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| The Whale Festival in Sainte-Marie is also a celebration of local culture. |
From July 13 to 21, Sainte-Marie Island will host the seventh edition of the Whale Festival, highlighting the theme “Excellent products of Malagasy gastronomy”.
This year, the festival will highlight the artisanal products that enrich Malagasy cuisine thanks to their quality and the passion of the “artisans of good taste” who create them. Spices, aromas, chocolate, cheese, fine charcuterie, foie gras, wine, bread and many others will be in the spotlight.
This edition will offer its festival-goers, partners and sponsors a multitude of historical events enriched with new features. The Whale Festival gains notoriety year after year, both nationally and internationally, and confirms its leading position among Malagasy events. Dedicated mainly to promoting tourism in Sainte-Marie and its whales, it highlights the wealth of Madagascar.
“The festival consolidates its position as leader in Malagasy events. Focused mainly on promoting tourism in Sainte-Marie and its whales, it offers a magnificent showcase for Madagascar,” declared the President of the Republic Andry Rajoelina during his visit in 2023.
“The famous parade and carnival, no longer meeting the expectations of festival-goers, will be replaced by a daily ‘living spectacle’, in the form of a competition, taking place on the village podium, created and hosted by the villagers of Sainte-Marie,” underlines the manager within the Madagascar National Tourism Office in collaboration with Telma Madagascar. New this year will be the scale of the “festival village”, built in the city center on Place du Barachois. It will be the heart of the entertainment for this 2024 edition during the 9 days of the festival, with daily activities. In addition, the festival village will offer various cultural, musical and educational activities on the central podium.
The “festival boutique” will offer fast food as well as artisanal creations, a boutique presenting a textile collection and objects created for and with the signature of the Whale Festival.
Nicole Rafalimananjara