Sharjah will open the Sharjah Events Festival 2025 at Al Majaz Amphitheatre on Wednesday 17 December 2025, launching five days of family entertainment that continue until Sunday 21 December 2025, with gates scheduled to open each afternoon from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, the festival has grown into a key winter highlight that showcases culture, games, food and live performances in one waterfront destination. The event takes place on Al Majaz Island in Khalid Lagoon, creating a compact village of stages, fairground areas and kids zones around the open air amphitheatre. Families from Sharjah and other Emirates often treat opening day as the moment that marks the real start of their school holiday season. Sharjah Events Festival is designed from the beginning as a family friendly winter gathering for residents and visitors (children/family-friendly).
Festival overview and family atmosphere
Sharjah Events Festival brings together government entities, cultural institutions and private partners from across the emirate to present their programmes directly to the public. Families typically find a mix of carnival style rides, activity corners, parades, music and games that encourage children to explore new interests in a safe setting. Recent editions have introduced themes such as playful installations, fun trains and appearances from mascots who greet young visitors and pose for photos. The 2025 edition follows the same spirit, with a focus on interactive shows, competitions and small surprises spread across the island. Expect a lively mix of stage shows, roaming performers, games and discovery stations that keep children busy for several hours at a time (children/family-friendly).
Opening day schedule and ticket information
On Wednesday 17 December 2025, the opening day is scheduled to welcome visitors from 4:00 PM, giving families time to arrive before sunset and settle into the site. Early hours often focus on younger children, with softer daylight, quieter queues for rides and more space around activity tents. As evening falls, stage shows, concerts and light displays usually take centre stage, with a programme that continues until around 10:00 PM each night. Entry for Sharjah Events Festival 2025 is expected to be ticketed, with prices likely starting from approximately 20 AED per person for general admission if organisers follow past patterns. Tickets starting from approximately 20 AED help keep the festival accessible for most families (children/family-friendly).
Layout of Al Majaz Amphitheatre and crowd flow
Al Majaz Amphitheatre is built in a semicircular Roman inspired shape on its own island, with fixed seating inside the main venue and open lawns, walkways and plazas surrounding it for festival activities. During Sharjah Events Festival, the entire island typically transforms into a walkable park of themed zones, food stalls and entertainment pockets, so visitors can wander at their own pace rather than follow a single route. Families often choose a base near one of the lawns or seating areas, then move back and forth between rides, workshops and stage performances. Evening hours can feel particularly busy near the main stage and popular game zones as crowds gather for headline shows and parades. Arrive earlier in the afternoon if you want easier access to front rows, quieter lawns and smaller queues at the most popular attractions (children/family-friendly).
Getting to Al Majaz Amphitheatre by car
Al Majaz Amphitheatre sits off Corniche Street in central Sharjah, with vehicle access via bridges that connect the island to the main road network. Visitors driving from inside Sharjah usually reach the venue within 10 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic along the corniche and nearby residential areas. Those coming from Dubai often use the main highways and then follow signs toward Al Khan or Al Majaz, with typical journeys taking around 30 to 50 minutes in normal evening traffic. Public parking areas sit along Corniche Street and near the Al Majaz Waterfront development, but these fill quickly when the festival and surrounding restaurants are busy. Parking capacity is limited around peak festival hours, so drivers should plan to arrive early or be ready to walk a short distance from more remote parking areas (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Visiting from Dubai Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates
Families travelling from Dubai may prefer to leave before 4:00 PM on the opening day to avoid heavy after work congestion on routes into Sharjah, especially near the main interchanges. Intercity buses from Dubai to Sharjah’s central stations provide another option, from which a short taxi ride can bring visitors directly to Al Majaz Amphitheatre. For those coming from Abu Dhabi, the drive may take around ninety minutes or more depending on conditions, so an early afternoon departure gives more breathing room and keeps the return journey manageable for children. Visitors from Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah can often reach the festival within one hour by car if they time their trips outside the sharpest rush hour windows. If you are travelling from another emirate, plan both your arrival and return with generous time buffers so children do not face an overly late or stressful evening journey (children/family-friendly).
Food options and family facilities on site
During Sharjah Events Festival, food trucks and kiosks usually line sections of the island, complementing the permanent cafés and restaurants in the Al Majaz Waterfront area. Families can choose between quick snacks, sweets for children and more substantial meals without needing to leave the festival site. Prayer rooms, restrooms and dedicated changing facilities help parents manage younger children comfortably through the evening. Paved paths and gentle ramps make it fairly straightforward to move strollers between different zones, although some lawns and play areas sit on grass. Use the early part of the evening to explore facilities, choose a meeting point and plan meal breaks, because this helps keep the night smooth even when crowds grow later (children/family-friendly).
Weather outlook for mid December evenings
Weather in Sharjah around Wednesday 17 December 2025 is expected to bring daytime highs in the mid twenties Celsius, with the possibility of scattered showers on some days and clearer conditions by the weekend. Evening temperatures are likely to fall toward 18 to 20 degrees, which can feel pleasantly cool along Khalid Lagoon, especially when breezes pick up across the water. Because the festival takes place outdoors on an island, visitors should expect slightly cooler conditions than in more sheltered city streets. Light layers, such as a T shirt or top with a cardigan or light jacket, usually work well for both adults and children. Carry a light jacket and, if you wish, a small umbrella or hooded top in case scattered showers arrive during the opening evening (children/family-friendly).
Practical warnings tickets transport and clothing tips
Over the opening weekend, traffic on roads around Corniche Street and the Al Majaz area is likely to peak between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM, when many families arrive after work or school, so earlier arrivals can make parking and movement easier. Intercity buses and local taxis remain practical for those who prefer not to drive, although a small wait for return taxis after 10:00 PM is normal when the festival closes. Ticket prices for Sharjah Events Festival 2025 are expected to start from approximately 20 AED, with sales handled through trusted partners such as PLATINUMLIST and official Sharjah ticketing channels, and organisers may adjust categories or special activity prices as December approaches, so all figures should be treated as approximately correct rather than fixed. A light jacket, comfortable walking shoes and a small bag for snacks, water and children’s essentials usually cover most needs for a full evening on the island. Make your reservation and travel plan early so you do not miss the atmosphere of the opening day at Sharjah Events Festival 2025 (children/family-friendly). In fact, as editors at www.few.ae often note in their practical guides, families who secure tickets in advance, check the latest weather for Sharjah and map out parking or public transport options before leaving home tend to enjoy a far more relaxed experience at Al Majaz Amphitheatre than those who decide everything at the last moment.
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