Tanzania Events Calendar

Throughout the year Dar es Salaam hosts a series of festivals, events and trade shows, all adding to the character and flavour of the city. With concerts, beauty pageants and arts festivals, there’s something for everyone.

THE PAGEANT CALENDAR

MISS TOURISM TANZANIA, MISS TANZANIA AND MISS UNIVERSE TANZANIA
There’s been a boom in Tanzanian beauty pageants in recent years, with Tanzania being represented for the ?rst time at the Miss Universe pageant in 2007. Beauty pageants are an opportunity to celebrate Tanzania’s diversity, development and hope for the future. They’re a showcase of some of the country’s most beautiful and brightest women, many of whom are hoping to win to see more of the world and to use the prize money to further their education.Miss Tourism Tanzania takes place in_]une and Miss Tanzania is held in September. with the winner of Miss Tanzania going on to represent the country at Miss World. There is also Miss Universe Tanzania. the wirmer of which represents the Tanzania at the miss universe pageant. which usually takes place in May.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

The 7th July is a national holiday across Tanzania. Saba Saba, meaning seven seven for the seventh day of the seventh month, is Workers Day. While the country enjoys a well-earned
break, Dar es Salaam is a hive of activity with the International Trade Fair. Taking place at the Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere Trade Fair grounds, over 1500 exhibiters from over 18 different countries attend the fair, establishing global partnerships and developing trade in Tanzania. Open to the public, business visitors from Tanzania and abroad, the trade fair is an important date in the business diary. Visit www.tptanzania.com/ditf/index.html for more information.

ANNUAL CHARITY GOAT RACES

For a fun day out for all the family, the Dar es Salaam Annual Charity Goat Races, held in August, have something for everyone. 2013 celebrates I3 years of goat racing, fancy dress, live music, arts and crafts, fabulous food and millions of shillings raised for charity. Inspired by the Ugandan goat races, the Dar es Salaam Annual Charity Goat Races are the largest event of their kind in East Africa. Visit www.goatraces.com for dates and information about taking part.

BAGAMOYO ARTS FESTIVAL

Visitors from all over the world converge on Bagamoyo in October for the annual Bagamoyo Arts Festival. Bagamoyo is Tanzania’s arts capital, home to the Chuo cha Sanaa, the Bagamoyo College of Arts. For 5 days in October, Bagamoyo is buzzing with activity: traditional dance and music performances, acrobatics displays, hip hop, reggae and bongo-flava stars perform, drama, art and sculpture exhibitions, workshops and more. It’s a time for Tanzanians to showcase their creativity. To leam more about the festival see www.sanaabagamoyo.com

ANNUAL SWAHILI FASHION WEEK

Swahili Fashion Week – East Africa’s most sought after fashion and lifestyle platfonn, is held in Dar es Salaam every November. Now in its 6th year, the highly anticipated event has gone from strength to strength. Created by Tanzania s most celebrated couturier, Mustafa Hassanali as a much needed platform for designers from the Swahili speaking world, Swahili Fashion Week has put Tanzanian and East African fashion on the map for fashionista’s and fashion buyers alike.

For more information about the event visit www.swahilifashionweek.com

DAR ES SALAAM ANNUAL EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL

In October each year, with the support of the European Union and a number of embassies from European countries, Dar es Salaam (and, as of 2010, Arusha) hosts the European Film Festival, also known as the Euro-African Film Festival. Designed to show a different side of Europe to Africa, this Film festival has free daily screenings at the New World Cinema on week nights while the weekend screenings are held on the Mnazi Mmoja grounds.