National Festival of Marrakech Popular Arts / 2020

Date: July, 2020

(exact date can be know approximately two months before the festival)

The National Festival of Marrakech Popular Arts was created by King Mohammed V in 1959. The objective pursued by the monarch is still valid today and basically tries to preserve and display the rich oral heritage, culture and the arts of the United Alawite. The Moroccan musical and artistic legacy is shown every year in Badi Palace Gardens and Le Village.

Le Village is one of the locations where the festival takes place. It is a large space, divided into six areas, home to many of the musical and cultural events of the annual program of activities. There are located, for example, some exhibitions, and workshops of traditional crafts, music workshops, art, about cinema or folklore. In short, interesting proposals that are not lacking in any edition of the Festival of Popular Arts in Marrakech.

El Badi Palace is another majestic setting of this cultural event. It was built in the seventeenth century by Ahmed al-Mansour. They usually call it “The Incomparable” and say that in his most splendid time had some 300 rooms, all decorated with gold, precious stones, Italian marble and glass. He went on to become one of the most luxurious in Africa.

It was erected to commemorate the defeat of the Portuguese in the Battle of the Three Kings.

The National Festival of Popular Arts in Marrakech Moroccan regions 16 groups are present. This is one of the most established and traditional cultural events nationwide. Each year a grand parade with participants groups, coming from all corners of the kingdom, open activities and artistic performances. Belly dances, regional dances, rhythms, poems and costumes fill the streets of Marrakech with color, sights and sounds during the festival each day.