Abu Dhabi Summer Season: Hit up the ‘coolest hangout’ by heading to The District on Yas Island

The District at du Forum is a micro-city with varied districts offering fun activities aimed at 14- to 23-year-olds.

Kids will get the opportunity to participate in the Junk DIY Robots workshop at The District at du Forum on Yas Island. Courtesy Junkbot
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Billed as the “coolest hangout this summer”, The District opens in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, August 18. A youth-focused pop-up space at du Forum on Yas Island, it is aimed at 14- to 23-year-olds and promises to be one of the highlights of the season. An entire micro-city, with five varied districts, has been built inside the temperature-controlled du Forum.

The month-long event offers a range of exciting activities, including robotics, jam sessions, live performances, 3-D printing workshops, food stations and celebrity appearances.

Here is a preview of the five zones within The District, each of which has its own programme of workshops, special events, guest appearances and weekly live ­performances.

The Street

Things to do: Film screenings, jam sessions, drum circles, performances by local bands, DJs and singers, improvisation and comedy skits, as well as “life-hacking” workshops.

There will also be interactive cross-fit demonstrations and Prof X talks, all in a huge, multipurpose theatre space.

Don't miss: The screening of Planet Of The Weird, by independent cinema platform Cinema Akil. It's part of a special programme showcasing films from across decades and genres, dealing with subjects such as technology, robotics, coding and creation. Thursday, August 18, 7pm to 9pm

The Block

Things to do: Photography workshops, fashion design, technology sessions, art colony, masterclasses, acting classes, filmmaking, industrial design, graphic and 3-D designs.

Don’t miss: The unconventional Beatboxing Workshop with Dubomedy. Learn easy ways to make music, and practise how to create basic beatbox beats. You’ll also learn about tempo, time signatures, structure and rhythm, all without needing the ability to play an instrument or any prior musical knowledge. Saturday, August 20, 4pm to 5.10pm

The Alley

Things to do: Robotics, video games, science, Skype-cons, murals, hardware labs, demo sessions, model kits and all things tech-related – it’s where you have the chance to unleash your inner geek.

Don’t miss: The Junk DIY Robots with Junkbot workshop. You’ll be using items such as plastic bottles, old CDs, wooden spoons and cardboard to create programmable robots, so bring your laptops for this one. From August 22, 5pm to 7pm

The Park

Things to do: This is where the pace slows and visitors are encouraged to relax in the lounges and on beanbags. Relax, read books and magazines, listen to music, indulge in tabletop gaming – and charge their phones while they do so.

Don’t miss: The Graffiti & Street Art by Secret Walls, a live art event. District citizens can watch artists work freestyle on a large mural in this fixture of the art community that has been going strong for 10 years. August 26, all day

The info

The District will be open at du Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi from noon until 10pm each day starting on Thursday, August 18 until September 17. Food and beverages will be sold at The Yard, an indoor space full of pop-up stalls selling a variety of cuisine from local brands and restaurants.

A weekday pass costs Dh100, which gives all-day access to The Districtfor one day from Sunday to ­Thursday. The Dh175 weekend pass provides all-dat access on Friday and Saturday. A season pass costs Dh1,000, and provides unlimited access to the event for the entire month.

For more information, visit ­www.thedistrict.me

artslife@thenational.ae