Cook Islands Festivals and Events - Travel guide
Cook Islands
Festivals and Events
Throughout the year we find many reasons to celebrate and have fun. Some of our festivals have a cultural or historical significance, such as the Te Maeva Nui Celebrations held each year in July, where we celebrate our nation’s self-governance. This is an important festivity for us and perhaps our largest, with colourful float parades, drumming and dancing competitions, choir singing, sports and so on. This event involves peoples from all of our islands and is a great time to be in the Cook Islands.
Other celebrations and events of note are: Te Mire Kapa ‘Dancer of the Year’ Competitions that are excellent events to watch, attracting many spectators. During the month of April, men and women, boys and girls participate in several categories of dance, all leading up to the finals late in the month or early in May.
Miss Cook Islands Pageant is held every two years and is a big event for our young female contestants aged between 18 to 25 years. The winner goes on to represent our nation at other pageant such as Miss South Pacific and Miss world.
Cook Islands Gospel Day, also known as ‘Nuku’ takes place in October. Various religious groups from around the islands assemble together to perform religious dramas or acts, in remembrance of the arrival of the missionaries to our shores.
The Tiare Festival or Flower Festival is a big event, celebrated each year in November with a different theme. There are competitions for best decorated shops, schools and government buildings, best head or neck ‘ei, best pot plant and much more. Miss Tiare Pageant and a float parade also feature during this fun week of festivities.
Many sporting competitions take place during the year. They include the Rarotonga International Triathlon that attracts participants from all over the globe and the Round Rarotonga Road Race, in which visitors are encouraged to participate. Others include the International Rugby Sevens Tournament, Boxing Day Touch Tournament, Cook Islands National Athletics Championships and of course the local Rugby Union, Football and Netball seasons.
Other events include the Cook Islands Tourism International Food Festival, Cook Islands Tivaivai Exhibition, All Souls Day ‘Turama’ , Kumete Sports, ‘Vaka Eiva’ Canoe Regatta and much more.
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