WorldFestivalAssociation

INVITATION 

 With pleasure We INVITE you (folk groups, choral groups and orchestras majorette teams) - children, youth and adults groups to participate on XXI International Music & Folk - Dance festival “MONTENEGRO FESTIVAL DAYS” 16-20 August 2025 Budva - Bar -Kotor - Herceg Novi, Montenegro  

Participants are ensembles from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia, Romania, Slovenia, Italy, Sweden, Moldavia, Armenia, Croatia, Czech, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary.

 Budva – Stari grad

 One of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast, first mentioned in historical records more than two and a half thousand years ago as the “town of Illyria”, this is a place that must be visited during a stay in the Riviera. A legend tells that Budva was established by Cadmus, a son of the Phoenician king, Agenor, and his Queen, Telephassa. Cadmus was the conqueror and ruler of the Greek province of Boeotia and, when he was exiled from the city of Thebes, together with his wife Harmonia, he found refuge with an Illyrian tribe called the Enchelei. According to the legend, Cadmus arrived with a team of oxen, which is where Budva got its name from (bous is Greek for ox). The older names of Budva were Butua, Buthos, Butoba and Civitas Antique (the Old Town). Throughout history, it has been a target of different conquerors (Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Saracens, Turks, Venetians, Austro-Hungarians, French) and as a result it has belonged to many different states. The Old Town is a unique architectural and urban whole, surrounded by medieval walls, complete with a fortress, towers and gates.

 Kotor – Old city

On the space of irregular triangular forme on the slopes of the hill of St John, arrounded by city-walls, limited on north by the flow of short but violent river Skurda (300 meters long!) as well from west and south by the sea-shore and submarine spring Gurdic, on the alluvial bottom with the surface approximatively similar to the present, was performed the process of the formation of oldest urban core of Kotor, with its irregular plan of city streets, considerably different of typical scheme of rectangular street’s net gived by the Roman urban and building genius to the civilisation, by which the streets must to chop one other in a right angle (90 grades), forming rectangular or square »insulas« , the blocks with one-storied or poly-storied architecture. 

 Herceg Novi

The centre of Herceg Novi is Stari Grad, decorated by buildings dating back to the epochs of Sahat – Kula (1667) and Kanli – Kula (1483). Fortress Spanjola (1538) and Fortress Forte Mare (1687) are only a part of the cultural heritage of this renowned town. 

 General rules:

• Non-competitive sample of traditional and modern dances, choral groups, majorette teams, orchestras, brass bands.
• Every Folklore, choral group, modern dance, majorette teams, orchestras  has the right to participate. Children's ensembles, Youth ensembles , Adult ensembles.
  
• On the festival may participate 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 60 members including dancers, managers, musicians and family numbers.
• Ensemble should have prepared at least 2 dances, 10 -15 minutes each with USB or orchestra. Choral groups should have 12-15 min free program..
• Number of groups to participate on the festival is limited on mostly 10 groups and 400 participants.
• To send us short CV (on English 5 - 6 sentences),3 photos of the group and link of video performance..
• To take a flag of the country.
• Groups should have there own transport for arrival and departure.
• For the festival evening not need transfer by bus.

Program

Day 1

13.00 - Arrival in Budva . Hotel accommodation and free time.

19.00 - 21.00 - Dinner in hotel 

21.00 - Welcome reception and meeting with leaders of the group.

 Day 2

08.00 - 10.00 - Breakfast 

11.00 - 14.00 - Budva sightseeing and boat trip to St Stefan (optional).

17.30 - 19.30 - Dinner in hotel

20.00 - 23.00 - Ensembles parade

                       - Official opening of the festival

                       - Open air performance

                       - Dancing together

Day 3   

09.00 - 10.00 - Breakfast (open buffet ).

10.00 - 18.00 - Visiting Kotor and Herceg Novi or visiting Dubrovnik, Croatia ( optional).

18.00 - 20.00 - Dinner in hotel  

21.00 - 00.00 - Free time in Budva or certificates and presents for ensembles by organizer, exchange presents between leaders of ensembles and party with all participants

Day 4

09.00 - 10.00 - Breakfast .

10.00 - 18.00 - Beach time or  visiting Dubrovnik, Croatia ( optional).

18.00 - 20.00 - Dinner in hotel  

21.00 - 00.00  Free Time in Budva (discotheque - optional)

Day 5 

09.00 - Breakfast (open buffet ).

11.00 - Departure of the participants.

Participation fee:

• 127 Euro for (3 nights / 4 days with 2 meals per day/person).

• 156 Euro for (4 nights / 5 days with 2 meals per day/person).

• 189 Euro for (5 nights / 6 days with 2 meals per day/person).

It covers hotel accommodation in 3* hotel - Hotel Braic, Hotel appartmant Knezevicr and others like this  with 2 meals per day in (two double rooms for leaders and drivers), 3 or 4 bedrooms with own toilet,

Organizer provide for each group 2/2 rooms (for drivers and leaders of the group). Supplement for other double  rooms is 11 euro per person per day.

NOTE: Montenegro tourist tax and insurance is 1.50 euro per person per day and it is not include in price.

 YOU can see how was last years on the festivals in Budva on the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn36jy6glzI

Participation fee includes:

• For 24 dancers - one gratis (24 paying + 1 free of charge);
• Souvenir and gift for each group;
• Welcome cocktail for Welcome reception;
• Certificate for attendance;
• Acompany person,
• Drinks during the performance;
• Advertising of the festival (press release, news letter, FB promotion, posters and 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 Budva for Price of 40 Euro per day per person HB – price is special for the participants in festivals that we can provide.

After Groups arrived in Hotel will be given detailed program.

After the festival finish organizers will send you link on YouTube where you can find and download photos and videos of festival evenings. The copy right of all video materials and pictures are ownership of the Organization of the Festival.

HOW TO COME TO BUDVA?

By plane on Tivat airport, Podgorica airport. The festival will organize the transport for the groups coming by plane by picking them up from Tivat airport, during the festival days and back to the same airport. The cost of the transportation will be covered by the group and will be additionally agreed according to their number.

Bus -  If you arrive by bus we suggest you to connect two festivals in the region - Durres,Albania with Budva.Montenegroor Ohrid,N.Macedonia with Budva ,Montenegro.

By applying you confirm that you accept all festival conditions. All detailed information will be supply after your confirmation for participations.

In 2017 on this Festival participated over 280 (childrens, youth and adults) participants from 8 countries of Europe.

In 2018 on this Festival participated over 315 (childrens, youth and adults) participants from 9 countries of Europe

In 2019 on this Festival participated over 394 (childrens, youth and adults) participants from 9 countries of Europe .

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NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL                                  

BUDVA FESTIVAL DAYS CONTINUE....

The 10th edition of "BUDVA FESTIVAL DAYS" was held from 26-30 JUNE in Budva (Montenegro). Groups from Uktaine, Russia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Czech republic, Turkey and Romania with more than 450 performers took part in the event, informed us the director of the festival Zoran Strezovski.

"festival was opened with Welcome reception with leaders of the group. Festival evening was organized on the squere of the Three Cane" .After the performances each group received certificate and present from the organization committee. During the day, the groups had the opportunity to visit St.Stefan by boat, the old town in Budva and Kotor and some of the groups had excursions to Dubrovnik in Croatia. At the final, for all participants there was a disco party with many dances and songs until midnight." says in addition Strezovski. 

NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL                                   

WONDERFUL FESTIVAL MOOD IN BUDVA

The 12th edition of "BUDVA FESTIVAL DAYS" was held from 002 - 06 July in Budva (Montenegro). Groups from Uktaine,  Bulgaria, Slovakia, Czech republic, Turkey and Romania with more than 400 performers took part in the event, informed us the director of the festival 

"festival was opened with Welcome reception with leaders of the group. Festival evening was organized on the squere of the Three Cane" .After the performances each group received certificate and present from the organization committee. During the day, the groups had the opportunity to visit St.Stefan by boat, the old town in Budva and Kotor and some of the groups had excursions to Dubrovnik in Croatia. At the final, for all participants there was a disco party with many dances and songs until midnight." says organizer of the festival

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Reviews from the groups: 

This festival has review of 10 groups and average estimation is VERY GOOD - 8,7/10