INTERNATIONAL MIXED FESTIVAL “SPRING POSTCARD” 13 – 17 April 2024

Director:  Mr.Kosta Koskoski

Application deadline: 15 December 2023

Ohrid

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

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 groups to meat different nationalities, establish friendships and express their cultural diversity through dance and music.

Conditions for participation at the festival:

• Folk dance groups, modern dance groups, choirs, but also majorette teams and brass bands and orchestras are welcome to apply.
• Groups from all over the world can take part in this festival.
• The number of participants is not limited.
• There is no age limit.
• To prepare minimum one program with the duration of 12 – 15 minutes per program.
• Each group should bring the national flag of the country that they represent.
• To visibly display panel on which the name of the group and the name of the country is inscribed.
• Groups should have 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.

Festival Organizers provide:

• Accommodation in hotels and apartments, and meals 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). For the other double rooms there is an additional cost of 5 euro per room per day. The rest of the rooms are with 3 and 4 beds;
• A companion for the excursions and to inform the group about details regarding the festival;
• Certificates for participation in the festival.

Participation fee:   Basic category Vilas, Apartments: 

• 87 Euro per person for 3 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)
• 113 Euro per person for 4 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)

Advanced category hotels:3***

• 98 Euro per person for 3 nights half  board accommodation (breakfast, and dinner)
• 124 Euro per person for 4 nights half board accommodation (breakfast, and dinner)

If there are 24 paying participants in a group, the 25 st 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

Important! Macedonian Tourist Tax (0.80 cents euro per person per day) is not calculated in the price and is to be paid after arrival and accommodation.

Accommodation: 

Accommodation in: Hotels and Apartments

Participation fee does not inculde:

• 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.

Program:

26.05.2024

Arriving in Ohrid, hotel accommodation;                                                                                                                            Meeting with the main organizer in order to discuss about the festival program;
Lunch in the hotel and free activities;
Dinner in the hotel;
Free night.

27.05.2024

Breakfast in the hotel;

Ohrid city tour (5 euro per person for entrance tickets);
Lunch in the hotel and free activities;
Parade on the streets;
Official performance of the participants;
Dinner in the hotel.

28.05.2024

Breakfast in the hotel;

Free activities;
Lunch in the hotel;
Parade through the streets in Ohrid;
Festival evening in Ohrid (performance of the participants, certificate for the participants by the organizers, and at the very end of the festival participants can exchange gifts and contacts with each other);
Dinner in the hotel.

29.05.2024

Breakfast;
Cruising with boat on Lake Ohrid to st. Naum monastery (12 euro);
Dinner in the hotel.

30.05.2024

Breakfast;
Departure.

*The organizer reserves the right to make changes in the program of the festival.

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.