Sefrou’s annual cherry festival is considered among Morocco’s oldest and most prominent cultural celebrations. Admirers of Sefrou’s plentiful cherry farms, it was the French who first introduced the festival in 1919. The three-day festival usually takes place during the harvest season in early June when Sefrou’s plentiful cherry trees fill the city’s air with a fresh and sweet aroma.
The feast attracts between 400,000 and 500,000 visitors from across Morocco and the world, as well as hosting participants from other countries such as France, Spain, and Turkey.
Locals use the festival as an opportunity to show their charming customs, traditions, and artisanal crafts. On the third day of the festival a parade of beautiful and vibrant floats line the streets in the lead up to the crowning of a “Miss Cherry Festival”.
All three days are complete with music and dance as well as a plentiful offering of Moroccan cherry-flavored sweets and delicacies, including fresh jams and spreads.