Festival de Baia das Gatas

Festival da Baia das Gatas

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MusicBaia das Gatas
DatesDates TBA · Usually AugustCheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsBaia das Gatas has kept admission entirely
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: CVE
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Festival de Baia das Gatas in Baia das Gatas

Founded in 1984 by musician Vasco Martins and friends including Djo d'Eloy, directly inspired by Woodstock, this beachside festival grew from a 180,000-escudo budget and 150-watt sound system into Cabo Verde's most popular music festival, earning the nickname Woodstock of Africa. Held free of charge every full moon weekend in August for three days, it has run continuously since 1984 with a single interruption in 1995 due to a cholera epidemic.

The Festival de Baia das Gatas began in 1984 when Cape Verdean musician and composer Vasco Martins, working with friends including Djo d'Eloy, decided Sao Vicente island needed its own version of Woodstock, the 1969 American festival that had drawn roughly four hundred thousand people, and built the first edition on a genuinely modest budget of 180,000 escudos with sound equipment rated at just 150 watts, holding it on August 18, 1984 at the coastal spot that gave the festival its name.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Baia das Gatas has kept admission entirely free across four decades, a structural choice almost unheard of among festivals of comparable scale and cultural significance, keeping it genuinely open to the whole Sao Vicente community rather than a commercial ticketed event

02

The mystery stays covered

Its scheduling to the full moon weekend in August ties the festival's timing to a natural lunar cycle rather than an arbitrary calendar date, and its unbroken run since 1984, interrupted only once by a 1995 cholera epidemic, gives it one of the longest continuous festival histories documented in West Africa

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival is held each year on the full moon weekend in August

Water and renewal

Living ritual

a fixed lunar-cycle scheduling tradition maintained since its 1984 founding

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually August

Getting around

For Festival de Baia das Gatas, plan transport around the exact Baia das Gatas venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual beachwear suits the outdoor coastal setting; a light layer helps for cooler nighttime hours during the multi-day event, and sturdy sandals work well on the beach terrain.

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For Festival de Baia das Gatas, stay near the part of Baia das Gatas you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

CVE

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map16.90 N, 24.91 WOpen in Google Maps

Baia das Gatas, Sao Vicente, Cabo Verde

Nearest airportVXE — Cesaria Evora
TransportFor Festival de Baia das Gatas, plan transport around the exact Baia das Gatas venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Festival de Baia das Gatas, stay near the part of Baia das Gatas you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Baia das Gatas via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Baia das Gatas, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for August.Compare faresFestival gearCasual beachwear suits the outdoor coastal setting; a light layer helps for cooler nighttime hours during the multi-day event, and sturdy sandals work well on the beach terrain.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Cabo Verde and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Festival de Baia das Gatas?

Festival de Baia das Gatas is listed for August. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Festival de Baia das Gatas take place?

The festival is listed in Baia das Gatas, Cabo Verde. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Baia das Gatas, Sao Vicente, Cabo Verde

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLcaboverdesmart.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually August
Source statusOfficial source linked
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