XXII International Music & Dance Festival OHRID LAKE
Location: OHRID, Macedonia
Director: Z.S.& WOFA
Application Deadline: 5 January, 2025
I N V I T A T I O N
“OHRID LAKE” MUSIC & DANCE festival is famous festival in Ohrid region. Organizers of the festival are: Youth culture center in cooperation with World Festival Association, Municipality of Ohrid and National Institution Center for culture “G. Prlicev” from Ohrid.
With pleasure we INVITE you (FOLK GROUPS, CHORAL GROUPS, Orchestra, brass bands, MAJORETTE TEAMS, modern dance teams....) to participate on XXX International Music & dance festival “Ohrid Lake” which will be held from 28 June - 02 July
Ohrid Lake is one of the oldest tectonic lakes on the planet (it is about 3 million years old),along with The Baikal Lake in Russia,Tanganyika and Malawi in Africa and Titicaca in South America.It is one of those rare preserved ancient lakes in Europe. Ohrid Lake is one of the largest and most important natural heritages in the world.The unique and endemic flora and fauna with many relic living forms make the lake rare but real natural "museum of living fossils".
Ohrid lake coast is 35km with beautifully sands beach, tourist attractions and entertainment. Temperature of the water in the lake is 25C degree and it is suitable for swimming, diving, yachting …..
Ohrid today is a cultural, spiritual and tourist centre. It is the famous tourist place in Macedonia but also in the region. During this period there are a lot of tourists from Holland, Finland, Poland, Sweden, Germany, Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Turkey …Due to exceptional beauty Ohrid is protected in this period is the best tourist resort in Macedonia. It is the famous tourist place in the region with a lot of hotels, apartments, a lot of traditional restaurants and café, shops, entertainment. Ohrid during the summer period lives 24 hours.
Ancient ruins, beautiful amphitheatre, 3 citadel walls, St.Sofia Cathedral, St.Jovan Kaneo church, St.Naum monaster (one of the most beautiful monasteries in Macedonia and an important pilgrimage place. Breathtaking setting on a plateau over Ohrid Lake and Galicica mountain towering from behind. It was founded in the 910 by St.Naum, but the present-day church was built in the 16th c. Of the original church just the side chapel with the grave of St.Naum still stands), gallery of exclusive icons, museums, workshops for hand-made paper, woodcarving and famous Ohrid pearls, are among hundreds sites for tourists worth to visit. There is also a strong Roman connection to the city, since Lychnidos was along the famous route Via Egnatia, build in the 2nd century B.C., connecting the Adriatic and Aegean sea. Considering the number of churches located in the Old town (365 churches according to the immemorial legend, for local people to celebrate every single day by honouring another saint), Ohrid is called “the Balkan Jerusalem”, successfully playing the role as the biggest pilgrimage spot for all the Orthodox Christians in the world.More information on www.ohridinfo.mk
Festival program will be held on the main square in Ohrid.
How it was on the festival past years you can see on following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFo9Rx6z_4U&t=1s
28 - 02 July
General rules:
- Every group (Folk, Choir and Majorette) has the right to participate. Children's ensembles Youth ensembles Adults ensembles and it is a non-competitive sample .
- On the festival may participate folklore ensembles, choral groups, majorette teams, modern dance groups, vocal groups, instrumental groups and soloists, as well as groups and performers from other art styles.
- The number of participants are limited (only 3 groups from each country),
- Each group should consist of most 70 members including dancers, managers. musicians and family members,
- Ensemble should have prepared at least 2 dances, 10-15 minutes each with orchestra or USB.
- The Choral groups should prepare 10 – 15 minutes program in free category. 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 us short USB and photos of the group,
- To take a flag of the country,
- Groups should have there own transport for arrival and departure,
Program Proposal
Day 1
13.00 Arrivalin Ohrid and hotel accommodation, free activities (swimming in Ohrid Lake)
19.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Welcome reception and meeting with leaders of the groups
Day 2
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
10.30 - 13.00 Ohrid sightseeing – visiting cultural monuments (St.Sofia church, Samoil fortress, Antique theatre, Plaosnik, St. Kaneo church, Gallery of Icons)
18.00 – 19.00 Dinner in hotel
19.30. Ensembles parade (old town)
20.00. Official opening of the festival
- Welcome speech and firework
- Open air performance
- dancing together
Day 3
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
10.30 – 14.00 Visiting Stara carsia, oldest tree called – Cinar, Biljanini izvori, Ohrid pearl manufactory, old paper manufactory,shopping ….or Visiting Struga city,
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel and free activities (sunbathing),
18.00 – 19.00 Dinner in hotel
20.00 – 23.00 Workshop (learning different dances- each group will show own dance and the other will learn dancing with them)
Day 4
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 -culture place, also swimming in most popular beach – (price 12 euros per person),(lunch package by hotel, dancing boat),
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00.- 00.00 Disco party with all participants,
Day 5
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
11.00. Departure of the participants
OPTIONAL – If you stay more days…
Day 5
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
10.00 - 14.00 Visiting Struga ( Vevcani ethno villige, Cave church Kalista..)
14.00 - 15.00 Lunch in hotel
19.00 - 21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Free time or diacotheque (optional)
Day 6
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
11.00. Departure of the participants
Participation fee with acommodation is:
- To ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay in the festival yas, WOFA offers several accommodation options.
- Choose from our top-tier city-center hotels or lakeside properties, each offering different board options to fit your needs.
Suggested Accommodation:
1. Hotel Delago & District Villa (MAIN SUGGESTION FOR BEST ACCOMMODATION IN STRICT CENTER)
- Located just 100 meters from Ohrid’s main square, Hotel Delago & District Villa offers 4-star comfort with double rooms and top-quality breakfast & dinner options.
- Availability is limited!
- Double rooms accommodation!
*rooms will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
More about Hotel Delago & District Villa
Pricing Options: (BB)
- 3 Nights/ 4 days (BB): 99€ per person (Bed & Breakfast)
- 4 Nights/ 5 days (BB): 132€ per person
- 5 Nights/ 6 days (BB): 164€ per person
(HB)
- 3 Nights/ 4 days (HB): 114 € per person (Half Board - 2 meals/day)
- 4 Nights/ 5 days (HB): 149 € per person
- 5 Nights/ 6 days (HB): 189 € per person
2. Hotel Desaret & International
- An exclusive 3-star lakeside hotel with an outdoor swimming pool. Hotel Desaret features open buffet meals and is partially renovated for added comfort. It is 14.2 kilometers from the main square of the city.
- 3 Nights/ 4 days (HB): 99 € per person (Half Board - 2 meals/day)
- 4 Nights/ 5 days (HB): 126 € per person
- 5 Nights/ 6 days (HB): 159 € per person
- 3 Nights (FB): 110 € per person (Full Board - 3 meals/day)
- 4 Nights (FB): 139 € per person
- 5 Nights (FB): 176 € per person
3. Hotel International, Hotel Mizo, Hotel Prestige,
- 119 euro per person for 4 days (3 nights with 2 meals per day )
- 149 euro per person for 5 days (4 nights with 2 meals per day)
4. Hotel De Luks Apartments
- Ideal for those seeking a longer stay, Hotel De Luks offers meals included in both Half Board and Full Board packages.
Pricing Options:
- 3 Nights (HB): 82€ per person (Half Board - 2 meals/day)
- 4 Nights (HB): 109€ per person
- 3 Nights (FB): 99€ per person (Full Board - 3 meals/day)
- 4 Nights (FB): 129€ per person
4. Additional Central 3 & 4-Star Hotels
- For a wider selection, these centrally located hotels offer various room configurations (double, triple, and quadruple). Price information is available upon completion of the application form.
- Hotel Plaza – Visit Hotel Plaza (Lakefront)
- Hotel Internacional – Visit Hotel Internacional
- Hotel Montenegrin – Visit Hotel Montenegrin
Festival organizers provide:
- for 24 dancers – one gratis,
- souvenir and gift for each group,
- Welcome cocktail
- Disco party with drink
- certificates for attendance on the festival,
- guide for the festival,
- drinks during the performance,
- advertising of the festival (news letter, social media promotion, posters.
- Free parking during festival evening
NOTE: Tourist tax and insurance is 1 euro per day per person and it is paid additional..
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 35 Euro per day per person FB and 30 in HB– price is special for the participants in festivals that we can provide. For additional days we will prepare special program for you. If you wish we will organize festival evening in other city.
After Groups arrived in Hotel will be given detailed program of the festival.
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 Thessaloniki 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 2016, participated over 376 participants from 9 countries from Europe.
In 2017, participated over 414 participants from 10 countries from Europe.
In 2018, participated over 428 participants from 9 countries from Europe.
In 2019, participated over 488 participants from 10 countries from Europe.
NUMBER OF SEATS IS LIMMITED!
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NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Published on 02 July 2019
"MORE OF 300 CHILDREN PRESENTED THEIR CULTURE ON THE FESTIVAL IN OHRID"
From 27 June till 01 July was held XI International music and folk dance festival ÖHRID LAKE", whre participate over 300 participants from Montenegro,Ukraine ,Lithuania,Poland...
Festival evening was on 29 june on the main stage in the city where ensembles show their traditional and modern dances..
On the end of the performances were given sertificates and presents on the ensembles...
They visited main culture atractions in Ohrid and have boat trip to St Naum..as they said they were satisfied from accommodation in Desaret hotel and festival organization..
Some photos and videos from the festival on the link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/0B8As_IOFIAl5MEo1T0tsVTNuQms
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Reviews from the groups:
This festival has review of 12 groups and average estimation is VERY GOOD - 8,6/10