Ponce Circle Park in Coral Gables hosts the first Morocco Days in Miami this Friday and Saturday, a free two-day festival of Moroccan craft, food, design and business set up to mark 250 years of friendship between Morocco and the United States.

The festival runs Friday, Oct. 23, from 4 to 11 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., at Ponce Circle Park, 2810 Ponce de Leon Blvd. The City of Coral Gables lists it on its events calendar as the inaugural edition. Entry is free.

Why 250 years

The anniversary goes back to the earliest days of the United States. According to the festival, Morocco opened its ports to the new nation in 1777, and the festival frames this year's event around that relationship. A welcome message on the festival's site comes from El Habti Chafika, Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Miami.

Three zones in the park

The festival is laid out in three areas, each with a different focus:

  • Souk Origins is the traditional craft section, with artisans, textiles and hands-on workshops.
  • Made in Morocco gathers contemporary Moroccan brands in fashion, design and food.
  • Industry and Future covers entrepreneurship and technology.

Mint tea and Moroccan food are part of the program, and the organizers are planning a visitor passport that guests carry from zone to zone. Two Moroccan regions are featured this year, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Drâa-Tafilalet, and their regional artisan chambers are among the festival's partners.

The detailed hour-by-hour schedule had not been posted as of Tuesday, and the festival says a visitor guide with family, parking and access information is still to come. Registering on the festival site is optional and does not reserve a spot, since entry is open.

Who is behind it

Miami International Airport is listed as the festival's gold sponsor. Other partners named on the festival's site are the City of Coral Gables, Florida International University, Miami Dade College, AWS Real Estate Miami, and the artisan chambers of the two featured regions.

The weekend is preceded by a conference on Thursday, Oct. 22, at FIU, titled Morocco at the Crossroads: Connecting Europe, Africa, the Arab World and the Atlantic.

Where it is

Ponce Circle Park is at 2810 Ponce de Leon Blvd. in downtown Coral Gables. The festival says families are welcome, and parking details are due in its visitor guide.

If you go

  • What: Morocco Days in Miami, first edition
  • When: Friday, Oct. 23, 4 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Where: Ponce Circle Park, 2810 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables
  • Cost: Free; optional sign-up at moroccodaysmiami.com
  • Also: Morocco at the Crossroads conference at FIU, Thursday, Oct. 22

Sources