Dubai's October Magic: Festivals, Foodies, and Fab Finds

Welcome listeners, it’s Friday, October 3rd, 2025, and you’re tuned in to Things to do in Dubai with Oly Bennet—your unofficial minister of fun, champion of offbeat sports, and professional globe-trotter! Ready to trade your ordinary day for something dazzling? That’s what Dubai does best.Today, Dubai is serving up classic October sunshine—warm air tinged with a salty breeze and just enough cloud to keep things cool for adventure seekers and festival hoppers. The city is buzzing with excitement as the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations reach their final weekend. Imagine lanterns glowing, mooncakes everywhere, and the sound of drums and fan dances echoing by the Creek. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned sand-skimmer, Dubai invites you to dive headfirst into its whirl of events.For the music lovers and Swifties with a passion for spectacle, Dubai Marina hosts The Walk of a Showgirl: Taylor Swift Marina Walk today. Expect glitter, choreography, and singalongs—Swift style, all along Dubai’s iconic waterfront. If you’re in the mood for a cultural feast, don’t miss the family-friendly Mid-Autumn Festival action, with immersive tea ceremonies at Shang Palace, lantern-making workshops for kids, and mooncake tastings sprinkled throughout top hotels and dining spots. You can catch acrobatics, fan dances, and musical acts at the Dubai Chinese Cultural Centre, plus outdoor lantern displays that light up the evening sky.Home décor fans, the seventh edition of the Dubai Home Festival is happening now, transforming the city’s malls and pop-ups into treasure troves for interior design inspiration and cheeky deals. Whether you’re hunting for rare trinkets or finally committing to that neon couch you saw on TikTok, this festival promises discounts and limited-edition finds citywide.For the nocturnal partygoers, nightlife reigns after dusk. Private rooftop bar launches and pop-up parties crank up the volume, with DJ lineups announced daily. So, whether you groove to hyper-pop or slow-drip jazz, you’ll find a rhythm—or a rooftop—that suits your style tonight.Here’s the latest from Dubai’s local news menu. Word on the street is Dubai Metro will be running extended service hours this weekend to accommodate festival crowds. That’s music to your ears if you hate traffic as much as I do. On the culinary front, foodie alerts are flashing for two fresh openings: a new Japanese fusion restaurant at Jumeirah Beach and a pop-up Korean barbecue spot in Al Quoz, both earning early buzz for their wild flavor combos and interactive menus. Locals are already debating who grills the best wagyu, so yes, this is a competitive sport!Must-do activities for today? Start with a sunrise stroll at Alserkal Avenue—Dubai’s art and culture hub—where cutting-edge galleries are hosting street art pop-ups and secret VR installations. Swing by Old Dubai for a plateful of luqaimat, Dubai’s answer to sweet doughnut holes, best enjoyed beside the Creek. Squeeze in a quick abra boat ride and wave to the pearl divers. If you want a thrill, try paddleboarding under the skyline or race a camel in Al Marmoom—trust me, it’s wilder than rush hour at Sheikh Zayed Road.Local tip: If you hear an Arabic phrase “Yalla, habibi!” today, know it means “Let’s go, my friend!”—the unofficial rallying cry for everything in Dubai, from shopping sprees to spontaneous desert adventures. Toss it into your vocabulary and watch doors—and hearts—open.Tomorrow, Dubai Opera welcomes the legendary comedian Omid Djalili for a stand-up show guaranteed to leave you laughing so hard your ab muscles will thank you. The Mid-Autumn festivities wrap up with moonlit lantern release ceremonies, and design fans get even deeper discounts at the Dubai Home Festival’s grand finale. Want to know more? Tune in for tomorrow’s epic rundown of Dubai’s quirkiest happenings and undiscovered adventures.Thanks for...