The 4th Edition of the Ifrane International Festival will take place From July 20th- 27th, 2019. Referred to as “Little Switzerland” and home to Morocco’s leading institution, Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane is nestled in the Middle Atlas region. This small city is however best known for its ski slopes that rival those of Vail. Ifrane also boasts a magnificent Cedar Forrest with varied species of Barbary Monkeys and Alpine architecture. The Ifrane International Festival was founded in 2016 and was created to promote the economic, natural, and tourist potential of the province.
Featured as an arresting image on Ifrane’s program and signage is the town’s cult landmark, a stone lion, that sits on a perched near Hôtel Chamonix. It was carved by a German soldier during WWII and commemorates the last wild Atlas lion, hot near the province in the 1920s.
The Ifrane Festival will feature music and sports events over an 8-day timeframe. The artistic program and activities are:
Artistic Program
July 20-28, 2019 – Each evening at 9pm and 10pm talented Moroccan artists will perform on stage. The Infrane Festival will open with the Ahidous Symphony. The Adidous is composed of 220 artists from 22 Ahidous troupes. The group is considered an intangible heritage or Morocco and express themselves in the form of traditional dance and rhythmic poems with the tambourine. The band represents the Amazighs of central and Middle Atlas Morocco.
The line up for this year includes the Hamza Namira, Hamid El Kasri, Mehdi Mozayine, Mimoun Ourahu, F.Zahra Laaroussi, Dounia Batma, Hatim Ammor, Majid Almohandis, Zouhair Bahaoui, Kendji Girac, and local troops from Ifrane and Morocco,
Sport Program
July 26, 2019 – Fishing contest at Lake Tizguit
July 27, 2019 – Clay Pigeon Shooting On The Board in Tarmilate. An estimated fifty fencers will play the draw of this year. The Ifrane contest will be held on the beautiful plateau of Tarmilate.
July 22, 2019 – A cross country race at the Socio-Sport Center of Ifrane
July 23-25, 2019 – Basketball 3×3 Tournament Begins. 8 men’s teams and 8 women’s teams will face Alqods in the open air to win the 2019 title.
July 20-27, 2019 – Card Games Competition between Morocco’s senior citizens.
July 20-26 2019 – Mini foot games, an Ifrane version of soccer will take place. Held at the Socio-sportif center.