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Summary of Cook Islands events 2025
This is a summary of the main events in the Cook Islands calendar which will make any visit even more memorable. All events are on Rarotonga unless otherwise stated. Where dates are shown they are confirmed. Where they're not, you can see when the event took place in 2024
FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE EVENTS
CLICK HERE
All information is provided in good faith, but dates could change at short notice
JANUARY TO AUGUST
60TH ANNIVERSARY OF SELF-RULE CONCERT: 1 January
KONI RAONI FESTIVAL, AITUTAKI 2 January
BEACH GAMES: 4-18 January
CULINARY FESTIVAL: 21-25 February
COMPOSERS COMPETITION (Te Mire Atu): 14 March
LGBT+ CELEBRATIONS: 11-14 April
PURSUIT IN PARADISE MARATHON, AITUTAKI: 28 April-1 May
DANCER OF THE YEAR (Te Mire Ura): 23 April-8May
TRIATHLON FESTIVAL: 1-5 May
DISCO DANCE PARTIES: 6 and 28 June
CONSTITUTION CELEBRATIONS 60TH ANNIVERSARY 24 July-4 August
Events programme
TRADITIONAL SPORTS: 1 and 2 August
Whale watching season
July to October
Between late June and the end of October the waters off the islands are full of whales you can watch without ever leaving the shore. Find out more here
Photos: Cook Islands News
SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER
ROUND RARO ROAD RACE: 18-23 September
COOK ISLANDS GAMES: 6-19 October, 2024
NATIONAL GOSPEL DAY (Nuku) - TBC, 28th October in 2024
TURAMA: 1 November each year
VAKA EIVA (CANOEING FESTIVAL): 21-28 November
TE MIRE TIARE (FLOWER) FESTIVAL: TBC, 30 November-6 December in 2024
FITNESS FESTIVAL, AITUTAKI: TBC, 7-10 November in 2024
CHRISTMAS EVENTS: Throughout December - including Santa parades and a picnic in the park (19th in 2024)
KONI RAONI FESTIVAL, AITUTAKI 26 December
FOR FULL DETAILS OF EVENTS CLICK HERE
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Every Sunday
Good Friday and Easter Monday
Christmas Day and Boxing Day
New Year's Day and 2nd January
Anzac Day, 25th April each year
King's Birthday (HM King Charles III): first Monday in June
Not Palmerston which has its own public holidays
Ra O Te Ui Ariki (The Day of the Council of High Chiefs): first Friday in July
Constitution Day - 4th August
National Gospel Day - 26th October
Where a public holiday (other than Sunday itself and Anzac Day) fall on a Sunday, the following Monday will be the public holiday
GOSPEL DAYS
These are also holidays local to each of the islands to celebrate the arrival of Christianity. And its not just church services...all kinds of special events are held and there's much partying and feasting. The days are organised by the Christian Church in the Cook Islands (CICC) and are on different dates on each island
MORE ABOUT GOSPEL DAYS