Holidays And Festivals

Festivals, moussems and events follow one another throughout the year in the four corners of Morocco. Let us remember, for the uninitiated, that a moussem is a cultural manifestation, often religious but sometimes also secular, which can be related to harvests, saints (Muslims) or even to nature. Why not take advantage of your trip to take part in or attend one of these festive events? Our local expert in Morocco will take you!

The almond blossom is the queen of the party. It occurs in Morocco around January / February or even December. The almond trees then color the city of Tafraoute with bright and dazzling hues. Dancers, musicians and storytellers take turns to entertain you during this event which celebrates the beginnings of the arrival of spring. As I said, the date of this festival can be very variable, but if the program of your circuit matches, I would be happy to introduce you to this festival!

Once a year in March, the International Nomadic Festival is held in M'hamid El Ghizlane, 90 km south of Zagora in the Drâa valley. The gathering is in the middle of the desert, it is for you the opportunity to discover the cultural richness of nomadic tribes. Crafts, painting, weaving ... But also and above all songs, music and dances, stories and poetry are performed by artists during the event. A real dive into the local culture that I love to offer travelers.

The cultivation of roses is a very common activity in the beautiful valleys of Dades and M’goun. I suggest you go and discover a festival that celebrates the blooming of rose bushes in May. A colorful stage in your trip! Men and women meet, dressed in their finest costumes and accompanied by singers, flute players and drummers. Residents of Kelaa M’Gouna and neighboring villages throw rose petals at visitors, sprinkle them with rose water and everyone comes together to elect the "Queen of Roses".

Also called the "candle moussem" or "the wax process", this event takes place every year in Sale on the eve of Eid al Mawlid, the feast to commemorate the Prophet's birth. You will be able to attend a very beautiful traditional celebration, with a procession of candles through the alleys of this city. Moroccans parade carrying large, colorful candles, which they then place at the foot of the Sidi Abdellah ben Hassoun mausoleum.

The Tan Tan moussem takes place over a few days in June. Since 2008, the event has been listed as Intangible World Heritage by Unesco. This is an opportunity for more than thirty nomadic tribes of Morocco to come together. It is also about perpetuating the Saharawi culture, that is, the culture of these nomadic populations living in Western Sahara. You can attend horse and camel races, musical encounters, songs and dances, the presentation of crafts, medicinal plants, and other aspects of the local culture. It must be said that we can only be bewitched by the atmosphere that reigns here, both festive and authentic.

Created in 1960 by His Majesty King Mohammed V, this folk festival is the oldest festival in Morocco. In July, artisans, storytellers, singers and dancers from all over Morocco take to the streets of Marrakech! These dances and songs correspond to important moments in religious or rural life, the aim being to keep this traditional culture alive. I invite travelers to stroll through the medina or the Menara, this is where the troops perform, especially in the evening. If you travel to Marrakech during the festival, this is a must!

Imouzzer des Ida Outanane is a village perched at an altitude of 1250 m, 60 km from Agadir. This is a stage that I generally suggest to hiking enthusiasts, the area is superb with its waterfalls! One of the main activities of the locals is beekeeping, honey with aromas of flowers, thyme, lavender or cactus is known for its originality throughout Morocco. The Honey Festival takes place every year in August, but it can be enjoyed all year round. If you have opted for a tour passing through the region, I can only recommend a gourmet stopover!

I suggest you set off to discover a rather surprising event, in a mountainous setting and in an isolated area of Morocco in the great wild spaces of the Middle Atlas. The Imilchil moussem is the great feast of the Berber tribe Ait Haddidou which meets every year at the end of the harvest (in September) at the marabout of Sidi Ahmed Oulmaghni, the protector of shepherds and flocks. These are 30,000 nomads who take place and set up a village of Berber tents. This is an opportunity to pray to the holy marabout, to do their shopping, to meet up, and to party. You will see a huge cattle fair, street vendors, songs and dances of the Ait Hadidous and wedding celebrations… Enough to disorient you!

This festival, created in 2007, will give you ideas for using this spice! Cultivated for centuries in the mountainous areas of the Taliouine-Taznakht region, saffron is the main source of income for the locals. During this gathering, saffron fields (saffron plantations) and cooperatives will offer workshops, tastings of traditional Moroccan dishes, or participate in sports activities. The streets are busy, people singing and dancing, it is a break that can be enjoyable for travelers!