The Beach Canteen will return to the Kite Beach as the official hub of Dubai Food Festival that’s set to take place from February 25 to March 12.

The Beach Canteen will sport a brand new look, host high profile celebrity chefs and pack in several entertainment and activities for visitors this year.

Organisers are expecting an attendance in excess of 40,000 people, over the course of the 17-day programme.

The revamped and free-to-attend destination will be considerably bigger in size with more seating and new raised dining areas compared to last year. Visitors will enjoy more greenery with trees and grassy areas.

Alongside 15 delicious home-grown restaurant concepts and celebrity chef appearances, Beach Canteen will serve up all-new features such as fitness classes, open-mic nights, storytelling by the sea, a farmer’s market and fashion market, as well as local bands, DJs, children’s activities and beach sports.

“This year, we have taken Beach Canteen to the next level with its new look and programme to create an exciting hub that will inspire visitors to sample our incredible range of events across the city,” said Laila Mohammed Suhail, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) that organises Dubai Food Festival.

The 2016 Beach Canteen will include special events such as ‘Best of the Farmers Market’, where visitors can buy from a selection of different Dubai market’s select vendors.