Throughout the magical lands that are home to the Sahara desert & the imperial city of Marrakesh, is a Mediterranean breeze that’s fragrant with roses and traditional song. While hidden in the mountain is a legend meant only for lovers.  I’m speaking, of course, about the festivals in Morocco. As with any culture, the traditions from the past are celebrated. Ancestral singing, dancing and feasts are set in modern day. And, Morocco doesn’t disappoint.

    Below are Festivals in Morocco listed in date order throughout the year.  Make sure you plan your trip around them. Savor the dates, dance with the locals, shy away from the snake charmers. Then  listen closely to learn the tale of two star-crossed lovers that changed marriage proposals forever, in this, the enchanted Kingdom of Morocco.

APRIL

 Marathon des Sables Festivals In Morocco

Place: The Sahara Desert

Length: 6 days

Starting in the spring of every year is a multi-stage race through the Sahara. It’s known as “the toughest footrace on earth”. Over 1300 competitors from 30 countries travel 156 miles through the desert. They have to be self-sufficient, carrying their own cargo of food & equipment , sleeping in tents along the way.

MAY

Kelaa-des-Mgouna Festivals in Morocco

Place: Kelaa-des-Mgouna in Morocco’s Dades Valley

Length: 3 days

During the harvest in May, in the area known as “the Valley of the Roses”(due to the abundant rose fields), they celebrate with a festival. Starting on Friday, it includes song, dance, kiosks selling rose products & parades. Approximately 20,000 people make the pilgrimage to enjoy the festivities & watch them crown the new Miss Roses.

JUNE 14-22, 2019

Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

Place: Fes

Length: 9 days

Open-air concerts, chanters, & dancers make up this 9-day festival. Carry yourself from venue to venue savoring authentic food and drink set in various locations of the Fes medina like Bab boujloud & Dar Tazi. If choosing to stay in the medina of Fes, choose from one of the beautiful Riads or Dars through Fez Riads. They provide day trips on Wednesday of the festival. This is a day the concerts take place in the evening. Take one of their most popular excursions to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of  Volubilis and the nearby pilgrimage town of Moulay Idriss, knocking out several bucket-list items in one stay.

JUNE 20-23,2019

The Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival

Place: Essaouira

Length: 4 days

Launched for the first time in 1997, this festival features musicians from around the world. The genre is a celebration of Gnaoua, the inspired music, dance and religious rites of the Berber, African and Arabic people.  Twenty different open-air concert venues are located throughout this historical medina of Essaouira, an enchanted coastal city.

JUNE OR JULY

Marrakesh Popular Arts Festival

Place: Marrakesh

Length: See online for exact dates and times, differs by organizer

Pulling all the cultures of the various regions of Morocco into one festival, is a celebration everyone must witness. If the belly dancers, trick horse riders, fire-swallowers and snake charmers don’t entrance you, the music & artistic performances will. Performances done in the historical sights like the ruins of the 16^th century El Badi Palace attract artists and visitors from Europe and around the world. This is one of the most popular festivals in Marrakesh that occupies most bucket lists. Stay close by for the after-dark spectacular called Fantasia, a traditional show of horseman you’ll talk about for years to come.

SEPTEMBER

Imilchil Marriage Festival – September Romance

Place: The Village of Imilchil in the Atlas Mountains

Length: 3 days

Traditionally closed off to visitors, if you have an opportunity to attend this festival, take advantage and go! Located high up in the lake plateau of the Middle Atlas Mountains in Morocco is a quaint village called Imilchil occupied primarily by Berber tribal clans. Every September for 3 days, all of the surrounding tribes join here for this 3-day festival to enjoy traditional dress, dance, food & music together. The festival is not for a wedding, but to bring all tribes together under a legend……. some even walk away engaged.

The tragic legendary tale is about two young lovers, from enemy tribes, who fell in love long ago. Their families would not allow them to marry. It’s said, in grief, they cried so much, the tears created two lakes. One lake was “Isli” (meaning bridegroom) and the other “Tislit” (meaning bride). They were so sad they drowned themselves in those lakes. There is a mountain separating these two lakes, so even after their deaths, their souls remained apart. When the families of the enemy tribes learned of this, lost in despair, they came together & decided all their children could now choose their own spouse.

 So once a year, known as September Romance, at this most celebrated and religious festival, the women choose their husband. If he agrees, they become engaged. Out of fear for their daughters, the fathers do not like visitors at the festival, so stay back, respect the rituals & observe. Men in white are looking for wives and the women in traditional garb are looking for husbands. Divorced and widowed women are the majority & they can be identified by pointed head pieces. Coming to the festival gives you more insight to a timeless and rich culture & they do appreciate the tourism. This is a poorer part of Morocco, at this event they are able to showcase their wares.  You can take advantage of all this along with authentic cuisine in the market they created for the event.

THE NINETH MONTH IN THE MUSLIM CALENDAR

Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

Place: Throughout Morocco

Length: The entire month of Ramadan (which changes every year)

For the entire month, Muslims must abstain from food, drink & other physical needs during the daylight hours. This is a time to purify the soul & refocus attention on God as well as practice self-sacrifice. It is a sober month in Morocco. The end of the fast is marked by a festival which lasts for several days, Eid al-Fitr. The celebration is family-oriented and prayer with ample feasts.

OCTOBER

Erfoud Date Festivals In Morocco

Place: Erfoud

Length: 3 days (in early October depending on the harvest)

Erfoud comes alive every October, for three days,after the dates are harvested. This town is the center of the date producing area with the largest expanse of date palms (almost a million) in the area. Soak up the festival atmosphere with local date inspired cuisine, traditional dance, music & a fashion parade. The crowning of the ‘Date Queen’ is as exciting as the dromedary race.

FALL

Eid al-Adha

Place: Throughout Morocco

Length: Fall (check online for exact dates)

This is a global Muslim holiday marking the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Commemorating the trials of the Prophet Abraham, who was asked by Allah to sacrifice his only son. In honor of this show of faith, there is a sacrifice of an animal on Eid al-Adha (usually a sheep or goat). Most of the meat from this sacrifice is donated to others. This is to symbolize the act of giving away something of importance to oneself.

DECEMBER 31, 2019

New Year’s Eve

Place: All of Morocco

Length: 1 Night

Celebrated usually in tourist hotels and restaurants. One tradition is to spend the night in the desert, an amazing way to ring in the new year checking off another item on that bucket-list

Note: This info was accurate when it was published but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates, dates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip