WorldFestivalAssociation

                                        I N V I T A T I O N

    With pleasure we INVITE you  (children, youth and adults groups) to participate on VI International Muisc & Folk - dance festival and competition “OHRID PEARL” which will be held from  16 – 20  June 2016

      The Festival light motive is to present the cultural tradition of different countries and regions, and to provide an opportunity for the members of groups to get together, to establish friendships and culture presentation trough dance, music..

 Ohrid has been a living town for 2400 years, notable for having 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and is referred to as the Macedonian Jerusalem. Archaeological finds indicate that Ohrid is one of the oldest human settlements in all of Europe. The lake itself is over three million years old. Ohrid in the past was known as Lychnidos - or, “the city of light.” Only much later, in 879 CE, was it renamed Ohrid. The name probably derives from the phrase “Oh-rid” – meaning roughly, “Oh, what a cliff!” It comes from the time when the town was limited in a small area on the lake side of the hill, which in fact is a huge cliff rising above the lakeshore. The town as we know it today was built mostly between the 7th and 19th centuries. During the Byzantine period, Ohrid became a significant cultural and economic center, serving as an episcopal center of the Orthodox Church and as the site of the first Slavic university run by St. Kliment and St. Naum at the end of the 9th century. At the beginning of the 11th century, Ohrid briefly became the capital of the kingdom ruled by Car Samuil, whose fortress still presides over the city today. Festival will be held on wonderful coast on Ohrid Lake, Ohrid city protected by UNESCO.  More information on web site for Ohrid  www.ohridinfo.mk .

 Festival program will be held on the main square in Ohrid.

                                            Program  

16.06 Thursday

     13.00.Arrivalin Ohrid, hotel accommodation and  free activities

      14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel

      19.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel

       21.00 Welcome reception

17.06  Friday

 09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,

 10.30 -14.00 Ohrid sightseeing – visiting cultural monuments (St.Sofia church, Samoil fortress, Antique theatre, Plaosnik, St. Kaneo church …)

     14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel

     18.30 – 19.30 Dinner in hotel

      20.00. Ensembles parade (old town)

      20.30. Official opening of the festival

               - welcome speech and firework

              - Open air performance

            -  dancing together

    18.06   Saturday

 09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,

11.00 – 15.30 Cruising with boat on Ohrid Lake, visit Museum on water and most famous tourist resort  St.Naum monastery, culture  place, – (price 8 euro per person, lunch packet from hotel, dancing boat),

18.00 – 19.00 Dinner in hotel

19.30 Ensemble parade and Second festival evening (optional) or Macedonian evening party  

   19.06. Sunday  

   09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast ,

   11.00 – 14.00 Visiting Stara carsia, oldest tree called – Cinar, Biljanini izvori, Ohrid pearl manufactory, shopping…..   or visiting Struga city,

    14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel,

    19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel

21.00.- 00.00 Disco party with all participants, exchange presents, wine degustation and soft drink for the kids

 20.06. Monday

09.00 Breakfast

11.00 Departure of the participants

OPTIONAL – If you stay more days…

20.06 Monday

09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,

 10.30 – 14.00  Visiting Struga city (house of Miladinovci brothers, river Crni Drim, Kalsita caves church……) or beach time

   14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel and free activities,

   20.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel

    21.00.  Festival evening in Struga city or  Macedonian evening party  

21.06  Tuesday  

09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast,

11.00 – 14.00 Visiting Vevcani (ethno village) or Beach time

14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel

19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel

21.00 – 23.30 Beach party

22.06. Wednesday 

08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast

09.00 – 14.00 Departure to Skopje city with guide (visiting monuments of Alexander of Macedon, National museum of Macedonian struggle, Macedonian GATE, Stone bridge…) (optional)

14.00 Departure from Skopje city

Participating conditions are:

-         The number of groups participants of the festival are not limited,

- Every folklore group  has the right to participate. Children's ensembles  (2/3 of the participants must be 16 or younger), Youth ensembles (2/3 of the participants must be 25 or younger), adult ensembles (1/3 of the participants must be older than 25).

-         Festival is consist of two parts: competitive and non competitive (the group must emphases on which part on the festival will participate – competition or not competition, it must be more than 5 groups in competition part)

-          On the festival may participate children’s, youth and adults folklore groups, modern dance groups, vocal groups, instrumental groups. Age of the participants are not limited.

-         rewards for the winners of the festival in value of 300 euro ( festival board and audience  will decide which group will be the winner),

-         The number of participants are limited (only 3 folk groups from each country for competitive and maximum 3 groups for non competitive),

-         Each group should consist of most 50 members including dancers, managers and musicians. Also, we will choose the best girl's and men's folk costume and the best dancing couple

-         Ensemble should have prepared at least 2 folk dances, 10-15 minutes each with orchestra or CD. The performances will be in the evening hours so you can plan the day ahead and use it for visiting the historical part of the city and  excursions.

-         To send short CV and 2 – 3 photos from the group by mail,

-         To bring a flag of the country,

-         Folklore groups should have there own transport for arrival and departure.

Participation fee is

- 64 euro 3 FB (tree meals per day)

- 84 euro per person for 4 nights with 3 meals per day (Full Board). It covers hotel accommodation with 3 meals per day in 3*** hotels which are located on the coast of Ohrid Lake, in 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 bedrooms with own toilet and bathrooms…….. 

Visit:

Hotel Desaret  – www.hoteldesaret.com.mk,

Hotel Prestol  -  www.hotelprestol.com.mk  

Hotel Beton  - www.hotelbeton.com.mk ,

Hotel Plaza -  www.galebiplaza.com.mk ,

Hotel Kocarev -   www.hotelkocarev.com.mk ,

Hotel Montenegrin – www.montenegrininn.com    

Festival organizers provide:

-         for 21 dancers – one gratis,

-         souvenir and presents for the groups,

-         certificates for attendance on the festival,

-         Welcome cocktail

-         Disco party with drink

-         drinks during the performance,

-         free parking

-         tourist guides for sightseeing of the town,

-         advertising of the festival (press conference, e-flayers….).

INSURANCE:
Personal responsibility and health insurance are within the other obligations of the groups. First Aid and Medical Hospital will be available, medical services must be covered by the group.

On your request,  You can continue your stay in Ohrid. Price will be 22 Euro per day per person FB – price is special for the participants in festivals. For additional days we will prepare special program for you and festival evening in other city.

  The festival will organize the transport for the groups coming by plane by picking them up from airport, during the festival days and back to the airport. You can also arrive through Skopje, Tirana or Thessalonica (Greece) Airport which are only 200 km from Ohrid. The cost of the transportation will be covered by the group and will be additionally agreed according to their number. We will also assist you in obtaining visa for Macedonia if necessary. Also, you can arrive in Ohrid airport by plane and we will organize transfer from the airport to the hotel free of charge.

All detailed information will be supply after your confirmation for participations.

In 2015, participated over 410 participants from 12 countries from Europe.