ALMOND BLOSSOM FESTIVAL Tafraout/2nd Week in Febraury
The Tafraout Valley, where almond-trees reign supremely, is enchanting to the eye at blossom time. Ranging from immaculate to blushing pink, the blooms do not last a very long life. This brief existence makes them even more attractive, drawing more and more visitors to face this spectacle.
WAX LANTERN FESTIVAL Sale/Eve of Mouloud
The white town of Sale, twin sister of Rabat on the Bouregreg estuary, has preserved one of Morocco’s most picturesque traditions; the wax lantern procession or ’Mawkib Esh Shomouaa’. The procession is said to date back to the Barbary period in Sale, when the Corsairs carried wax lanterns in procession to the sanctuary of Sidi Abdallah Ben Hassoun, the town’s patron to implore his protection before a long voyage. It has become a beautiful and entertaining event.
ROSE FESTIVAL Kelaa of M’Gouna (Ourzazate Province)/Mid-May
In this grandiose setting, the day is marked by numerous events like folk-dancing and singing, handicrafts exhibitions, ‘Diffa’-banquets in tents, flower-decked floats, the election of Miss Rose, camel-rides and a splendid excursion by bus from Ourzazate down the valley of the Roses.
CHERRY FESTIVAL Sefrou (Fez Province)/June
A three-days’ festival of entertainment. Numerous sporting competitions, a fantasia, a torch-light procession, fairground and finally the election of Miss Cherry with a parade by her cortege.
OLIVE FESTIVAL Rafai (Fez Province))/Mid-December
A very pretty festival where one can see the traditional olive-picking ceremony, numerous ’Diffa’ feasts and folklore events in a surprisingly vast area of olive groves.
HONEY FESTIVAL Imouzer of Ida Ou Tanane (Agadir Province)/Early May
Argana is said to be the largest collective beehive in the world and also one of the most curious because of its construction, history and the way it is run. Most of the hives are made of split reed cylinders covered with clay. With the aid of a smoking brazier made out of baked earth, the bees and their queen are made to crawl out of the hive into a basket so that the honey can be classified as a historic monument.
FESTIVAL OF FIANCES Imilchl Moussem/ 4th Week in September
Imilchl is a small high Atlas village at an altitude of 8,430 feet. For the young men and girls of the area, it is a tradition to get married on the day of the Moussem in ancient times. A holy man uses to bless the betrothed at Abdgoul and the legend goes that they will remain happy for the rest of their lives. The Finance Festival is staged on the site of the tomb of the old wise man, who is venerated in the High Atlas. It is a time for some 30,000 people from the mountains to assemble in tents for three days with their flocks, horses and camels. It is an occasion for the young girls to wear and show their finery, and their sumptuous silver jewelry and to dance the day and night away under the sun and the stars.
DATE FESTIVAL Erfoud/Early October
This magnificent festival is held annually in the Erfoud area where nearly a million date-palms grow. There is grown a wide range of types of dates. Take for instance the majestic palm-tree, waving lazily in the warm breeze providing shade and a livelihood. The peasants who cultivate them rely on them for almost everything.
HORSE FESTIVAL Tissa (Fez Province)/October
The picturesque center of Tissa, located a few miles off the main road in the Fez province, is the site of a gigantic competition between the various horse breeds. Every year in October, hundreds of riders assemble wearing their finery to present their mounts. Prize-giving and festivities create a very animated scene.
FESTIVAL OF FANTASIA Meknes/Beginning of September
It offers thousands of horsemen and their mounts the chance to meet and display their skills. This festival has become a major success.
