GROUNDWORK for the second edition of "Mother of the Nation Festival" commenced Sunday (Feb. 26) on Abu Dhabi Corniche ahead of the Festival's official opening on March 26, the organizing committee at Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority announced today. Preparations for the festival have commenced on-schedule as more than one kilometer of Abu Dhabi's Corniche beach will be transformed in advance of the Festival's opening, and construction progress is now clearly visible along the designated site for the occasion. Slated from March 26 to April 4, Mother of the Nation Festival will offer more than 100 activities, including an extensive selection of exhibitions, performances, workshops, food and beverage offerings and exciting events designed to encourage visitors to believe in the significance of a sustainable future. The countdown has officially begun for the Festival, with only 30 days left to go. Running for a total of 10 days this year, Mother of the Nation Festival is set to offer multiple distinctive activity zones, creating an enjoyable and interactive atmosphere for visitors from all backgrounds across the community. Residents and visitors of all ages will be given the chance to experience unique concepts in an environment of distinct perspectives as the festival highlights qualities of sustainability, responsibility, cultural exchange and openness in celebration of the extensive contributions and vision of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, and President of the Supreme Council of Motherhood and Childhood. The Festival will include a wide variety of interactive events organized across four diverse activity zones: the Happiness Zone, the Progress Zone, the Souq Zone, and the Beach Dining Zone. The centerpiece of the Festival, the Mother of the Nation Pavilion, will celebrate the role of women across all aspects of life. The four zones will collectively form a national cultural and social event offering visitors a range of exciting new activities for the whole family. The Happiness Zone has new events such as the Bu Tinah Sea Adventure, a magical adventure with colourful shipwrecked Dhows and the Tranquil Park, with trees of books where books can be found in place of leaves which can be picked from the hanging branches. The Progress Zone will consist of interactive and multimedia experiences in order to engage visitors with innovative concepts, encouraging them to develop towards a brighter future. An exciting new event this year is the Water Light Graffiti, where visitors can experience the glow of thousands of LEDs in the dazzling interactive installation. There is even a Virtual Reality Area, where bespoke content created virtual reality will bring the whole festival experience together. The Beach Dining Zone will conduct interactive Chef Challenges this year. Food fanatics and aspiring chefs can participate in cooking competitions against one another. The Souq Zone also this year will offer a refreshed selection of traditional shops and international brands to offer visitors a unique retail experience. Another exciting new signature event not to be missed this year is the PixelPyros, a digital firework display where visitors will have the opportunity to control the large-scale light installation themselves. Mother of the Nation Festival will feature a number of entertaining artistic shows and performances inspired by the diverse cultures found throughout UAE, reflecting the nation's embrace of international perspectives that enrich the community.
