WorldFestivalAssociation

 With pleasure we INVITE (folk ensembles,choral groups,orchestras,brass bands, majorette teams..) (children, youth and adult groups  ) to participate on XI International music & folk - dance festival “DURRES SUNSET”  from  17 - 21 September , Durres, Albania  2025

  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.The idea of the Festival is to bring the music closer to the people and to present the music on the streets and the squares.            The festival is open for folk and choir ensembles, as well as orchestras and majorettes regardless of the members gender and age.

    Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about 33 km, west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically significant cities of Albania. Durrës is home to Albania’s main port, the Port of Durrës, and to the newest public university, the Aleksandër Moisiu University.Durrës is an important link to Western Europe due to its port and its proximity to the Italian port cities, notably Bari, to which daily ferries run. As well as the dockyard, it also possesses an important shipyard and manufacturing industries, notably producing leather, plastic and tobacco products. Some important buildings in Durrës include the main library, the cultural center with the Aleksandër Moisiu Theatre, the Estrada Theater, the puppet theater, and the philharmonic orchestra. There are also several museums such as the Durrës Archaeological Museum, Royal Villa of Durrës and the Museum of History (the house of Aleksandër Moisiu).

The city hosts the Durrës Ancient City Wall called also Durrës Castle while the largest amphitheatre in the Balkans is located in the city close to the harbor. This first-century construction is currently under consideration for inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The southern coastal stretch is renowned for its traditional mass beach tourism having experienced uncontrolled urban development. The city’s beaches are also a popular destination for many foreign and local tourists, with an estimated 800,000 tourists visiting annually. Many tourist from Europe spend their summer vacations on the beaches of Durrës. In contrast, the northern coastal stretch is mostly unspoiled and set to become an elite tourism destination as a number of beach resorts are being built since 2009. Neighboring districts are known for the production of good wine and a variety of foodstuffs. 

              General rules :

-         is a non-competitive sample of traditional and modern dances, brass bands, orchestras, modern dance groups, choral groups, majorette teams, instrumental groups and soloists, as well as groups and performers from other art styles.

-   Every Group has the right to participate. Children's ensembles   Youth ensembles, adult ensembles.

-  The number of participants are limited (only 3  groups from each country),

-         Each group should consist of most 70 members including dancers, managers,musicians and family members,

-         Ensemble should have prepared at least 2 folk dances, 10-15 minutes each with orchestra or USB.

-  For choral groups should prepare free program about 15 minutes 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.

-         To send us short CV and 5 photos of the group,

-         To take a flag of the country,

-  Groups should have there own transport for arrival and departure,

 We had most groups from Bulgaria,Romania and Poland       

                   Program

Day 1 

  13.00.Arrivalin Durres,  hotel accommodation and  free time (beach time)

18.00 – 19.00 Dinner (buffet) in hotel

        21.00 Welcome meeting 

Day 2 

 09.00 -10.00 Breakfast - buffet

 11.00 -15.00 Visit – sightseeing Durres

      18.00 - 19.00 Dinner – buffet in hotel

19.30 – 23.00 Defile on the main street to the square where it will be held the festival evening

      Day 3 

09.00 -10.00 Breakfast - buffet

  10.30 – 15.00 Beach time or Visiting of the history city Kruje and  historic monuments and museum ( entrance 2 euro)   

18.00 – 20.00  Dinner - buffet in hotel

21.00 Gala evening in hotel where each group should perform with short choreography of 5 minutes, also with few people of the 8 – 10 dancers , whether in live or in playback each group at the beginning will give 5 minutes performance. At the same night we will give certificates and gifts for each participant group

  Day 4  

 09.00 -10.00 Breakfast - buffet

  10.30 – 15.00 Beach time or Visiting of the history city Kruje and  historic monuments and museum ( entrance 2 euro)   

17.00 – 18.00  Dinner - buffet in hotel

21.00 Free time

   Day 5

   09.00 – 11.00 Breakfast - buffet

11.00 Departure of the participants

Participation fee:

- 128 euro for 3 HB per person (3 nights with 2 meals) 

- 159 euro for 4 HB per person (4 nights with 2 meals) 

   It covers hotel accommodation with 2 meals per day in  5* HOTEL BONITA LUXURY  (hotel resort on the beach WITH OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL ,AQUA PARK own beach www.hotelbonita.al in  double and triple rooms)...Hotel see resort situated on the famous sands beach..(only our association has right for this hotel)

Additional double rooms are on request and additional paymant of 10 euro per room per day..Tourist tax is 1 euro person/day additional payment.

Video from the past festivals in Durres you can find of this link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_2WBw9nwMM

Festival organizers provide:

-         for 24 dancers – one gratis,

-         souvenir and gift for each group,

-         Certificate for attendance,

-         Welcome reception,

-   drinks during performance

-         free parking

-         advertising of the festival (press release, news letters, posters)

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 Dures. Price will be  39 euro Hb and it is special  for the participants in festivals that we can provide.

    After the festival finish organizers will send you link of the photos and videos from the festival program for each group and photos..

HOW TO COME IN DURRES?

- by Plane - Wizz air have many flights from Tirana airport tomany destinationsin EU.   The festival will organize the transport for the groups coming by plane by picking them up from Tirana Airport. The cost of the transportation will be covered by the group and will be additionally agreed according to their number.Also you have Wizz Air to Ohrid Airport in Macedonia so we can make transfer to Durres.

- by BUS - we recommend you to connect two festivals in twodestinations in region.

In 2017 on the festival were participated 10 groups from 8 EU country with 377 participants.

   In 2018 on the festival were participated 11 groups from 9 EU country with 414 participants.

In 2019 on the festival were participated 12 groups from 9 EU country with 500 participants.

Number of seats is limited on 400.

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  NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL                                       Published on 15.07.2019

MORE THAN 400 PERFORMERS TOOK PART IN "DURRES SUNSET"

X International folklore and musical festival "DURRES FEST" was held in the period 03-07 July  in Durres, Albania. More than 400 participants from 8 folk ensembles and choral groups from Poland, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in the folklore forum.On 04 July 2019 the festival evening was held on the main square in Durres – in front of the Center of Culture. There, the director of the folklore forum welcomed all participants and wished them success. The groups were awarded with certificates and many deserved applauses.The closing party was held on 06 Julyin a great hotel, where all participants danced until midnight.

 Over the days, the artists and their artistic directors visited Durres, swam in the warm sea and enjoyed the pool of the hotel, where they were housed.

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/0B8As_IOFIAl5MGdkU3ViaXhhQ2c

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  NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL                           Published on 09.07.2018  

  450 PARTICIPANTS TOOK PART IN THE FESTIVAL "DURRES SUNSET"

X International folklore dance and music festival "Durres Fest" was held from 04 - 08 July in Durres, Albania, announced the director Zoran Strezovski. 
"450 participants from different countries took part in the festival. In the first festival day was held a meeting with the leaders of the groups, where they had the chanse to meet each other. At the following day, there was a festival evening with presentation of the ensembles. The main festival evening was held on 05 July at Durres Square, in front of the Cultural Center. During the day, the participants enjoyed the wonderful sandy beach in Durres, swam in the sea and visited the monuments of culture in Durres.", informed the director of the festival, Mr. Strezovski.

NEWS ABOUT FESTIVAL                                        Published on 12 July 2017

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL IN DURRES (ALBANIA) GATHERED TOGETHER ABOUT 400 PARTICIPANTS FROM 6 COUNTRIES

International folk - dance & music festival "DURRES SUNSET" was held from 04-08 July 2017 in Durres (Albania). The festival was attended by 12 groups from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Croatia with more than 400 participants, announced the festival's director Zoran Strezovski.

"The first day was organized a Welcome reception with leaders of the groups where the program and other activities of the festival were presented. Festival evening was held on 05 July on the main square in Durres where all groups danced and sang in front of the audience. On 06 July was organized closing ceremony where each group was awarded with certificate and present. They had common party until midnight. During the day they enjoyed the wonderful beach in front of the hotel.", informed the organizer. Durres is the most ancient city in Albania and its former capital. It is located on the Adriatic Sea and is the largest port in Albania. The town is a seaside resort, a preferred holiday destination for many local and foreign citizens. It is located close to the capital Tirana. It is also possible to get there by train. Interesting landmarks are the ruins of the fortress wall, the Roman amphitheater, the fortress mosque, the cultural center, as well as the old military bunkers around the beach.

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Reviews from the groups: 

This festival has review of 7 groups and average estimation is EXELLENT - 9,1/10