WorldFestivalAssociation

I N V I T A T I O N

 With pleasure we INVITE you ( Folk groups,dance groups,vocal and choir groups, majorette teams,orchestras), (children, youth and adults groups) to participate on XXII International Music & Folk - Dance Festival “OHRID PEARL”, which will be held from 20 - 24 September 2024

     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 seven wonders of Ohrid

Macedonia, deep in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, is simply a small country with extraordinary beauty.

This ancient and biblical land is probably one of the last visited and least known countries in Europe, which in a way makes it even more mysterious and attractive .

Finally, this terra incognita is now ready to be discovered. And without any doubt, its most precious jewels, shining one next to the other, are the city of Ohrid and the lake Ohrid .

This is not just another story about some attractive tourist destination in Europe.

Unfortunately, not many people in Europian union are still aware about at least 7 remarkable universal achievements connected to the entire human civilization :

According to famous television game show “who wants to be a millionaire “{2007} ,Ohrid is declared as the oldest city in the world, with continuous civilization advancement! Indeed, according to many historians, Lychnidos-the city of light (the ancient name of Ohrid ) was build in the 4th century B.C, but humans have lived there for more then 8.000 years. There are for sure settlements on many other places around the globe, but somehow and sometimes they were turned into abandoned and lifeless ruins. Reasons were different: earthquakes, floods, volcano eruptions , diseases, wars....here in Ohrid, from its beginning until today, life still goes on without ending.

That is why is also called “the kingdom of archeologists”.

This small city seemed to be irresistible for great ancient rulers and kings, such as the legendary Phoenician prince Cadmus who build it, Fillip 2 of Macedon who once conquered and reconstructed it, Alexander the Great who enjoyed in it, Czar Samuel who ruled from it and many more.

However, Ohrid is the only place in the world where 2 recognized saints actually lived in the same time - St. Kliment of Ohrid (840-916) and St.Naum of Ohrid(830-910), putting an extremely strong stamp of their existence.

These 2 exceptional persons, the very best students of Cyril and Methodius, were in fact the most educated people in the world in their time. Among other achievements, they will always be remembered as establishers of the first University in Europe (893), located in Ohrid Old Town, long before the University in Bologna (1088)!

Besides that, St. kliments and St. Naum of Ohrid were investors of the Cyrillic Alphabet. As a result of their creativity and incredible work, today more then 200 million people still use this alphabet, mostly in Southeast and Eastern Europe.

Ancient ruins, beautiful amphitheater, 3 citadel walls, St.Sofia Cathedral, many churches and monasteries, gallery of exclusive icons, museums, workshops for hand-made paper, woodcarving and famous Ohrid pearls, are among hundreds sites for tourists worth to visit. There is also a strong Roman connection to the city, since Lychnidos was along the famous route Via Egnatia, build in the 2nd century B.C., connecting the Adriatic and Aegean seas.

Considering the number of churches located in the Old town (365 churches according to the immemorial legend, for local people to celebrate every single day by honoring another saint), Ohrid is called “the Balkan Jerusalem”, successfully playing the role as the biggest pilgrimage spot for all the Orthodox Christian in the world.

One of the most extraordinary churches in Ohrid is the mother of god Theotokos Peribletos-“ The most holy who can take a look everywhere”. Build in the year 1295, this church is a pure masterpiece of the medieval sacred architecture. But more than that , the most incredible elements are the frescos inside this church, painted in the same year by Michael and Eutychios . Actually, at the end of the 13th century, before any similar artistic movements on Italian soil, exactly 10 years before the first fresco-painting of Giotto in Padua’s Arena Chapel (1305), the name of god will be glorified in Ohrid with frescos containing exclusive elements of the earliest start.

In 1979 and in 1980, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In fact, Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are both Cultural and Natural sites.

Lake Ohrid is one of Europe’s deepest and according to most experts the oldest lake in Europe. The importance of the lake was further emphasized when it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979. Feel Ohrid for once in your life and you already know why you will return. For more information visit www.ohridinfo.mk  Festival program will be held on the main square in Ohrid.

 How it was on the festival past years you can see on following link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFo9Rx6z_4U&t=2s

  Festival program will be held on the main square in Ohrid.

                 Participating conditions are:

-         is a non-competitive sample

-      On the festival may participate children and youth folklore dance groups, modern dance groups, vocal groups, instrumental groups and soloists, as well as groups and performers from other art styles.

-   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 12-16 minutes each with orchestra or USB.The Choral groups -two parts from 12 – 16 minutes free program. 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 by mail short CV and 5 photos of the group,

-         To bring a flag of the country,

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

              Program  

 Day 1 

     13.00.Arrivalin Ohrid after 13.00,hotel accommodation and  free activities

      19.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel

       21.00  Meeting with festival director

Day 2

 09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,

 10.30 -14.00 Ohrid sightseeing – visiting cultural monuments (St.Sofia church, Samoil fortress,(2 euro entres) Antique theatre, Plaosnik, (2 euro person)St. Kaneo church )

     18.30 – 19.30 Dinner in hotel

      20.00. Parada in the city

      20.30. Official opening of the festival           

22.09 Day 3 

09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,

11.00 – 15.30 Cruising with boat on Ohrid Lake, visit Museum on water and most famous tourist resort  St.Naum monastery, culture  place, –(price 14 euros per person, ),

18.00 – 19.30 Dinner in hotel

20.00 Free time in Ohrid

22.09 Day 3 

09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,

11.00 – 15.30 Visiting Struga city with Wthno Villige VEVCANI,

16.00 shopinig in Ohrid (suvenirs)

19.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel

20.00 Party in hotel

  23.09 Day 4  

08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast

09.00 – 14.00 Departure to Skopje city with guide (visiting monuments of Alexander of Macedon, National museum of Macedonian struggle, Macedonian GATE, Stone bridge…) (optional)

14.00 Departure from Skopje city

 Participation fee:

- 75 Euro for 3 HB per person ( 3 nights with 2 meals per day)

- 98 Euro for 4 HB per person (4 nights with 2 meals per day. It covers hotel accommodation with 3 meals per day in  3* hotels  which are located on the coast of Ohrid Lake or in the center of the city in double,triple and quadriple rooms with own toilet and bathrooms……

Visit:

Hotel Desaret  (hotel on the lake) – www.hoteldesaret.com.mk ,  

Hotel Montenegrin ( in the center of the city) – www.montenegrininn.com   

Hotel De lux appartmant ( in the center of the city)            

    Festival organizers provide:

-         for 24 person – one gratis,

-         certificates for attendance on the festival,

-         souvenir and presents for the groups,

-         drinks during the performance,

-         free bus parking

- - advertising of the festival (press release e-flayers, social media promotion, posters).

 NOTE: Tourist tax and insurance is 1 euro per day per person and it is paid additional..

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 Ohrid. Price will be 27 Euro per day per person HB – price is special for the participants in festivals. For additional days we will prepare special program for you and festival evening in other city.

   The festival will organize the transport for the groups coming by plane by picking them up from airport, during the festival days and back to the airport. You can also arrive through Skopje, Tirana or Thessaloniki Airport which are only 200 km from Ohrid. The cost of the transportation will be covered by the group and will be additionally agreed according to their number. We will also assist you in obtaining visa for Macedonia if necessary. Also, you can arrive in Ohrid airport by plane and we will organize transfer from the airport to the hotel free of charge.

 All detailed information will be supply after your confirmation for participations.

In 2018 participated over 266 participants from 5 countries from EU.

In 2019, participated over 284 participants from 6 countries from Europe. 

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 NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL                                   Published on 24 June 2018

 PERFORMERS FROM 4 COUNTRIES PARTICIPATED IN THE "OHRID PEARL" FESTIVAL

FFestival "Ohrid pearl" was held from 20th till 24th of June in Ohrid. Groups from Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania and Serbia were part of the event, informed the organizer Zoran Strezovski. He welcomed the groups and wished them successful presentation. 

"After the parade on the main promenade of Ohrid, Festival concert was held in the Center of Culture "G.Prlicev" on 22nd of June where the groups sang and danced on the stage. After performances they received certificate and presents from organizers. During the festival they had the opportunity to visit Ohrid and St. Naum by boat and enjoy the beautiful Ohrid Lake", Strezovski said in addition.

NEWS ABOUT FESTIVAL                                       

13 GROUPS FROM 6 COUNTRIES TOOK PART IN THE “OHRID PEARL” FESTIVAL

From 15th till 19th June was held the IX International Music and Folk Dance Festival "Ohrid Pearl" which were attended by 13 groups and more than 400 participants from Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, Turkey.Official festival opening was held on 16th of June on stage of Center of Culture “G.Prlicev” in Ohrid with a lot of audience. On the opening speach vice - major of the Ohrid, Angel Janev welcomed all the participants and thanked to the hosts for their organization. Director of the festival Zoran Strezovski gave presents and certificates after performance of each group. 

“Second festival evening was on the main square in Ohrid on 17th of June. Festival finished on 18 june with join party of all participants in hotel Desaret in Ohrid where they expressed their satisfaction of participating on the festival.”, said Mr Strezovski.