WorldFestivalAssociation

                                              I N V I T A T I O N                                 

    With pleasure we INVITE you (folk groups, Choral groups and orchestras majorette teams), (children, youth and adults groups) to participate on XXXI International  Music& Dance festival “OHRID SPRING FESTIVAL ”   20 - 23  March  Ohrid,Macedonia 2025

    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.

Ancient ruins, beautiful amphitheatre, 3 citadel walls, St.Sofia Cathedral, St.Jovan Kaneo church, an important pilgrimage place. Breathtaking setting on a plateau over Ohrid Lake and Galicica mountain towering from behind. St.Naum monaster (one of the most beautiful monasteries in Macedonia)  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.

 Today Ohrid is a cultural, spiritual and tourist centre. And finally, as the crowning glory of its values, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid have been named a world cultural and natural heritage listed city under the protection of UNESCO since 1980.

Feel Ohrid for once in your life and you already know why you will return.  

              General rules :

-         is a non-competitive sample of traditional and modern dances, choral groups and majorette teams.

-         Every Folklore,Choral group and majorette Teams has the right to participate.  .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 50 members including dancers, managers and musicians,

-         Ensemble should have prepared at least 2 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.

-         To send us short CV and 2 – 3 photos of the group,

-         To take a flag of the country,

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

Video from last editions of the festival you can see on the link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFo9Rx6z_4U          

                                     Program Proposal

20.03.Thursday   

  13.00.Arrivalin Ohrid, , hotel accommodation,

14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel

19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel

20.00. Welcome reception

21.03. Friday  

 09.00 -11.00 Breakfast,

 10.00 -13.00  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

        19.15. Ensembles parade (old town)

      19.30. Official opening of the festival

             -  welcome speech and firewall

              - open air performance

              - Dancing together

   22,03.Saturday  

 09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,

11.00 – 14.00 Cruising with boat on Ohrid Lake, visit Museum on water and most famous tourist resort St. Naum monastery, culture  place, –(price 12 euros per person, lunch package),

15.00 – 17.00. Visiting Struga city ( Kalista cave, old bazaar..)

18.00 – 19.00 Dinner in hotel

21.00. – 00.00 Firewall party, Social events, exchange presents, disco party with all participants with soft drinks for the children and vine for adults

   23.03. Sunday     

09.00 Breakfast

11.00 Departure of the participants

Participation fee is

- 79 euro per person for 3 nights half board (2 meals per day breakfast and dinner), 

Visit:

  Hotel Montenegrin - www.montenegrininn.com ( hotel in the center of the city)

Hotel de Lux apartmants ( on the center of the city)

Festival organizers provide:

-         for 22 dancers – one gratis,

-         souvenir and gift for each group,

-         Welcome cocktail

-         Certificate for attendance,

-         drinks during the performance,

-         guide for the festival,

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

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 29 Euro per day per person HB – price is special for the participants in festivals that we can provide.

    After the festival finish organizers will send you LINK OF PHOTO and video from the festival so you can take it.

HOW TO COME TO OHRID? You acn arrive by bus or by plane. WIZZ AIR has cheap and direct flight to Ohrid airport. If you  arrive in Ohrid airport and we will organize  transport to hotel free of charge. 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. 

NUMBER OF SEATS ARE LIMITED ON 400 participants or 10 groups.

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NEWS OF THE FESTIVAL                          

International Spring Folklore Festival "Ohrid Spring Festival" was held for the first time in Ohrid in the period March 19 - 22,2022

Macedonian town welcomed eight international folklore groups with 330 participants who came from Turkey, Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Bulgaria. There was also a local group, who presented the country.Before the concert, performers showed their traditional costumes and instruments on the parade through the bazaar of Ohrid. Then they had the opportunity to warm up the audience by showing part of their music program which was fully showed in the concert. The International folklore forum delighted the audience with two festival evenings in which the guests showed their cultural diversity through dance and music.

 At the end, all groups were deservedly rewarded with letter of appreciation for the presentation of culture and traditions of their countries from the director of the festival Mr Zoran Strezovski. 

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 300 PERFORMERS FROM 5 COUNTRIES ATTENDED THE SPRING FESTIVAL OF OHRID 20-23 March 2023 

"More than 300 performers from Bulgaria, Slovakia, Poland, Montenegro and Macedonia. took part in the folklore event. Festival evening was conducted on 22nd of March on the main scene of Center of culture "G. Prilitsev" in Ohrid.", said the directod of the festival - Zoran Strezovski. He welcomed the participants warmly and awarded them certificates and gifts for excellent performances. Groups sang and danced together on the traditional party, which was held in an emblematic restaurant in Ohrid. 

"During their stay in the town, groups visited many cultural monuments, they tested wines and brandy (rakia), they visited the island St. Naum on a boat and learned more about the manufacturing of ohrid pearls. The group leaders have told that they will come back again", added Mr. Strezovski.

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Reviews from the groups: 

This festival has review of 11 groups and average estimation is EXELLENT - 9,0/10