10 things to do today: tennis lessons, festive celebrations at Yas Mall and more

Yas Marina Let It Snow. Courtesy Yas Marina

Street Feast. Courtesy TCA

Meet d3 glass blowing, chandelier. Courtesy Lasvit Sphere

The Girl With all the Gifts movie still. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Photo by John Salangsang / BFA / REX / Shutterstock

Stollen at MOE. Courtesy Majid Al Futtaim Malls

Robertus Pudyanto / Getty Images

Courtesy Cartoon Art Gallery

Courtesy Dubai Winter Festival

Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for December 9, 2016, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun.

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Abu Dhabi

Tennis event

Take part in the ZSC Academy Tennis Festival, a fun way to experience and learn more about the sport. There will be lessons for children ages 2 and older, tennis clinics for adults, exhibition matches between ZSC coaches and athletes, and children’s activities, including bouncy castles, as well as prizes and giveaways.

Today, 3pm to 6pm, International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, www.zsc.ae

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Abu Dhabi

Festive event

Visit Yas Marina for the Let It Snow festive family celebrations, which kick off today with a tree-lighting ceremony featuring Santa arriving by boat for story time before using his magic to light up the tree at 6pm. The festivities continue tomorrow with carollers and visits with Santa, through next weekend with a snow battle and winter market.

Daily until December 17, 3pm to 6pm, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.facebook.com/yasmarinaabudhabi

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Abu Dhabi

Food festival

During Abu Dhabi Food Festival, international and local chefs will demonstrate their skills and menus at themed experiences during two main events: Gourmet Abu Dhabi and Street Feast. Gourmet Abu Dhabi features a variety of events in world-class venues, including meet and greets, Gourmet Golf, and visits from Hollywood celebrities Jesse Metcalfe, who is at Catch today, plus John Cusack, who will host a table for 12 lucky fans in the presidential suite at Emirates Palace on December 16. Street Feast features 60 food trucks at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, December 8 to 10 and at Abu Dhabi Corniche December 15 to 17.

Daily until December 23, various locations across Abu Dhabi emirate, www.abudhabievents.ae

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Dubai

Art event

The community arts festival Meet d3 continues today with large-scale installations, food and retail concepts, children’s programming, music and more, including a glass-blowing session with manufacturer Lasvit, transforming raw glass into sculptured objects. Grammy Award-winning signer Jess Glynne and Britain’s Got Talent performer Calum Scott headline the music tonight.

Today and tomorrow, 2pm to midnight, free, Design Quarter, Dubai Design District (d3), off Ras Al Khor Road, Dubai, www.meetd3.com

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Nationwide

New movie

In the film The Girl with All the Gifts, a scientist and teacher in a dystopian future in which humanity has been ravaged with a disease that turns the afflicted into flesh-eaters. A small group of children who retain human emotion are taught on an army base in Britain. When the base is invaded, the children and their teachers escape and embark on a journey of survival with a special young girl named Melanie (Sennia Nanua). Thriller, also starring Gemma Arterton, Glenn Close, Dominique Tipper, Anamaria Marinca and Paddy Considine.

Screening in cinemas across the UAE (TBA)

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Dubai

Workshops

Register for a series of workshops and masterclasses with OSN as part of the Dubai International Film Festival. On Sunday, watch an episode of Westworld with stars Luke Hemsworth (below) and Jeffrey Wright. On Monday, take part in an interactive workshop with SNL Arabia star Dhafer L’Abidine and a masterclass and Q&A with Hollywood actor Andie MacDowell.

Sunday, 11am, Dh35 for the Westworld event; Monday, 11am, Dh50 for Dhafer L'Abidine workshop; 1pm, Dh50 for Andie MacDowell masterclass, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, www.dubaifilmfest.com

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Dubai

Charity event

Get your stollen today at Mall of the Emirates. The 11th annual charity cake sale takes place today, with all proceeds going to the Dubai Center for Special Needs. The 720-metre German-style fruitcake will be available for purchase in 60-centimetre loaves or by the slice. Plus, enjoy the family attractions and festive events taking place at the mall.

Today, from 10am, Dh100 per 60cm; Dh5 per slice, Central Galleria, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, www.facebook.com/malloftheemirates

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Dubai

Concert

Buy tickets now to see Jamie Cullum in concert as part of White Nights in Dubai, a series of concerts featuring some of the world’s top international musicians. Cullum, an English jazz-pop singer-songwriter, is known for hits such as Don’t Stop the Music, All at Sea and Pure Imagination.

April 8, 8pm, Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, tickets cost from Dh550 from www.ticketmasteruae.ae   

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Dubai

Art exhibition

Catch the opening of the photography exhibition Focus by Indian artist Manu Reghurajan, a civil engineer working in the construction sector in Dubai, who presents a selection of nature images – including butterflies, bees and beetles – offering glimpses of the macro world of the UAE. Pictured: A Ladybug and Bumblebee at Ittihad Park, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

Opens today, 3pm to 9pm, then runs daily until Monday, 11am to 7pm, The Cartoon Art Gallery, 4B Street, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 346 6467, www.cartoonartgallery.org

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Dubai

Festive event

Attend the Dubai Winter Festival, a festive celebration with everything to do with Christmas all in one place, including Santa’s grotto, a tree-lighting ceremony, a pantomime, gingerbread-house decorating, live entertainment, a Christmas market, carolling and a snow-play area.

Today and tomorrow, 3pm to 10pm, from Dh70 in advance; Dh85 at the door; additional Dh30 for Santa's Grotto visit, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, www.dubaiwinterfestival.com