The Balkan Folklore Festival in Ohrid

Member of the UNESCO Association of The International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folklore Art, and The International Organization for Folklore Art. This festival has so far presented numerous original songs and dances from folk culture for more than 30 years. About 1,200 ensembles with 42,000 members have taken part in the festival.

"The Balkan Festival of folk songs and dances" is an international folklore event established in 1962. Its original title was "The Ohrid Festival of Amateur Folk Songs and Folk Bands". The ceremonial opening took place 20th July 1962 in the town's square. In 1967 the Festival was restructured and ever since it has been hosting vocal and instrumental bands and solo singers presenting their authentic folk creations and traditional culture through horas, songs, rites, traditional clothes, local costumes, traditional musical instruments, and handicrafts. For more than twenty years "The Balkan Festival of Folk Songs and Dances" has been a member of the UNESCO Associations of CIOFF (The International Council of the Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folklore Art), and IOFA (The International Organization for Folklore Art. Traditionally, the Festival takes place in the beginning of July. Countries from the Balkans and neighbouring countries take part in the Festival. In the 36 years of its existence, it has hosted about 40,000 folk singers, dancers and instrumentalists from Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, FR Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Italy, Turkey, Cyprus, as well as from France, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Moldavia, Poland, Bohemia, Slovakia, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Australia, USA, Canada, Malesia, and others. Part of the Festival focuses on displaying exhibitions. In recent years the Folklore Institute "Marko Cepenkov" from Skopje organizes seminars on Balkan folklore.

Ensemble of folk songs and dances "Tanec" will open late Thursday in Ohrid the 46th Balkan Festival of Folk Songs and Dances. Besides "Tanec", the festival program includes the performances of 11 other ensembles and cultural-artistic clubs with about 500 participants. Ohrid will host renowned ensembles and cultural-artistic clubs, which nurture folklore, from Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, Turkey, Montenegro, Bosnia&Herzegovina, but also Australia and Indonesia. Parliament Vice-Speaker Ivan Anastasovski will declare the festival open. Moreover, two exhibitions of folk costumes will be held within the manifestation.