Marrakech, Morocco — Events
Marathon des Sables
The week-long Sand Marathon takes place in the grueling conditions of Moroccan desert with sandstorms and brain-frying heat as the major obstacles to achieving such an intense feat. The race is over 150 miles (241km) of craggy, sandswept terrain and competitors from around the world partake in the charity-driven event that benefits the infrastructure of the region. Only the fittest and most prepared are advised to partake.
Friendship Festival
This fantastic event is structured to bring different cultures together and encourage brotherhood. Marrakech’s annual Friendship Festival features a variety of local and international talent, with performances ranging from traditional Moroccan music to American gospel rock.
Marrakech Popular Arts Festival
There is never a dull moment in this teeming city designed to inflict sensory overload, but during the summer Popular Arts Festival, Marrakech is more frenzied and alive than ever, the already-packed streets even more crowded with an abundance of tourists and Moroccans avid for fun. Artists, craftsmen, vendors, musicians, acrobats, fire-swallowers and dancers hold performances in every corner of the city, with the center of the action at the ruined 16th-century Badi Palace, once the heart of the powerful Saadian Dynasty.
Montreux Jazz Festival Morocco
Celebrated in the stunning setting of La Ménara and the Bahia Palace in Marrakech, the Moroccan version of the Montreux Jazz Festival combines all the memorable elements of this classic event. Workshops, acoustic concerts and the Montreux Jazz Club are all prepared to entertain casual visitors and jazz lovers alike.
Imilchil Marriage Festival
Inspired by Morocco’s very own Romeo and Juliet story, this tribal marriage festival marries up to 40 couples while Berber tribesmen dance and give spontaneous musical performances. The event enables different tribes to meet and find partners, widening the gene pool. A number of festivities take place, making this mass blind date well worth attending. The dates of this festival depend on the harvest; consult the local tourist office for details.
