XXX International Music & Dance festival OHRID - CITY OF LIGHT
Location: OHRID, Macedonia
Director: Z. S. & WOFA
Application Deadline: 15 September, 2025
With pleasure we INVITE you (Folklore Ensembles, Choral groups, Majorette Teams, Modern Dance Groups...) (Children,Youth,Adults) to participate on XXX INTERNATIONAL MUSIC & DANCE FESTIVAL “OHRID - CITY OF LIGHT” 13 – 17 July, Ohrid,
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 and create friendships and culture presentation trough dance and music.
Ohrid 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. There are many tourists from Netherland, Germany, Israel, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria….
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 …..
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.
- 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 equipment)..
- 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
Day 1
13.00 Arrival in Ohrid after 13.00 and hotel accommodation, free activities
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel (if you choose option with 3 meals per day)
19.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Welcome reception with leaders of the groups
Day 2
09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast,
10.00 – 13.00 Ohrid sightseeing – visiting cultural monuments (St. Sofia church, Samoil fortress - entres 2 eurp, Antique theatre, Plaosnik, St. Kaneo church, Bridge of wishes ..)
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel (if you choose option with 3 meals per day)
19.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Free time
Day 3
09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast
11.00 – 16.00 Cruising with boat on Ohrid Lake, Visiting Museum on water and visit most famous tourist resort St.Naum - culture place, ,– (price 13 euros per person,dancing boat),
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 (festival evening)
- Dancing together
Day 4
10.00. Breakfast in hotel and free activities,
10.00 – 13.00 Visiting Stara carsia, oldest tree called – Cinar, Biljanini springs, Ohrid pearl , old paper manufactory, shopping or Visiting Struga city,
13.30 - 15.00 Lunch in hotel (if you choose option with 3 meals per day)
18.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 - 00.00 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,
10.30 – 14.00 Visiting Struga city (house of Miladinovci brothers, river Crni Drim, Kalsita cave church ……) and ethno villige VEVCANI
13.30 - 15.00 Lunch in hotel (if you choose option with 3 meals per day)
19.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Workshop - learning different dances
Day 6
09.00 –10.00 Breakfast,
10.30 – 14.00 Free activities (wolking around the Ohrid Lake, walking in the city square… ) or visiting Vevcani (ethno village) or visiting Pogradec city in Albania
13.30 - 15.00 Lunch in hotel (if you choose option with 3 meals per day)
19.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 – 00.00 Beach party
Day 7
08.00 – 10.00 Breakfast,
10.00 – 14.00 Departure to Skopje city ( visiting monuments of Alexander of Macedon, museum, Macedonian GATE, Stone bridge…) (optional)
14.00 Departure from Skopje city
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) - LIMITED AVABILITY
- 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
- 20 euros per day bus parking
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
- additional day is 35 euros;
(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
- additional day is 40 euros;
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.
HB - Breakfast and Dinner
- 3 Nights/ 4 days (HB): 119 € per person (Half Board - 2 meals/day)
- 4 Nights/ 5 days (HB): 144 € per person
- 5 Nights/ 6 days (HB): 179 € per person
- additional day HB is 36 euros per person;
FB - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- 3 Nights (FB): 128 € per person (Full Board - 3 meals/day)
- 4 Nights (FB): 159 € per person
- 5 Nights (FB): 194 € per person
- additional day FB is 41 euros per person;
- additional double room is 8 euros per person per day;
3. Hotel Mizo - Click here to see Hotel Mizo
BB - Bed and Breakfast
- 3 Nights/ 4 days (BB): 104 € per person
- 4 Nights/ 5 days (BB): 136 € per person
- 5 Nights/ 6 days (BB): 164 € per person
- additional day is 33 euros per person;
HB - Breakfast and Dinner
- 3 Nights/ 4 days (HB): 119 € per person
- 4 Nights/ 5 days (HB): 154 € per person
- 5 Nights/ 6 days (HB): 189 € per person
- additional day is 36 euros per person;
4. Hotel De Luks Apartments
- Pricing Options:
- 3 Nights (HB): 89€ per person (Half Board - 2 meals/day)
- 4 Nights (HB): 114€ per person
- 3 Nights (FB): 104€ per person (Full Board - 3 meals/day)
- 4 Nights (FB): 134€ per person
Additional Central 3 & 4-Star Hotels
- If you are interested for any other option, make sure to contact us and we will make sure to arrange it for you, like Hotel Tino Sveti Stefan, Hotel Prestol...
- 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.
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- For any extra double room, the group should pay an extra 10 euro/person/day and for a single room an additional 20 euros per day
Festival organizers provide:
- for 24 dancers – one free,
- souvenir and gift for each group,
- Welcome cocktail
- Disco party with drink
- certificates for attendance on the festival,
- drinks during the performance,
- free bus parking
- advertising of the festival (social media promotion, news letters, posters).
How it was on the festival past years you can see on following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFo9Rx6z_4U
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 or 30 euro 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
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
If you arrive on Ohrid airport we will organize free transfer from aeroport to the hotel and back.
If you arrivefrom other airports, the cost of the transportation will be covered by the group and will be additionally agreed according to their number. You can also arrive through Skopje, Tirana or Thessaloniki Airport which are only 200 km from Ohrid. We will also assist you in obtaining visa for Macedonia if necessary.
You can arrive at airport in Ohrid and we will arrange transfer to the hotel free of charge.
After Groups arrived in Hotel will be given detailed program of the festival.All detailed information will be supply after your confirmation for participations.
In 2017 on this festival participated over 332 participants from 9 countries from Europe.
In 2018 on this festival participated over 388 participants from 10 countries from Europe.
In 2019 on this festival participated over 412 participants from 9 countries from Europe
In 2022 on this festival participated over 440 participants from 8 countries from Europe
NUMBER OF SEATS IS LIMITED ON 400 PARTICIPANTS OR 10-12 GROUPS!
NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
OHRID FESTIVAL DAYS continue..
From 15 - 19 July in Ohrid was held XII International music and Folk - Dance festival ÖHRID - CITY of LIGHT"..
On the festival participate over 400 participants from Romania, Bulgaria, Armenia, Lithuania,Serbia...Festival has two festival evening on 15 and 16 July where all groups singing and dance in front the tourist and local citizens in Ohrid city on the main stage ..join party was held in hotel Desaret on the beach with all participants on 17 august..
Director of the festival Mr Zoran Strezovski wish them well stay in Ohrid and nice festival presentation to all groups..
Groups show their satisfaction of the hotel accommodation in hotel Desaret and well organization of the festival..Festival was organize by WOFA and Youth Culture Center in Ohrid...During tha day they have visited beatiful city of Ohrid and boat trip to St Naum..also they have swimming in warm water of Ohrid Lake..Some moments from the festival you can see on the link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1c0kyISYoWbz5SK4uKZs-9A08jdjiYlY6
NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Published on 20 July 2017
EIGHT ENSEMBLES FROM 6 COUNTRIES TOOK PART IN THE FESTIVAL "OHRID - CITY OF LIGHT"
From the 15th until the 19th of July in Ohrid the XI International festival "Ohrid - city of light" took place. The festival was attended by 8 ensembles with more than 300 participants from Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Croatia, Brussels the director Zoran Strezovski informed.Traditionally he greeted the contestants with "Welcome" and wished them a worthy performance in the festival.The festival nights took place on the main square in Ohrid in front of a big audience - locals and foreign tourists.
"At the final a party was organized for all the groups, on which the participants exchanged gifts and danced until midnight. On their free days the participants had the chance to enjoy the beauty of Ohrid and the Ohrid lake. " Zoran Strezovski told us.
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Reviews from the groups: