturday, March 9, with an extra 12.45pm show on both Saturdays and on Monday, March 4, and an extra 1.45pm show on Friday, March 8. Tickets cost Dh250 for adults, Dh150 for children or Dh650 for VIP access (including a reserved seat in the VIP area, a souvenir program and VIP parking pass). To purchase, go to www.qasralhosnfestival.ae or call 800 FLASH (35274).