The so-called valley of roses, Kelaat-M'Gouna in Morocco, hosts an annual rose festival in mid-May when millions of roses are harvested, and special events and competitions are held. The festival is a time of song and dance, feasting, souk-like markets, and a chariot procession through a shower of rose petals.
Events & Activities
The festival will start on Friday at 10:30 am with an opening ceremony. During the event, a parade of floats will be covered in rose petals, and a Rose Queen will be selected and crowned at 5 pm. Each day will have a folklore event. The carnival is scheduled for 3 pm on Saturday. Soiree Artisticque will take place from 8 pm to midnight on Sunday. The festival's last day, Monday, will end at 4 pm.
Berber music will play as people dance, and vendors sell rose-scented oils, soaps, lotions, and perfumes. Children wear rose garlands, and there are competitions with rose petals holding special offers from traders and tea shops. Women wear sequined kaftans with rose petals and rose-decorated headscarves. Additionally, visitors can take a ride into the Moroccan desert during this time, try traditional Berber dishes, and enjoy local music and dancing.
Location
The festival of roses attracts about 300,000 people to El Kelaâ M'Gouna, located in Tinghir Province, 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Ouarzazate, in the Dadés Valley. It's worth arriving a few days early to see the harvesting process and watch children decorate the streets lined with beautiful hedgerows.
