– Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and the continued closure of Samoa’s borders to
keep the country safe, the 31st Annual Teuila Festival has been scaled-back and will feature a
number of events during 29 August – 4

th September, to commemorate what is one of Samoa’s

most widely anticipated events.
The Opening, which will be televised on 29th August, will feature the keynote address by the
Honourable Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, and a choral exhibition featuring singing
groups from past years.
On 2
nd
– 3
rd September, the Waterfront Market will take place in association with the Samoa
Hotels Association at the Samoa Cultural Village in Apia. The open Market will feature a range
of stalls selling food and crafts, live entertainment and activities for children.
And in support of the country’s Covid-19 vaccination roll-out spearheaded by the Ministry of
Health, special competitions will be held during the Market days to encourage the community to
get vaccinated and go into the draw to win a variety of prizes. Draws will take place throughout
both days.
Other events confirmed to be held during the week include a number of sporting fixtures. These
are being organised by various clubs with support from Samoa Tourism Authority. Among them
are the United Soulz Netball Tournament, Alo Paopao Business House Regatta, Samoa Tag
Incorporated Tournament and Volleyball Samoa Federation Tournament.
This year’s Miss Samoa Pageant has been postponed to 2022 and current Miss Samoa,
Fonoifafo Seumanu McFarland will continue with her reign.
The Teuila Festival was established in 1991 to draw Samoa’s diaspora to the motherland and
help extend the peak-tourist season that is mostly fueled by the cold winters of New Zealand
and Australia.

Pre-Covid, the Teuila Festival grew to become one of the largest cultural celebrations of its kind
in the South Pacific and it was not uncommon for other events including locally-hosted regional
and international meetings and conferences to run in parallel with the Festival.