A 43-Year-Long Tradition

Folklore groups from Croatia, as well as folklore groups and ensembles from other European countries and continents, will present their music and traditions at this year's International Folklore Festival, an event which has been taking place for 43 consecutive years and has been promoting cultural and ethnic cooperation between different nations.

Every year, the streets of Zagreb come alive with colorful costumes worn by the participants in the International Folklore Festival. This year, the event will have its 43rd edition between 15 and 19 May and will gather folklore groups and ensembles from across Croatia and the world. The first folklore festival was organized in 1966, and in the meantime it has developed into a traditional extravaganza of cultural heritage aimed at promoting cooperation between representatives from different nations and ethnic groups.

Following the well established tradition, this year's event will present the wealth and diversity of customs from all the corners of Croatia. Local folklore groups will be joined by folklore ensembles from other European countries and continents. This year's program is themed around two select topics. One is dedicated to the traditional customs of the Croatian region of Istria, which will be presented through an exhibition and concerts of church folk singing and popular music; the other focuses on the presentation of wheel dancing, as a universal dance form which exists in different cultures. For the duration of the festival, music and dance workshops will provide the participants with an opportunity to learn about the traditions and customs of different cultures. The folklore groups will appear on open-air stages on the main square and in the Upper Town. Besides in Zagreb, the participants in the International Folklore Festival also regularly appear in places outside Zagreb.