More than 400 dancers and singers from seven countries will take part next weekend in the 20th International Slovak Youth Folklore Festival, organised by the Democratic Union of Slovaks in Romania (UDSR) in the village of Valea Cerului, Suplacu de Barcau rural town.
According to a UDSR press release, the event will bring together youth folklore ensembles from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, France and Romania, who will perform traditional Slovak dances and songs. The festival is regarded as one of the most important Slovak folklore events in Eastern Europe, agerpres reports.
The festival programme will begin on Saturday with a flag-raising ceremony at the headquarters of the Democratic Union of Slovaks in Romania - Bihor Regional Branch, followed by a parade of participants to the village amphitheatre and the official opening ceremony.
The first day will continue with performances by the youth folklore ensembles, a Slovak folk music concert by Iosif Bajcar, and a gala concert by the Slovak band Kollarovci.
On Sunday, participants are expected to attend a religious service before the second part of the cultural programme gets under way.
The festival is organised by the Democratic Union of Slovaks in Romania, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Bihor County Council, the Bihor County Culture Centre, the Suplacu de Barcau Local Council and Town Hall, and the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad under the Government of Slovakia.
