Fez — Casablanca is preparing to welcome a new large-scale cultural event as the “Magic Garden Light Festival” prepares to transform the historic Vélodrome d’Anfa into a glowing nighttime attraction from March 27 to May 10.

Organized under the “Go Vélodrome” initiative, the festival aims to reintroduce the iconic venue as a cultural destination for residents and visitors alike. For more than six weeks, the park will be reshaped into an immersive environment of illuminated installations, interactive artworks, and multimedia projections.

The event invites visitors to step into what organizers describe as a “luminous dream,” blending artistic design with technology to create an evening walking experience through light and sound.

A nighttime journey through light

The Magic Garden Light Festival is designed as a 60 to 90-minute walking journey through the Vélodrome’s green spaces, where thousands of lanterns, LED structures, and projection-based installations will guide visitors through themed zones.

Each part of the festival is built around six creative pillars intended to shape the experience.

One pillar focuses on immersive art, with interactive installations that react to visitors’ movement or presence. Another highlights advanced lighting technologies and digital projections to create shifting landscapes of color and visual effects.

Organizers also describe the event as a form of “visual poetry,” where carefully arranged light and shadow form a narrative path through the venue.

Nature plays a central role as well, with installations designed to complement the Vélodrome’s green surroundings. The festival also emphasizes family-friendly experiences, offering activities that appeal to both children and adults.

Finally, the event aims to highlight Casablanca’s urban heritage by creatively repurposing one of the city’s historic spaces.

Casablanca joins the global light festival trend

The Magic Garden Light Festival draws inspiration from international attractions such as Dubai Garden Glow and the Parc Floral light displays in Paris. By hosting a similar event, Casablanca positions itself within a growing global trend of immersive nighttime festivals that combine art, technology, and public space.

The organizers see the project as a way to expand the city’s cultural and tourism offering, especially during the spring season.

The festival will take place daily between approximately 7pm and midnight, allowing visitors to explore the illuminated gardens after sunset. Entry prices for the 2026 edition are expected to start at 80 Moroccan dirhams for adults and 60 dirhams for children.

Reviving the Vélodrome’s cultural role

Beyond the festival itself, the event is part of a broader effort to reimagine the Vélodrome d’Anfa as a long-term creative hub for Casablanca.

Through the “Go Vélodrome” project, organizers aim to blend heritage preservation with modern cultural programming, transforming the historic site into a permanent space for art, leisure, and public events.

By aligning the festival with spring school holidays, the organizers hope to make the experience accessible to families and encourage residents to rediscover one of Casablanca’s most recognizable urban landmarks.

If successful, the Magic Garden Light Festival could become a recurring event in the city’s cultural calendar, reinforcing Casablanca’s reputation as a growing center for contemporary art and urban creativity.