The Walk at JBR captures the festive Christmas cheer

Dubai - Some of the events at JBR are: Gingerbread & Elf toy's workshops at The Piazza from 10 am to 6pm.

Even though malls across the city are festooned with trees and sparkle, December in Dubai is meant for the outdoors. Ask any beach loyalist, he'll tell you Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) - rather The Walk at JBR is the place to be. The buzz is palpable even in the day time, unlike the recently inaugurated glowing garden, which needs the sun to dim down before it lives up to its name.
Till Dec 26, there's a host of events happening at JBR. Even when it seems like nothing is happening, there are snowman and sandman installations (on the beach) and gingerbread men to get clicked with. All restaurants are impressively occupied, with several tourists and residents of Dubai.
Some of the events at JBR are: Gingerbread & Elf toy's workshops at The Piazza from 10 am to 6pm. Also a snowpark has been installed at the beach. Both of these areas come alive at dusk when music and projections start.
The carol singers and dancers enter at 5.30 pm, and continue to regale crowds till 9.30 pm. You can catch them at the small piazza, the north lawn, and in the JBR courtyard next to the The Walk. And if you don't know exactly where these spots are, that's ok - just mill about near 'Magnolia Bakery' - check out the cupcakes, and Operation Falafel. It's hard to miss the reindeer with mammoth antlers situated in the centre of the glistening water element near the eateries.
All along the beach starting 6.30 pm is the festive parade. If you have kids, you might need to carry them on your shoulders so they can see what's happening.
Not only children but adults too can drop into the bakeries to see the trees, and check out the Santa cupcakes. After Magnolia's divine-smelling flour and vanilla interiors, Paul falls a bit short. But do check out their raspberry nougat buche (Dh189), and their good for eight persons Vanilla raspberry buche (Dh139), although it's unclear how they calculate appetites for cake consumption, especially the Christmas cakes. - reporters@khaleejtimes.com