The birth of a baby is considered a momentous occasion in Rwanda, with each newborn being introduced to the public amid a stir of happiness and praise. And this tradition even extends to gorillas. For an experience like no other, attend Kwita Izina: the Gorilla Naming Ceremony, a nationwide event where baby gorillas are introduced to the local community, officially booked names and memories. The event is never absent when it lists the most famous festivals in Rwanda, with gala dinners being held in honor of the ceremony across the country, and in recent times, an increasing number of conservationists. Conservationists and celebrities support the celebration, and its importance to respecting, appreciating and monitoring wildlife.

Kwita Izina is modeled after a centuries-old tradition in which Rwandans name their children in the presence of family and friends. In 2005, Rwanda began officially naming the mountain gorillas on what has become a global nature festival. By naming these majestic animals, give them a value they certainly deserve. The ceremony is an opportunity to thank the communities living around Volcanoes National Park, our research partners, veterinarians, and the conservationists, rangers and watchers dedicated to protecting gorillas. In the past 16 years, 328 mountain gorillas have been named.

Time: 24 September
Location: Kinigi, Rwanda

Umuganda is a Rwandan national day of community service. Between 08:00 and 11:00 in Umuganda, Rwandan civilians take part in a country-wide ban on road traffic, whilst everyone participates in communal work for the public good. Much like a day of community service in the United States, most of the work involves cleaning, including a washing of the streets and parks. There are other ways of commemorating the holiday too, and some locals choose to plant trees and participate in environmental work. A strange and endearing spectacle to see a busy and bustling country coming together to engage in public service.

When the sun rises on the last Saturday of each month in Rwanda, it dawns over a country blanketed in silence. The ubiquitous motorcycle taxis, which stream across the city non-stop, disappear. Stores are shuttered, streets are empty. Once a month for four hours, the entire country shuts down to take part in government-mandated community service called "Umuganda," a Kinyarwanda word that means "coming together in common purpose to achieve an outcome."

Time: the last Saturday of each month
Location: around Rwanda

Rwanda is known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” and although this may seem a daunting setting for runners, it has become the perfect place for the International Peace Marathon held annually in May. This is always a jubilant event, bursting with color and oozing with enthusiastic and energetic participants. The first marathon was held on 15 May 2005, a poignant date which marked a decade since the Rwandan Genocide. Over 2000 runners of varying abilities from over 20 countries come to participate in the International Peace Marathon, drawing athletes from all over Africa and Europe.

It’s an activity-filled day which also inspires a communal interconnectedness, and it is definitely worth entering if you’re an avid long-distance runner looking to explore Rwanda’s gorgeous hills. Be careful, however; the altitude reaches 1500 meters, so it’s worth undertaking altitude training before you begin the race. The marathon consisted of four loops all on paved streets. It is an incredible experience to be able to run a marathon in Rwanda; recommend you carry money during the marathon... it is still the most rewarding marathon you will have ever completed. In the future you would love to be able to run it again.The organizers take feedback and will be working hard to improve conditions for future runs take advantage of the travel deal being offered and have an incredible adventure.

Time: May
Location: Kigali, Rwanda

About 65% of the population in Rwanda is Christian, of which the majority are Catholic, so a celebration surrounding the assent of Mary into heaven is a vibrant and lively affair. Assumption Day marks the time when Mary, the mother of Jesus, ascended into heaven after her death. Rwandan communities honor this with enormous feasts, dancing and music. Like any other public holiday, this feast will make getting around in the morning and afternoon fairly difficult in Rwanda, so make sure to plan ahead if you are preparing to travel out of any Rwandan city that day.

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is a very important day in the Catholic religion - it is even called the 'Easter of the summer' in some parts of Europe. Also known as the 'Dormition of the Virgin Mary', it is the principal feast of the Blessed Virgin, the mother of Jesus Christ. In countries such as Rwanda, it marks the start of the annual summer holidays, when many escape the heat of the cities to vacation on the coast or in the hills. Because of its date in the calendar, it is known as the "Feast of Our Lady of the Harvest" in some parts of Europe. Assumption Day is one of the most famous festivals in Rwanda.

Time: August 15
Location: Christendom, Rwanda

September marks the arrival of one of the most famous festivals in Rwanda - KigaliUp! Rwandan Music Festival. The event aims to bring together local artists of various genres including traditional folk music, R&B and Rwandan Pop. There are also many international stars grace the stage every year. The aim is to transcend genre divisions to create a community of artists who collaborate to make the county's music industry even stronger than it is today.

KigaliUp! Rwandan music a new central platform and its musicians get new exposure to international performers as well as new sounds and approaches to performance. KigaliUp helps celebrate Rwanda as an economic and social success story, bringing people to see mountain gorillas, beautiful landscapes, craft markets, villages and lakes. The first annual KigaliUp Music Festival was held in September 2011 at Primature Park in Kigali, Rwanda. The brainchild of award-winning Rwandan/Canadian artist Mighty Popo Juno, it was a ground-breaking event where 30 artists from Rwanda, Africa, Canada and Europe shared music and culture with an audience of 2000 people, with a volunteer team of 70 people.

Time: Septem

Location: Kigali cityber, Rwanda

Rounding off Rwanda’s festival calendar is the Festival Arts Azimuts in October. A feast of the arts, FAAZ brings together dancers, musicians, theater makers and visual artists from both Rwanda and abroad. There are also many renowned speakers who are invited to give talks to inspire the values of love, hope and faith in the festival goers.

The international festival has participants taking part from USA, France, Canada, Uganda, Burundi, Senegal, Burkina Faso as well as Rwanda. The program includes theatre, dance and music events in addition to speakers who celebrate hope, love, life, beauty and faith in Rwanda in response to the Rwandan genocide. The festival serves as a healing initiative for the people and culture of Rwanda.

Time: October
Location: Kigali city, Rwanda

Hillywood celebrated its 11th edition in July 2015. The Rwanda Film Festival runs each year for a week, screening famous international films in five to six venues around the city. A great experience for film lovers, this festival is mostly free to the audience. During the festival, the Hillywood Traveling Program also simultaneously takes place. With the slogan ‘The Cinema to the People’, the organizers, each year, place screens in different hilly locations around the country, broadcasting films from local artists to more remote areas. The principal objective of the Rwanda Film Festival is to promote and encourage awareness, appreciation and understanding of the art of cinema in Rwanda.

Rwanda Film Festival is to present the most outstanding films produced in every part of the world and is one of the most famous festivals in Rwanda. Films are selected on the basis of quality and originality. The Festival also promotes contacts between industry professionals to assist in the development of the Rwandan motion picture industry. Rwanda Film Festival also known as Hollywood has established itself as the country's most important cultural event, but also one of Africa's most prestigious festivals. For 14 days, film lovers, filmmakers, industry professionals and media watch the best in new cinema from established masters and new talent both local and international.

Time: July

Location: Kigali city, Rwanda