XI International Folk- Dance & Music Festival SICILY FEST
Location: TAORMINA, SICILY, Italy
Director: G.L.P. & WOFA
Application Deadline: 5 January, 2025
I N V I T A T I O N
The festival will be held in Taormina and its hinterland.
The following group categories are eligible to participate: bands (concert, marching, street, pipe and drum), wind orchestras, folk groups, flag-throwing groups, bands with majorettes, groups of majorettes, and historical groups,Guggen Bands.
Sicily, has been always a place for encounter,between different cultures,and lends itself extremely well as a frame encounter between different musical cultures. This International festival is open to all kinds of bands, folk groups and various formations. It will enable participating groups to perform and introduce to the audience, their own music, their own culture and traditions, all in a unique and unparalleled venue, as is Taormina and its territory. Music has no bounderies. It connects people and overcome any language barrier. Music helps to express feelings in many different ways and approach different cultures, even the most distant. In this sense, this Festival aims to provide a base for meeting and socialising between the groups and an audience of music and folk traditions lovers.
The event is organised with the support of Taormina’s Municipality, and Sicily Region Tourism and Culture office.
. The event will be a unique opportunity to know this part of Sicily, the most charming places, the customs, the food, and also learn about other artistic realities.
Taormina, and its hinterland, are a wonderful piece of paradise, located on the Ionian coast of Sicily. The mild climate, the panoramic position, themonuments and lush vegetation, have made Taormina an exclusive resort appreciated worldwide. The city lies on a terrace overlooking the sea and the Etna Volcano, and its ancient theatre at the top of the rise, opens in a hug to the Ionian Sea and the scenic green citrus groves.
Each group is responsible for airfare/transportation to Taormina During the stay, optional daily excursions will be planned. WE will visit some of the most famous places in Sicily. A detailed itinerary will be sent in the near future to all interested groups.
There is the possibility for those who would like to have a longer permanence than that of the festival. Depending on the flights schedule you can arrive a day before and leave a day after.
Draft Programme
Day 1
Arrival of the group at the Catania International airport and transfer to the hotel, in Taormina sea side/Letojanni/Giardini Naxos Area.
Depending on the time of arrival, a programme can be arranged so that the group will have an optional guided excursion visiting Catania city centre. You can visit the city, wide central square, Piazza del Duomo, features the whimsical Fontana dell;Elefante statue and richly decorated Catania Cathedral. The Greek/roman Theatre and amphitheatre. The typical fish market. The medieval castle Castello Ursino, and many other things. The group can decide also for another optional excursion for example to Mount Etna, (the most active European Volcano) or other wonderful venues.
Day 2
Free morning, or else groups can opt to have an optional cultural excursion.
Late afternoon, parade / performances by all participating groups
Day 3
Free morning, or else groups can opt to have an optional cultural excursion.
Evening: Final performances and parades by all participating groups, including local folk groups. At the end of the performances, participation certificates will be given to all groups by the Organisation.
Day 4
Departure of all groups.
Depending on the time of departure, a programme can be arranged so that the group will have an optional guided excursion.
The hours and days of exhibitions and outings are provisionally approximate. The programme can be modified for the times, places for exhibitions and excursions, for organisational purposes. We will be handing out the finalised definitive program 10 days before the event.
- 3 nights Package - half board (including trasfers)
The cost of a 3 nights accomodation package, in a 3 Star Hotel (provided by the Organisation) is of €260 per person in a triple rooms ( half board, drinks excluded)
Children up to 2 years – Free
Children (3-12 years) in a room with 2 adults - €240
Adults – 3rd and 4th person in a room - €245
The above package includes:
1. Accomodation in a 3 Star Hotel (half board - drinks excluded)
2. Assistance by the Organisation Personell, during the entire stay.
3. Festival Registration
4. Tourists Tax
5. Trasfers from Catania Airport and back
6. Trasfers for the performances
7. On 25 people - one is free
- 3 nights Package - bad and breakfast (including trasfers)
For those groups, the cost of a 3 nights accomodation package in a 3 Star Hotel including transfer (provided by the Organisation) is of €225 per person in a twin room (bad and breakfast)
Children up to 2 years – Free
Children (3-12 years) in a room with 2 adults - €175
Adults – 3rd and 4th person in a room - €180
The above package includes:
1. Accomodation in a 3 Star Hotel ( bad and breakfast)
2. Assistance by the Organisation Personell during the entire stay.
3. Festival Registration
4. Tourists Tax
5.Trasfers from Catania Airport and back
1 free package every 25 persons
- 3 nights Package (excluding trasfers) - HB Accommodation
For those groups, who can reach Sicily with their own transport and
use their own transport to go for the performances, the cost of a 3
nights accomodation package in a 3 Star Hotel (provided by the
Organisation) is of €225 per person in a twin, triple or quadruple
room (half board- drinks excluded).
• Children up to 2 years – Free
• Children (3-12 years) in a room with 2 adults - €205
• Adults – 3rd and 4th person in a room - €210
The above package includes:
1. Accomodation in a 3 Star Hotel (half board - drinks excluded)
2. Assistance by the Organisation Personell during the entire stay.
3. Festival Registration
4. Tourists Tax
5. 1 free package every 25 persons
3 nights Package (excluding trasfers) - BB Accommodation
For those groups, who can reach Sicily with their own transport and
use their own transport to go for the performances, the cost of a 3
nights accomodation package in a 3 Star Hotel (provided by the
Organisation) is of €195 per person in a twin, triple or quadruple
room.
• Children up to 2 years – Free
• Children (3-12 years) in a room with 2 adults - €170
• Adults – 3rd and 4th person in a room - €175
The above package includes:
1. Accomodation in a 3 Star Hotel - BB acommodation
2. Assistance by the Organisation Personell during the entire stay.
3. Festival Registration
4. Tourists Tax
5. 1 free package every 25 persons
N.B
If due flight itineraries, or else if you prefer so, you will have to spend extra nights, arrangements can be done.
* If a group chooses the package with transfers included, kindly note that included in this package/price is one transfer for the group to & from the Catania Airport to the Hotel. No transfers can
be made for participants arriving at different times but we can arrange upon request.
* Each group is responsible for airfare/transportation to Catania -Sicily.
* Participating groups should take the Festival accommodation packages.
* The Organisation can create a tailor made programme for a group,
according to its necessities, including also excursions or extra lunches/dinners in the Hotel or other restaurants.
* Upon joining the festival, the group will pay a deposit of 30% of total sume
NUMBER OF SEATS ID LIMITED..
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Reviews from the groups:
This festival has review of 4 groups and average estimation is VERY GOOD - 8,3/10