If shopping is not your thing, there’s still plenty you can do at Dubai Shopping festival that kicked off with a bang yesterday.

An incredible array of fashion shows, exclusive product launches, big names in entertainment, as well as opportunities to win cars, cash and gold have been lined up by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), and the organisers of DSF 2017, so the shopping adventure can finally begin.

Here’s a list of events that the make DSF an ideal place for thrill seekers:

Main events

DSF Fireworks 26-29 December 2016; 5-7 January 2017 and 19-21 January 2017 at THE BEACH (JBR); 26-29 December 2016, 12-14 January 2017 and 26-28 January 2017 at Kite Beach

Festivals and fireworks go hand in hand and Dubai has become synonymous with both – each becoming even more spectacular every year. During DSF, the fireworks shows will start at 8.30pm at various key locations in the city.

Market Outside the Box 19-28 January 2017, Burj Park

Taking place next to the pride of Dubai – Burj Khalifa – Market Outside the Box focuses on emerging local and regional designers, and gives them a chance to take centre stage during DSF. Market OTB showcases the emerging artists of jewellery design and accessories, home décor and fashion. More than 100 designers will display their products and promote grass-roots engagement. To make the outing truly exciting for the whole family, the 10-day Market OTB will also offer visitors the opportunity to experience a number of entertainment activities, including live shows and music concerts as well as food trucks and food from favourite local eateries.

Roaming Artistes 26 December 2016 – 28 January 2017

DSF 2017 will offer visitors many more events and activities that will further enhance the festival’s image as a centre of shopping and entertainment including hundreds of roaming artistes and musicians who will spread the festive cheer in malls across the city including Gypsy Bigs- a troupe of professional jazz musicians, Car Stilt Walkers, Brimborians, three gliding bubbles, Crybtonia- a musical group with glowing LED costumes, Sparks Fire Dance circus acts, Wood & Wood featuring mime performances, Nutkins, the walkabout squirrels, and much more.

Shopping mall events: Ice Age Live Show and Workshops

2-7 January 2017, Ibn Battuta Mall; 3PM to 10PM
Meet the sub-zero heroes of Ice Age in this live show of the licensed show Ice Age at the Ibn Battuta Mall featuring Manny the no-nonsense mammoth and Sid the loudmouthed ground sloth, as well as Diego, the sabre-tooth tiger. Also including Kid’s workshops, it promises unstoppable fun this DSF!

Ibn Battuta Travel Game 5-19 January 2017, Ibn Battuta Mall
Head to the uniquely themed Ibn Battuta Mall named after the ancient explorer by the same name and boasting six individual courts named after the countries he visited, to participate in this live big travel game and win instant vouchers on a daily basis.

Loony Tunes Live Show and Workshops 16-25 January 2017, Dragon Mart 2
You’ll enjoy the Loony Tunes live show and workshop featuring the unbeatable pair, Tweety & and Sylvester. Even as the ever hungry Sylvester does everything he can to lure Tweety out of his cage and into his jaws, smart little Tweety is always one step ahead! Watch classic cartoons based on this duo and hone your artistic skills in the bargain.

Cinderella Live Show 5-14 January 2017, Dragon Mart 2
A live stage show based on the timeless folk story of a peasant girl living with her evil step mother and her two daughters, who later became a princess. One special evening due to a magical charm she visits a royal ball and dances with the prince of the land himself. But as the charm wears off at the stroke of midnight, she rushes back but loses her glass slipper, with which the prince later locates her and marries her.

Italian Carnival at Mercato Mall: 26 December 2016 to 7 January 2017 (Except Sunday, 1 January 2017)

Throughout Dubai Shopping Festival the streets of Mercato will come alive with themed entertainment and stage shows. Mercato will open DSF with The Italian Extravaganza Show, an incredible acrobatic dance act with a Venetian carnival atmosphere. The spectacular performance combines iconic costumes with Italian music, dancing, acrobatic balance and a thematic masquerade.

In January, The Italian Magic Illusion Show will be the second big performance during the festival. The unique show combines an exciting mix of moments of improvisation, audience participation and amazing illusions. Other live entertainment not to be missed includes The Italian Broadway Show – an incredible love story and musical inspired by Broadway which takes you back to the golden age of Hollywood. In addition, Mercato will host The Fantastico Show which takes you on an imaginary journey of music, art, juggling, comedy and illusions of Italian culture and The Roaming Street Comedy Act with Ey Pacha, Romeo and Juliet love scenes played out on one of Mercato’s beautiful renaissance balconies.

Apparel and fashion platform

Fashiontainment: 19- 21 January 2017, Mall of the Emirates

Fashiontainment brings together a fusion of Fashion and Entertainment to create a fashion show with musical performances by an international celebrity. Top designer brands from around the world work as one with a celebrity musical act to showcase the latest fashion styles. Fashiontainment will be the opening act for a series of luxury and mid-luxury fashion shows that will run across two days along with in-store promotions.

Fashion Express: 12-14 January 2017 – Ibn Battuta Malll; 19-21 January 2017 – Dubai Festival City Mall; 26-28 January 2017 – City Centre Deira

Fashion Express combines the very popular ‘flashmob’ with a ‘pop up’ concept to create an exclusive in-store event that not only entertains customers in the traditional common mall spaces, but also drives shoppers into the stores. Visitors will also have plenty of chances to be part of in-store promotions and to experience product launches taking place.

Street Runways 29 December 2016 – 3D Office (Dubai Future Foundation); 5 January 2017: THE BEACH; 17 January 2017: Gold Souq; 25 January 2017, City Walk
This features a series of fashion shows partnering with high-street brands in specific locations across the city featuring the city’s iconic landmarks as a canvas to showcase the next fashion styles, using four key locations as the backdrop. Each of these fashion shows will complement the area with the designs and fashion that the models will be wearing.