Event listing

Tomorrow (December 11)
Studio Ceramics in Seef Mall has set up a Santa’s Grotto allowing children to visit Santa and have their photographs taken with him and his elf. It will be open today from 6pm-8pm, tomorrow from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm, and Saturday from 11am-1pm and 3pm-5pm.

Tickets cost BD4 and include a gift.

British Ambassador Iain Lindsay and his wife Bridget are hosting an evening of Christmas carolling at the British Embassy. The event is ticket-only admission for British passport holders, their partners and their children.

A minimum donation of BD2 on the evening is suggested, with all proceeds going to the RIA Centre in Adliya.

To apply for tickets, visit www.facebook.com/ukinbahrain

The Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa is beginning its holiday season festivities with the lighting of its Christmas tree and traditional Christmas carols sung by a choir. The event will start at 6pm in the hotel’s Saraya Restaurant.

Batelco is launching its second photographic competition, entitled Bahrain Eye. It features six categories and is open to all.

Images can be colour or black & white with a minimum resolution of 2,500 pixels and participants may submit up to two photos in each category. Entries can be submitted through the website until today. Winning photos will enter a display gallery that will take place at Seef Mall on December 25, 26 and 27.

To register, visit https://portal.batelco.com/bahraineye

The Royal Country Club’s Family Movie Night takes place in the gardens from 6pm. All are welcome to attend and entry is free. Festive family favourites will be shown over the Christmas period.

The Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa, Seef, hosts a Seafood Night every Thursday at its Lemon Tree restaurant. On offer are lobsters, shrimps, octopuses and more. The cost is BD14++ for adults.

Friday (December 12)
The Baharat restaurant at Le Meridien Bahrain City Centre is hosting a ‘Fizz Fare’ brunch every Friday until January 2. Running from 12.30pm-4pm, the brunch will have many varieties of sparkling selected beverages on offer and features numerous international live cooking stations and an assortment of international classics and modern fusions.

For additional information or reservations, call 17171000 or email restaurants.BCC@starwoodhotels.com
 
Head to the Royal Golf Club for its Links Friday Carvery Brunch, which includes a range of starters, live cooking stations, traditional carved meats, desserts and more.

There’s also a special section for children including a ‘create your own cupcake’ station. The brunch, from noon to 4pm, costs BD18 net for adults, including unlimited selected soft drinks, and BD27 net for adults, with unlimited selected house beverages. It’s BD9.500 net for under-12s and children aged four and under eat for free.

For details, call 17751262.

The Lemon Tree, at the Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa, Seef, hosts a Friday Family Brunch from noon until 4pm. The buffet includes dishes from around the world, including Middle Eastern favourites, plus live cooking stations and entertainment. There are also activities provided for children. The brunch costs BD18++ for adults and BD9++ for kids.

The hotel’s Tea Garden Café also has a ‘High Tea’ offer, which includes a collection of tea, pastries, sweets, sandwiches and cookies every day from 3pm-6pm for BD7++.

Saturday (December 13)
The Capital Governorate and the Capital Secretariat are organising a special festival today to celebrate National Day and His Majesty King Hamad’s Accession Day.

The event, with the theme ‘Celebrations bring us together’, will take place at Al Fateh Corniche in Manama between 4pm-8pm.

A variety of programmes have been set up for the day, including a raffle, live musical performances from the Interior Ministry Band and fireworks.

The Bahrain Farmers’ Market is being held at the Botanical Gardens, Budaiya, from 8am until noon.

The Westin Bahrain City Centre has set up a cookie decorating station at City Centre Bahrain’s Winter Tales display in the Central Galleria. Bring your children along and decorate home-made gingerbread. For BD2 you can decorate one cookie and all proceeds will go to The Palm Association, which directly helps needy Bahraini families.  The station will be open today and December 20 from 3pm-6pm for festive fun and joyous spirit of giving.

For additional information, call 17171441 or email restaurants.BCC@starwoodhotels.com

Sunday (December 14)
Words BookstoreCafé, Budaiya, is hosting professional cake artist Layla Alsharif for a one day holiday cookie-decorating workshop today.

The workshop, for children over 10, will take place from 4.30pm-6pm and costs BD22. All materials will be provided.

The Bahrain International Circuit is hosting a National Day Festival which will run from today until December 17. The event will feature live music from local musicians such as Khalid Fouad, Miami and Yousef Alomani, as well as children’s entertainment, cultural shows, a bazaar and Bahrain’s biggest fireworks display.

The event will run each day from 4pm-10pm and entry is free. For more information, call 17451099.

Monday (December 15)
The Bahrain Noor El Ain Festival will be held across the kingdom from December 15 to February 16 offering shopping bargains. It will celebrate Bahrain’s unique spirit and traditions. For more information, call 17000710.

Tuesday (December 16)
J’s Irish Restaurant, Adliya, is hosting another season of its annual Karaoke Idol. Back for its 10th year, the live show will be held every Tuesday until the Grand Final on December 23. The winner will receive BD1,000.

The first 12 participants to register from 8pm onwards sing in front of three professional judges, and two will go through to the final while a third will go through via an online public poll.

For more information, call Siyana on 39329083.

The American Women’s Association (AWA) is hosting its annual Cherry Tree Trot at the Bahrain International Circuit on Saturday. 
The schedule is as follows:
* 9am - 8k race for ages 15 and up.
* 10am - 2 km race for all ages and abilities.
* 10.30am - walkathon for all ages.
* 11am - 5k race for ages 13 and up.
* 12pm - 2k race for juniors, ages six to 12.
* 12.30pm - 3k race for ages 13 and up.

The organisers are recruiting volunteers to help children with special needs and those using wheelchairs.

Registration to compete in the various races is as follows:
* BD6 for adults and teenagers from 15.
* BD4 for juniors ages six to 14.
* Free for children five and under.
* The walkathon is BD2 for all participants, aged six and over.

All prices include the race, a race day T-shirt and refreshments. Food, drinks and entertainment will also be available to all participants and spectators alike.

To participate in the race, donate, or to volunteer, register online at www.mowatens.com/cherry-tree-trot.php or contact ctt@awabahrain.org or call 35566785. For an additional BD1 you can register the morning of the race at the racetrack. All racing bibs will be available to pick up in advance or the morning of the race.

The new Capital School Bahrain, Zinj, is hosting open days this week to invite prospective parents to view the premises.

The dates and times are as follows:
* Today 4pm-6pm
* Sunday 4pm-6pm
* Monday 4pm-6pm

For more information call 17008880.

The Sheraton Bahrain Hotel, Manama, is bringing festive activities to the kingdom this Christmas.

There will be a special Christmas Eve dinner buffet at Al Safir Restaurant from 7.30pm-11.30pm for BD13.900++ for adults. Children from four to 12 years get 50 per cent discount and below four years eat for free.
 
Christmas Day lunch at the same venue will feature roast turkey, tenderloin steak medallions, Christmas cakes and desserts for BD19.900++ for adults, with a 50 per cent discount for children aged four to 12 and free for under-fours.

Christmas Day dinner will be served from 7.30pm-11.30pm and is priced at BD12.900++ for adults, with the same pricing as above for kids.

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa is offering a programme of dancing classes every week and the schedule is as follows:
* Belly dancing: every Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 3pm-4pm.
Price: BD10 for standard classes & BD15 for private classes.
* Salsa dancing: every Thursday & Friday from 4pm-5pm.
Price: BD10 for standard classes & BD15 for private classes.
* Yoga class: Every day except Monday from 9am-10am and from 5pm-6pm.
Price: BD7 for standard classes & BD20 for private classes.
* Zumba dance: Every Thursday & Friday from 6pm-7pm.
Price: BD10 for standard classes & BD15 for private classes.
For reservations or more information, call 17636391.