The main festival in Samoa is the Tuila Festival in early September, followed by the Jazz Festival, both in Apia. The highlights of Tuila include canoe races, tattoo demonstrations, traditional dance, food and singing nights and the Miss Samoa Crowning. A similar event takes place in American Samoa in July - the Tourism Week. The Fautasi Outrigger Canoe race, held each June, is another highlight in the Samoan calander - up to 12 long boats each with 50 canoists race along ther north coast of Upolu finsihing in Apia Harbour. The day co-incides with Samoan Independance Day with dancing and festivities held outside the Samoan Parliament.

Sundays are observed in Samoa as a day of rest and few shops are open, bus services are limited and churches are full.

Holidays
The main school holidays are from the first week of December to mid January. This is the high season for Samoans returning home from NZ, Australia and US and flights are very often full. Book well in advance.

The peak tourism season is May to October.

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