February 2024 thrills: Sports, culture and festivities

Expat news
  • Danse du dragon
    Shutterstock
Published on 2024-02-01 at 11:00 by Lila Chaleon*
Not sure what to do in February? From sports to culture, Expat.com has put together an agenda of events not to be missed this month!  

Sports and well-being

SIS MTB League

Attention cycling addicts! Mark your calendars because on Saturday, February 24, a mountain bike race will take place in the Vallée de Ferney. Whether you're a novice or a professional, you can choose between a 55 km marathon and a 27 km half-marathon. 

Registration is set at Rs 1000 per race, including race participation, refreshments, a post-race meal, and even bike washing. On-site amenities include toilets, an ambulance service, and lunch for runners and spectators. Experience an unforgettable adventure and share this unique moment with other cycling enthusiasts!

Find out more here.

Triathlon Discovery Day

If you've always wanted to try triathlon, you're in luck. The Mauritius Triathlon Federation is organizing a discovery day dedicated entirely to it! Several formats are available, with races to suit all levels and ages. 

For Aquathlon enthusiasts, test your limits with courses ranging from 300 m to 2.5 km, combining running, swimming, and, once again, running. The Duathlons will also offer a unique experience, combining running, mountain biking, and running again, with distances adjusted according to age categories. The traditional Triathlons invite you to take up the challenge with swimming, mountain biking, and running events, suitable for both young and old. For those who prefer to share the adventure, you can participate in the Team Relay Triathlon. The Mauritius Triathlon Federation team will be on hand to guide you through this sporting experience and make sure you create unforgettable memories. A sporting opportunity not to be missed!

For more information, click here.

Climbing Mount Cocotte

On February 7 and 14, The Adventure Club Mauritius invites you to climb Mont Cocotte, 771 meters above sea level, and discover Alexandra Falls. Enjoy a panoramic view of the south of Mauritius and take a refreshing dip under a waterfall simultaneously!

Find out more here

Arts and Culture

O Re Piya 5

This February 14, it's time to say goodbye to the O Re Piya saga, but not without one last spellbinding dose of Bollywood theater and dance! For this fifth and final show, a whole new story unfolds, with new challenges, promising just as much drama, romance, and passion! Between uncertain finances, episodes of jealousy and betrayal, and a love triangle, embark on an all-new adventure where the characters will face trials that test the limits of their relationships. 

Book your tickets here.

Spring Festival at Ruisseau Créole

It's the start of a new year for Mauritians of Chinese origin. On February 17, 2024, from 4 pm to 10 pm, celebrate Spring Festival at Ruisseau Créole, Rivière Noire. The event will be enlivened by an array of captivating performances featuring the famous lion dance, with a bonus parade of the God of Wealth, a source of prosperity and good luck. 

Let yourself be carried away by the intoxicating rhythm of drums echoing in the air, immerse yourself in the delicate art of calligraphy, and treat your taste buds to culinary diversity. It's a charming evening to celebrate the Year of the Dragon!

Find out more here.

La Folle et Inconvenante Histoire des Femmes by Laura Leoni

On February 23 and 24 at the Caudan Art Center, the funny, offbeat world of Rachel de Spéville through "La Folle et Inconvenante Histoire des Femmes" is a unique show not to be missed. Directed by Ashish Beesoondial, this solo performance offers a vibrant adaptation of Laura Leoni's text, giving a voice to the great mutes of past centuries, the women – a theatrical rendez-vous not to be missed.

Book your tickets here.

Chinese New Year Parade

This Saturday, February 3, at 3.30 pm, the United Chinese Associations (UCA), in partnership with the Chinese Embassy in Mauritius and the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage, organizes the traditional parade to mark the Chinese New Year.

Participants will parade from Port-Louis Municipality to Heen Foh Hall in China Town, where a series of events is planned until 10 pm.  The day will begin with an opening ceremony at 3.30 pm in front of the Port-Louis municipality, including the awakening of dragons and lions, and will last half an hour. The festive procession will then leave the municipal esplanade at 4 pm, marching for around two hours through the streets of Chinatown. Dragons, Chinese lions, majorettes, cosplay, police band, Gods of Fortune, martial arts, and Chinese dance will all be on show. The Heen Foh Hall will mark the end of the parade, where the second part of the festivities will kick off with a photo shoot, Chinese painting demonstration, and culinary festival. From 7 pm, the public can enjoy a show featuring lion and dragon dances and classical Chinese dance and music. Finally, the evening closes with performances by Bomboclak, Abel, and Ti Alexandre from 8 pm!

Children and Families

Musical comedy workshop for all ages 

On February 18, starting at 9:30 a.m., dive into the magical world of musical comedy for a day with Atelier Maukoral! For another session, Jenna Bussier and Claire Le Bihan invite you to become an artist for a unique experience. After delighting children and teenagers, adults are invited to join in this time, too. Join the group and let yourself be carried away by the magic of music and dance.

Registration here.

Screening of Les Triplettes de Belleville

On Friday, February 16, 2024, the Institut Français de Maurice invites you to an exceptional evening to kick off the new year by screening the cult animated film Les Triplettes de Belleville! A cinematic experience that promises to be memorable and, above all, free.

The evening kicks off with an aperitif from 6 pm, followed by the film's 7 pm start. It has a running time of 1h20. For those who book ahead, there will also be a food offer.

For further information, click here.