WorldFestivalAssociation

                                           I N V I T A T I O N

With pleasure we INVITE you (FOLK ENSEMBLES, CHORAL GROUPS,MAJORETTE TEAMS,ORCHESTRAS AND BALROOM DANCING ) (children, youth and adults groups) to participate on  XII International folk – dance & music festival “OHRID FEST”   03 – 07 July, Ohrid, 2022

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

Ohrid City – a mixture of rich history and modern life...

Ohrid is an immortal town on the mythical Balkan, a magical hill of Macedonia whose primordial pulsation links ancient and modern times forever... 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. In 1979 and in 1980, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In fact, Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are both Cultural and Natural sites.

Lake Ohrid – The Lake That Leaves You Breathless…

Lake Ohrid is one of the world's oldest lakes, formed millions of years ago…  The importance of the lake was further emphasized when it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979 and when, in 2010, NASA decided to name one of Titan's lakes after Lake Ohrid.

Lake Ohrid is one of Europe’s deepest and according to most experts the oldest lake in Europe. The importance of the lake was further emphasized when it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979. Feel Ohrid for once in your life and you already know why you will return. For more information visit www.ohridinfo.mk  Festival program will be held on the main square in Ohrid.

 General rules:

- Every  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).

-  This is a non-competitive sample of traditional and modern dances and music performed by  groups.

-  On the festival may participate children and youth folklore dance groups, 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 50 members including dancers, managers and musicians,

-  Ensemble should have prepared at least 2 folk dances 12-18 minutes each with orchestra or USB.

-  The Choral groups -two parts from 12 – 18 minutes free program (one performance acapela in old city (churches) and one performance on the stage with sound equpmant)..

-  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. Also, we will choose the best girl's and men's folk costume and the best dancing couple

To send us short CV and photos of the group,

To take a flag of the country,

Ensembles should have there own transport for arrival and departure,

                                                       Program Proposal

03.07. Saturday

13.00 Arrival in Ohrid, , hotel accommodation,

14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel

19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel

21.00  Welcome reception

 04.07.  Sunday

09.00 – 11.00 Breakfast,

11.00 – 14.00  Ohrid sightseeing – visiting cultural monuments (St.Sofia church, Samoil fortress, Antique theatre, Plaosnik, St. Kaneo church, Bridge of wishes

14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel

18.00 – 19.00 Dinner in hotel

19.00 Ensembles parade (old town)

20.00 Official opening of the festival

            -Welcome speech and firewall

             - Open air performance

             - Dancing together

 05.07 Monday 

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 euros per person, lunch packet on the boat),

18.00 – 19.30 Dinner in hotel

20.00 Second festival evening (optional) or WORKSHOP ( Learning different dances)

 06.07.Tuesday

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 Closing ceremony of the festival- organizers give certificates and presents for the groups than exchange presents and disco party with all participants with wine degustation and soft drink for the kids

 07.07. Wednesday

09.00 Breakfast

11.00 Departure of the participants

 OPTIONAL – If you stay more days…

07.07 Wednesday

09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,

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

14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel and free activities,

19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel

21.00. – 00.00 Firewall party

08.07.Thursday

08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast,

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

14.00 Departure from Skopje city

Participation fee:

- 60 euro (3 HB per person (3 nights with 2 meals per day (Half  Board)).

- 81 euro  (3 HB per person (4 nights with 2 meals per day (Half  Board)).

- 63 Euro ( 3 FB per person (3 nights with 3 meals per day (Full Board)). 

- 85 Euro ( FB per person (4 nights with 3 meals per day (Full Board)).

Participation fee includes:

It covers hotel accommodation with 3 meals per day in 3*** hotels which are located on the coast of Ohrid Lake with own beach, in 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 bedrooms with own toilet and bathrooms and hotels in the centre of the city.

Hotel Desaret is 3* Lake resort with outdoor swimming pool and it has 550 beds so the number is limited.

(NOTE: Our organization has only the right to represent the hotel Desaret).

 On your request we can arrange 4* hotel and inform you how much it will cost

Visit:

Hotel Desaret (hotel on the Lake) – www.hoteldesaret.mk,

Hotel Prestol (hotel on the Lake) -  www.hotelprestol.com.mk,

Hotel Plaza (hotel on the Lake)-  www.galebiplaza.com.mk,

Hotel Montenegrin (hotel on the Centre of the city) www.montenegrininn.com   

Hotel De Lux apartment ( in the centre of the city)

Vila& restaurant “Fortuna” ( in the centre of the city)

Festival organizers provide:

-  for 21 dancers – one gratis,

- souvenir and gift for each group,

- Welcome cocktail

-  Disco party with drink

- certificates for attendance on the festival,

- tourist guides for sightseeing of the town,

- drinks during the performance,

- free parking

- reception in city hall,

- advertising of the festival (, posters, flyers, social medium promotion).

VIDEO FROM THE FESTIVAL (how is on the festival) you can see  on link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFo9Rx6z_4U&t=1s

 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.

After Groups arrived in Hotel will be given detailed program of the festival and each group will have guide during festival.

After the festival finish organizers will put photos on the page of WOFA and the groups can take from there . The copy right of all video materials and pictures are ownership of the Organization of the Festival.

On your request,  You can continue your stay in Ohrid. Price will be 23 Euro per day per person FB and 20 euro for 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 include 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 Ohrid airport, during the festival days and back to the same Ohrid 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 2017 on this Festival participated over 283 (children’s, youth and adults) from 5  countries of South – East and central Europe.

In 2018 on this Festival participated over 326 (children’s, youth and adults) from 8  countries of South – East and central Europe.

 In 2019 on this Festival participated over 398 (children’s, youth and adults) from 7  countries of South – East and central Europe. 

NUMBER OF SEATS IS LIMITED on 400 participants or max 10 groups!

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NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL                                   Published on 10 July 2019

 MORE THAN 400 PARTICIPANTS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES PRESENTED THEIR FOLKLORE ART IN THE XI INTERNATIONAL  FESTIVAL “OHRID FEST”

 XI International Folklore Festival OHRID FEST was held in the period July 5-9, 2019 in the most popular Macedonian resort. Director of the festival Zoran Strezovski informed that the celebration was attended by 400 performers from 11 groups from different countries. He added Welcome party with the leaders of the groups was organized on 5th of July. On 6th and 7th of July, all the participants took part in the parade and then in the Opening Ceremony of the festival and also on the second festival evening in the main square of Ohrid. Groups presented their traditional songs and dances.After their performances in front of Macedonian audience, all the leaders of groups were awarded with diplomas for participation and gifts provided by the organizers.At the end of the evening, all participants and managers danced to the traditional Macedonian song Makedonsko devojce.

On July 8th, participants enjoyed a party. In their spare time, groups explored the sights of old Ohrid - town registered in the UNESCO's list. Performers and their leaders sailed by boat in the Ohrid Lake and enjoyed the beauty of the monastery Sveti Naum.More photos from the festival on the link:

 https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/0B8As_IOFIAl5MEo1T0tsVTNuQms

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NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL                                   Published on 11 July 2018

MORE THAN 400 PARTICIPANTS FROM 5 COUNTRIES PARTICIPATED IN THE "OHRID FEST"

X International Folklore Music and Dance Festival "Ohrid Fest" was held from 6th till 10th of July in the Macedonian town of Ohrid. Director of the festival Zoran Strezovski informed that the festival was attended by 8 groups with more than 400 participants from Poland, Bulgaria, Turkey. Romania, Lithuania. He added also: 

"Welcome party of the participants was organized on 7th of July. On 8th and 9th of July, all the participants took part in the parade and then in the festival evening in the central square of Ohrid. Groups presented their traditional songs and dances. After that they received diplomas and gifrs from the director and the organizing team. In their spare time, the groups had excursions in Ohrid and Struga, they had also a boat trip to Sveti Naum."

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Reviews from the groups: 

This festival has review of 11 groups and average estimation is VERY GOOD - 8,0/10