Nigeria’s Mare Festival will take place from December 27 to 29 in Idanre, Ondo State, bringing mountain-climbing competitions, traditional performances and cultural celebrations to the historic hill town for a second consecutive year following its revival in 2025.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced the dates during a World Tourism Day event in Akure, where he was represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Adesoji Afolabi.

The festival centres on the Idanre Hills, a landscape of towering rock formations and ancient settlements that has long been central to the town’s history and cultural identity.

In the local language, “Mare” means “don’t fall”, a traditional expression of encouragement for people climbing the hills’ steep and rocky slopes. The phrase captures the spirit of a festival that combines physical endurance with cultural celebration.

First launched in 2009, the Mare Festival became one of Ondo State’s major cultural and tourism events, bringing together mountain climbing, athletics, traditional music and dance. It was last held in 2016 before returning in December 2025 after a nine-year absence.

This year’s programme is expected to feature the Mare Marathon, mountain and rock climbing, concerts, art exhibitions, youth talent showcases and performances by the Ondo State Cultural Troupe.

Plans also include ancestral re-enactments associated with Ode Mare, a newer cultural initiative highlighting the history and traditions of Idanre’s communities. The initiative showcases traditional dress, music and dance linked to the town’s historic quarters, including Isalu, Idale, Irowo, Alade and Atoshin.

The festival is expected to bring together traditional rulers, tourism operators, cultural groups and visitors from Nigeria and the diaspora.

State officials say the event is intended to promote the Idanre Hills as a tourism destination while creating opportunities for local businesses, including hotels, traders, artisans and entertainment operators.

The festival’s revival in December 2025 drew large crowds to a programme featuring sporting events and cultural performances.

Speaking at the closing celebrations, Aiyedatiwa praised the participation of local communities and young performers, and pledged a bigger festival in 2026.

The December edition will mark the next stage of that revival, as Ondo State seeks to turn the festival’s return into a sustained annual attraction.