Darb Lusail Festival kicks off

Qatari artistes perform at the Lusail Boulevard before the opening of the three-day festivities. PICTURES: Ram Chand

The Darb Lusail Festival kicked off yesterday at Lusail Boulevard, attracting a huge number of visitors with its spectacular drone show, live performances, and roaming shows.The three-day event organised by Qatar Tourism (QT) in collaboration with Qatar Airways, the Qatar – Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) Year of Culture 2022, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), and Qatari Diar, also marks the opening of the country’s newest landmark and pedestrian-friendly avenue – the Lusail Boulevard.The 32 flags of participating countries in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 serve as an attraction and offer a picturesque view of the avenue, a backdrop for many Instagram posts.Organisers noted that the celebrations underline various remarkable cultures that make up the region; where each night one particular MENASA region is featured.The first night of the festival focused on the culture and heritage of the Middle East, featuring a non-ticketed live performance by artistes Abdulaziz Louis and Joseph Attieh.According to Visit Qatar, Kuwaiti artiste Louis is best known for his songs Gheyabi, Exceptional, and Hala, while Lebanese singer Attieh is popular for being the first Lebanese candidate to win the 3rd season of Star Academy Lebanon in 2005 and for his first super hit single La Trouhi the following year.Fans are fond of his patriotic song El Hak Ma Bi Mout, dedicated to Lebanon.While doors open at 5pm, many festival-goers, mostly families and children, came as early as 2.30pm and were treated to unique dining experiences at various restaurants, offering an array of local and international cuisines.Drone shows start at 7pm while roaming shows run all night, according to organisers.Today the festival will feature some of South Asia’s famous artistes, such as Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, singer Sunidhi Chauhan, and composer duo Salim-Sulaiman, as well as acts such as Perfect Amalgamation at a ticketed event at the Lusail Stadium.The audience gets to see a pre-show by DJs, comedians, and other performers.Egyptian actor and singer Ahmed Saad, renowned for singing many popular film songs, will take the centre stage tomorrow at a free concert.