INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL “OCTOBER DAYS” 18 – 22 OCTOBER 2024

Director:  Milenko Andreski

Application deadline: 15 December 2023

Welcome to Ohrid, the Pearl on the Balkans, as our visitors tend to say. Ohrid is a blend of the traditional and the contemporary, the main spiritual, cultural and touristic center in Macedonia, a UNESCO World Heritage site as a cultural, and with the Ohrid Lake as a natural rarity. The numerous historical monuments found in their close surrounding speak of the tradition and dedication of the Macedonian people. You can explore the history and the culture, go shopping, go on different excursions and enjoy the gastronomy of this city. Here, as a rarity scarcely found anywhere else, the deep traces merge eras and empires, kingdoms and quests, weaving the fine thread of historical continuity on the Balkans. On the other hand, nature hasn’t spared its beauties stretched down from the lake shores and up to the Galichica Mountain on which peak one can enjoy the sight of two lakes, the Ohrid and the Prespa Lake. Explore and choose your favorite beaches and fun places for daytime or nighttime, choose a restaurant where you can eat and drink and taste the homemade food while listening to our traditional music. Visit the city museums, gates, churches, and galleries. You can learn about the history of our town. Go on a tour on the lake, mountains and surrounding villages. Enjoy your stay in Ohrid! Stay as long as you can and Ohrid will stay with you forever.

Lake Ohrid straddles the mountainous border between southwestern Macedonia and eastern Albania. It is one of Europe’s deepest and oldest lakes, preserving a unique aquatic ecosystem that is of worldwide importance, with more than 200 endemic species. It came into being about three million years ago according to the latest scientific researches. It was formed in remote geological ages as a result of tectonic shifts. There are only a few lakes in the world today whose antiquity can be compared to that of Lake Ohrid. Enjoy the magnificent landscapes of a lake placed in a cradle of mountains. These landscapes change with the movement of the clouds and the reflection of the sunlight, depending on the position of the sun, in ever-changing patterns that will always surprise you by its magical beauty, like a dreamy fairytale…

Purpose of the festival:

The main goal of this festival is to offer its participants the possibility for them to present the culture and the tradition of their country and to provide an opportunity for the members of the  groups to meat different nationalities, establish friendships and express their cultural diversity through dance and music.

General terms and conditions:

• Groups from all over the world can take part in this festival.
• Folk dance groups, modern dance groups, choirs, but also majorette teams and brass bands and orchestras are welcome to apply.
• The number of participants and followers is not limited.
• There is no age limit (beside youth and children participants, older or veterans also may participate)
• It is necessary to prepare a minimum of one program with a duration of 12 – 15 minutes per program.
• Each group should bring the national flag of the country that they represent.
• It is also necessary to visibly display panel on which the name of your group and the name of your country is inscribed.
• It is recommended that groups should bring about 12 – 15 small gifts for exchange.
• Participants can perform with orchestras (recommended) or with recorded music (on CD or USB).
• In order to participate in this festival, every group needs to fill in an application form. When applying, if possible, please provide some photos, videos or brief history of the group. These materials will be used for promotional and advertising purposes (in advertisements, fliers, and posters).
• After receiving the application form and completion of advance payment, the organizer will send an official letter of invitation for participation at the Festival.
• The rest of the payment should be completed immediately after the group arrives in order to take part in the festival.

Festival organizers provide:

• Accommodation in hotels and apartments, according to the price selected
• 2 double rooms per group with no supplement to be paid (one for the leaders of the group and another for the drivers of the bus). The rest of the rooms are with 3 and 4 beds.
• Tourist guides for sightseeing of the town (on request only)
• Advertising of the festival (press conference, radio, TV channels, posters and flyers)
• Professional sound equipment: (2 bass speakers, 4 satellite speakers, 2 monitor speakers…)
• Professional light equipment
• Certificates for participation in the festival
• Drinks during the performance
• Souvenir and gift for each group
• DVD and photos of the festival

• Basic category – villas and apartments
  • 88 euro per person for 3 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)
  • 115 euro per person for 4 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)
  • 141 europer person for 5 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)

  Advanced category hotels 3* Hotel “Chingo”; Hotel “Diplomat”; Hotel “Ambasador”

  • 98 euro per person for 3 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)
  • 124 europer person for 4 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)
  • 151 euro per person for 5 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)

  Advanced category hotels 4 * Hotel “Mizo”; Hotel ”Sky Corner”; Hotel “Village”4*

  • 109 euro per person for 3 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)
  • 139 europer person for 4 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)
  • 177 euro per person for 5 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)

If there are 24paying participants in a group, the 25th  will be free of charge.

Supplement for double room is 8  euro per day per person.
Supplement for accommodation in a single room is + 50% of the price to be paid for the single person accommodated in such room.
*On your request you can continue your stay in Ohrid, for a 30 euros per person, per day – FB (breakfast, lunch and dinner), and the price is special for the participants in the festival. For additional days we will prepare special program for you.

Participation fee does not include:

• On request, a professional tour guide can be hired to accompany the group on their excursions, but the travel guide expenses will be covered by the group.
• Health insurance (First Aid and Medical Hospital will be available, medical services must be covered by the group).
• Parking for the bus in the center of the town.
• Macedonian tourist tax (o.70 cents euro per person per day)

Program:

• 18.Day 1
• 1:00 p.m.Arrival in Ohrid, Welcome by the Organizer, meeting to discuss the program during the Festival, accommodation in a hotel,
• 19:00 – 20:00 Dinner at the hotel

• 19. Day 2
• 09:00 -10:00 Breakfast,
• 00 – 14.00 Tour of Ohrid – visit to cultural monuments (Church of St. Sophia, 3 euro entrance fee, Samuel’s Fortress, Ancient Theater, Plaoshnik, 2 euro entrance fee, St. Jovan Kaneo Church, Bridge of Desires…)
• 18:00 Dinner at the hotel
• 7:00 p.m.Parade of Ensembles (Old Town)
• 00 hours.Official opening of the festival – Welcome speech and fireworks – Outdoor performance – Festival evening, Dancing together of all groups

• 20. Day 3
• 09:00 -10:00 Breakfast,
• 00 – 15.30 Boat cruise on Lake Ohrid 12 euros organized ticket for groups, visit to the Water Museum and the most famous tourist resort, the monastery of St.Naum Ohridski
• 17:00 – 19:30 Dinner at the hotel -Parade of the participating Ensembles
• 20:00- Festival evening, Dancing together of all groups.

• 21.Day 4
• 08:00 – 10:00 Breakfast
• 00 – 14.00 Visit to Stara Karšija, the oldest tree called – Cynar, BiljaniniIzvori, Ohrid pearl factory, shopping… or visit to Struga and Kališta14:00 – 15:00 Lunch
• 19:00- 24:00 Macedonian joint dinner, portion of 2 meats with side dish, salad, appetizer, and unlimited drink, 25 euros per person, Live music, entertainment, Awarding of Certificates for participation in the Festival.

• 22.Day 5
• 00 Breakfast
• 00 Departure of the participants

Any group willing to participate must submit an Application form.
Approved groups pay in advance a 10% guarantee fee, which is to be deducted at the final payment.