Mercato, a leading shopping and leisure destination in Dubai, is set to launch 40 days of activities as part of Dubai Summer Surprises 2011.

Between June 22 and July 31, Mercato will feature a plethora of roaming acts, dance shows, interactive magicians, street musicians and stilt walkers, among others.

Children’s eco-friendly workshops will be available on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays from 3 pm to 8 pm, while the entertaining shows will kick off at 3 pm.

The mall will also feature a beautifully designed centre-stage at the main piazza, while the arches, balconies and alleys will be adorned with greenery, flowers and butterflies in line with the Mercato Summer Festival.

Inspired by the famous Covent Garden Festival, every corner of Mercato will come alive throughout the festival as the mall plays host to a wide spectrum of family – focused entertainment.

During the festival, Mercato and its sister mall Town Centre Jumeirah will be jointly running a promotion. For every purchase of Dh200 ($54.45) in any outlet in either mall, customers will be entered into a draw to win fabulous prizes that include holidays, courtesy of Dnata and a luxury Land Rover LR4.

Many of the participating stores in Mercato & Town Centre Jumeirah will also have sales and special offers that reach up to 70 per cent, a statement said.

Additionally, the malls’ loyalty programme members can double their chances of winning by presenting their card at the customer service desk upon claiming their coupons, the statement said. – TradeArabia News Service