What is the Sefrou Cherry Festival near Fes and when is it held?

The Sefrou Cherry Festival is a delightful small-town tradition that deserves more attention than it gets. Sefrou is a historic town tucked into the foothills of the Middle Atlas about half an hour south of Fes, long known for its orchards, its old medina and its centuries-old Jewish and Muslim communities living side by side. The cherry harvest gave the town its signature festival, which is one of the oldest continuously held festivals in Morocco.

It takes place in June, timed to the cherry season, and UNESCO has inscribed it on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in recognition of its long history. The highlight is a colourful parade through town and the crowning of the “Cherry Queen,” alongside folk-music performances, sporting events, craft and produce markets, and plenty of fresh cherries to taste.

Expect a friendly, community-centred atmosphere rather than a major spectacle — this is local life on joyful display. Sefrou itself is lovely to wander: a compact walled medina, a waterfall just outside town, and a sense of authenticity that the bigger cities can lack. It makes an easy and rewarding day trip from Fes.

Worth planning around? If you are already in Fes in June — perhaps for the Sacred Music Festival — it is a charming half-day add-on. I would not build an entire trip around it, but as a window into small-town Moroccan heritage and warmth, it is genuinely special and very photogenic.