Bucharest International Folklore Festival, now in its 14th edition, will take place Saturday and Sunday, June 17-18, on Kiseleff Road, between 10:00 and 22:00.
The festival will start with a parade of Romanian and international folk costumes, which will take place on Saturday, starting at 2:00 p.m., starting from George Enescu Square (Romanian Athenaeum) on Calea Victoriei, which has become pedestrianized during Bucharest Open Streets, towards Piaţa Victoriei, up to Kiseleff Road.
Approximately 400 artists, national and international ensembles, communities and minorities from the country, and marching bands will impress passers-by with specific traditional costumes and song and dance demonstrations, celebrating cultural diversity.
During the two days of the festival, between 15:00 and 22:00, on the stage located on Kiseleff Road, famous music stars, ensembles and orchestras from all regions of the country, as well as international ones, will perform. Minorities and national communities will present their traditional songs, costumes and dances.
Renowned Romanian artists such as Mariana Ionescu Căpitănescu, Matilda Pascal Cojocăriţa, Laura Lavric, Niculina Stoican, Marinel and Andrei Petreuş, Gelu Voicu will offer recitals, accompanied by the orchestras of the most beloved folk ensembles in the country.
The first evening will end with a special moment supported by the famous lute virtuoso of all time, Gheorghe Zamfir, and the ‘Lăutarii’ Orchestra from Chişinău, led by maestro Nicolae Botgros. Along with the orchestra, they will give recitals and great names of Romanian folklore: Floarea Calotă, Margareta Clipa, Elena Pădure, Steliana Sima, Constantin Enceanu and Alexandru Pugna.
The festival’s closing will be marked by an extraordinary concert of traditional music, folklore and old music harmonies, as well as well-known pieces, in the interpretation of a unique artist, much loved by the public from the whole country, and his special guests.
During the fair, craftsmen will present a variety of handicrafts, accessories and decorations at over 100 booths, and demonstrations will be held.
The Bucharest public and tourists will be able to enjoy gastronomic delights at the Bucharest Inn. In this specially designed area, local producers will offer visitors culinary delights with national and international specifics.
Children are expected adjacent to the event to participate in creative workshops inspired by Romanian folk art, on Saturday and Sunday, between 11.00 – 13.00 / 18.00 – 20.00, but also in performances by theatre between 17.00 and 18.00.
In the 13 years, the festival has enjoyed the participation of 32 countries, 25,000 national and international artists, 870 artisans, craftsmen and plastic artists from Romania and an audience of over 350,000 spectators.
The festival enjoys national and international recognition and is part of the CIOFF network – the International Council of Organizations of Folklore and Traditional Culture Festivals being the only festival of this type in the Capital. The event brings to the attention the urban public folk art, authentic traditions, and the most beautiful folklore shows from the country and abroad, brought together to celebrate multiculturalism.
