El Kelaa des Mgouna Travel Guide

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Every year, usually the first weekend in May thousands of roses are harvested in the valleys of Mgouna in the Dades Valley and a festival is traditionally held to get the peoples of the area to celebrate.

The dates or the actual festival is never absolutely definite as it depends on the rose harvest, the season and the powers that be - the Moroccan Tourist Office in London has usually proved a good source for receiving pending information as soon as it comes available.

It starts Friday evening with stalls setup with local crafts and organisations promoting issues or items in the area and continues through to Sunday but the main and best day is the Saturday with a main parade around midday followed by entertainment in the arena.

Even though there is talk now, even amongst Moroccans, that the event has become more commercialised and with a hope to attract tourists, we attended and if it has become commercialised then the major number of attendees being attracted still seem to be locals and Moroccan visitors!

There were a lot of people about to see the parade and following entertainment but still easy enough to be able to get good viewing positions both out on the main street and in the arena.

The entertainment was excellent with groups from the local tribes providing dancing, singing, sword manouvres and playing traditional musical instruments.

Taxis could be a nice way of going from one place to another in town.Although for what I think, the city its just too small for you to even think on getting a taxi.

It is in the last half of May that the grand Rose festival takes place in Kelaa-des-Mgouna. It happens in conjunction with the rose crops of the season. At that time people swarm into the villages of Kelaa-des-Mgouna and celebrate with music, dancing and shopping.

This stadium is where the festival takes place. I hope in the future to put some pics of the festival itself.