Annual calendar of major Tahiti events
Dates and events are subject to change. For more details,
check with your hotels or your host.
January
- New Year's Day, All of French Polynesia celebrates
the New Year. The long-standing tradition is to spend New
Year's Day driving around the islands visiting friends and
relatives. Children's games are held in town on most islands.
- New Year "Kaina" Island Tour takes place
in Tahiti the first Sunday of the New Year. The Office of
Tourism organizes this celebration which features a guided
"circle island" tour along with music, songs,
games, plays, sports dances and other traditional animation
- Ceremony of "Tere". The traditional
three-day New Year's festivities celebrated in each village
on the
island of Rurutu.
- First ATP Pacific Tour International Tennis Tournament
(Tahiti)
- Hinano Surf Tour (Tahiti), end of January
February
- St. Valentine's Day, February 14th
This loving feast is celebrated everywhere with special
entertainment
- Tahiti Nui Marathon (and Tahiti Nui Inline Skate
Marathon)
Along this entirely flat course next to a crystal blue
lagoon and a rich tropical surrounding on paved circle
island roads,
water, PowerAde, and tropical fruits will be served to
you from dugout canoes, and when you cross the finish line
at
Temae Beach, the beautiful Tahitian vahines will bestow
you with a floral wreath and a shell medal!
For more details, visit Tahiti
Nui Marathon.
- Chinese New Year
The Chinese community of Tahiti celebrates the New Year
on the date given by the Chinese horoscope for that particular
year. The program and festivities begin with an official
opening ceremony at the Town Hall of Papeete. This is
followed
by a Grand Ball. A cultural day is also organized to discover
the magic of Chinese folk culture; song, dance, martial
arts and culinary arts.
- "Hinano Cup Va'a" pirogue race (Tahiti)
March
- Arrival of the First Missionaries (Marquesas Islands)
The only annual public holiday honoring the arrival of the
first Christian European missionaries over 200 years ago,
on March, 5, 1797. Celebrations include re-enactments of
the missionaries' arrival.
- The Coming of the Gospel
A commemorative celebration of the arrival of the first
Protestant missionaries in Tahiti. This year marks the
207th
anniversary of the Coming of the Gospel.
- Tahitian Cultured Pearl Festival
The Black Pearl Festival will be held in To'ata Sqaure on
the waterfront in Papeete Tahiti. See the amazing designs
created with these world renown Cultured Pearls.
- Raiatea International Billfish Tournament
The rules for this tournament are based on IGFA rules,
which help protect deep-sea marine life. The winners
of this competition
will be rewarded with trophies and cash prizes!
- Austral Inter-Island Games
A week-long sporting holiday on the island of Rurutu, bringing
together 400 athletes from throughout the Austral archipelego.
- 4th Annual Leeward Island Games
Competition to be held on the island of Huahine
April
- Tifaifai Quilting Week. Held on Tahiti at the
City Hall of Papeete
- Heineken Kayak Contest. This competition is split
into two races; the first leg will race over the 35-km stretch
between Tahiti and her sister island, the second leg will
be over the 45-km stretch between Huahine and Raiatea. These
2 contests are the basis for selection into the top French
Polynesian team that will carry the national flag in overseas
competition.
- Areaarea I Tahiti. The inter-island games held
on the island of Tahiti.
- The "Me" Ceremony. The Evangelical Church's
charity event to fundraise from each parish throughout
French
Polynesia.
May
- Billabong Tahiti Pro Surfing Tournament.
The quiet village of Teahupoo (west coast of Tahiti) will
host
the event with trials organized from May 1st to May 5th
and the main event from May 6th to May 18th.
Local surfers will be invited to compete with the best
surfers in the world during the trials. Surfers will face
one of
the most respected reef waves in the world. The size of
the waves have earned the site the moniker "Jaws
of Water."
- Commemoration of the arrival of the " Bounty
" (Australs Islands)
- Finals of the Arearea I Tahiti Games. Following
the elimination trials held in April, the finals of the
Arearea I Tahiti games will be held May 1-3
- Centennial Commemoration of the Death of Paul Gauguin.
Events to be held May 8-10, on the island of Hiva
Oa in the Marquesas.
June
- Heiva I Tahiti (Cultural Heiva). The largest cultural
festival in all of Tahiti taking place at beautiful To'ata
Square in Papeete, Tahiti. This year's Heiva will
feature the biggest-ever assembly of dance troupes. In
addition to the dance competitions there are sporting events,
cultural
demonstrations, cuisine and artisans.
Full 2004 program
- The 4th Tahiti Nui Cup. "The only
sailing regatta in the world with more lay days than races".
Race among the stunning tropical Islands of Raiatea,
Huahine, Taha'a and Bora Bora in Tahiti's Leeward Islands.
Enjoy an island hopping festival of traditional food and
entertainment and when the parties are over cruise the turquoise
waters of the most beautiful lagoons in the world.
For more information:Tahiti Nui Cup
- Horue Surf Competition (Tahiti).
- Hiva Vae'vae Autonomy Celebration. Located at
To'ata Square on the waterfront of Papeete, Tahiti.
July
- Tahiti - Heiva Nui
- Heiva of Arts & Crafts
This event will kick off the month-long Heiva
Nui. Artists from all over French Polynesia
will
show and sell their wares at the Aorai Tini
Hau Exposition Hall in the district of Pirae in Tahiti. Artists
from all archipelagoes will demonstrate their skill at weaving, carving,
tifaifai
(Tahitian patchwork)... Demonstrations and workshops will be also held
- Singing and dancing Festival
- Tahiti Nui Games
- Canoe Races
- Bora Bora - Heiva I Bora Bora
August
- International Golf Open. International event at
the 18-hole golf course on the main island of Tahiti.
The best golfers from the Pacific compete for the prize
money.
- Night of the Guitar & Ute. In late August,
the local musicians descend on Papeete to compete in this
contest based on traditional satirical improvisational songs.
- Tahiti Agricultural Fair (Tahiti). Agriculture
enthusiasts and flower growers join with artisans from throughout
Tahiti and Her Islands during this highly-anticipated annual
event. A Tahitian village is built for the occasion.
- Te Ora e Te Mana. Historical reconstitution at
the Marae Arahurahu in Paea on Tahiti.
September
- World Tourism Day (Tahiti & Her Islands). Similar
to the Heiva, this event celebrates tourism to Tahiti with
a range of cultural, artistic, musical, and sporting demonstrations
to delight visitors.
- Annual Arts & Crafts Exposition of Tahiti-Iti.
Held in the small village of Taravao, located at the
isthmus of Tahiti and Tahiti-iti.
October
- Super "Aito" Individual Canoe Race (Moorea-Tahiti).
The best outrigger canoes compete in this inter-island race
in pursuit of the title and the winner's ring.
- Aitoman & Half-Aitoman Triathlon in Moorea.
Proclaimed the "most exotic long distance triathlon
in the world!!!".
- Mister Tahiti Contest. Located on the island of
Tahiti.
- Hawaiki Nui Va'a. International Outrigger Canoe
Race from the island of Huahine to Raiatea, Tahaa, and Bora
Bora. Over 100 teams from canoeing countries all
over the world participate in this grueling open-ocean
race.
- Carnival de Tahiti. Patterned after Rio's famous
Carnival, visitors are encouraged to participate in this
joyful celebration, which will have all of Papeete dancing
to folkloric, Polynesian and international rhythms.
The Parade takes place on the Papeete waterfront, a very
colorful affair with around 15,000 participants.
- Annual Arts & Crafts Exposition from the Austral
Islands. Held at Vaiete Square in Papeete, Tahiti.
November
- Tahiti Nui Roller Marathon
Located on the peninsula of Tahiti, also known as Tahiti-iti.
- International Endurance. Sporting events in the
Tuamotu atolls.
- All Saint's Day -- "Turamaraa". The Papeete
marketplace is transformed into a botanical garden and entertainment
center during this poignant celebration. At night, the cemeteries
are adorned with candles, as families sing hymns and recite
prayers for their dearly departed.
- Rugby in Moorea & Tahiti
A rugby "sevens" tournament on a half-field
with special Tahitian atmosphere.
- Special Austral Islands Festival Day. For a few
days, the GIE Tahiti Manava Visitors Bureau offers an overview
of the arts and crafts, cultural activities and cooking
specialties practiced in the faraway Austral islands located
at about 600 kilometers south of Tahiti.
- Day of the "Tipanie" Flower (Tahiti).
The frangipani (or plumeria) is celebrated during this
festival. For this special event, many buidlings are
decorated with this flower. A dinner is held during which
contests
are organized for the most beautiful flower crown and
traditional "Mama Ru'au" dress.
- "Te Tuhuka O Te Henua Enana" Marquesas
Arts & Crafts Exhibit & Sale (Tahiti). In honor
of Polynesian traditions, handicraft associations assemble
to show their work. The Marquesas are well known for exquisite
wood carvings and tapa cloth.
- Annual Arts & Crafts Exposition from the Austral
Islands. Held at Vaiete Square in Papeete, Tahiti.
- Annual Arts & Crafts Exposition from the Marquesas.
Held at To'ata Square in Papeete, Tahiti. November 16 -
December 1.
- Raiatea Quadrathlon
December
- Tiare Days on Tahiti. Tahiti pays tribute to
its emblematic flower during this three-day celebration.
Many
buildings are exceptionally decorated for this event.
- Pineapple Festival (Moorea). The pineapple is the
official symbol of Tahiti's sister island of Moorea. Moorea's
Tourism Committee organizes a day of tastings and a variety
of shows, all centered around the theme of the pineapple.
- Special Marquesas Island Festival Days (Tahiti).
For a few days, the GIE Tahiti Manava Visitors Bureau offers
an overview of the arts, crafts, cultural activities and
food specialties indigenous to these remote islands located
approximately 500 kms North East of Tahiti.
- Annual Arts & Crafts Exposition from the Marquesas
Held at To'ata Square in Papeete, Tahiti.
Source :
GIE Tahiti Tourisme
http://www.tahiti-tourisme.pf
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