An International Folklore Festival, which has grown into a good tradition with Lviv, will take place on August 24-27. Folk bands and dance groups from Macedonia, Turkey, India, Poland, and Estonia will take part in this colorful happening. It goes without saying that Ukrainian participants will be represented on a broad scale. Traditionally, the access to all the festival events is free.
The festival (named Etnovyr, i.e., “Ethno-Whirl”), will start on August 24 with a pageant of the participants through the Old Town of Lviv from Rynok Square. The names of the participating groups include Kitka (Macedonia), Hayfem (Turkey), Rhythms International Folk Art Club (India), Anilana (Poland), and Viisuveeretajad (Estonia).
A special attraction is planned: a joint event of two festivals, Etnovyr and Lviv MozArt, scheduled to take place in Rynok Square on August 25. This is an experimental program “Mozart Unites the World,” during which folk instruments from five countries will perform the most popular works by the glorious Wolfgang Amadeus and songs about Lviv. Conductor Vitali Alekseyonok (Belarus – Germany) has arranged the pieces for this open-air concert.
Further, the program includes EthnoFashion, a demonstration of traditional costumes from various countries. During the festival locals and guests of Lviv will be able to enjoy tidbits of cuisines from around the globe. The festival will close with a gala concert of all its participants.
Etnovyr started in 2008, and since then folk groups from Mexico, Martinique, Israel, Macedonia, Portugal, France, Italy, Burundi, the Czech Republic, Poland, India, and Spain have all presented the culture of their respective countries during the celebration of Independence Day in Lviv.
The event takes place under the auspices of the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF), UNESCO, and the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV) and is organized by NGO Etnovyr, sponsored by the Lviv City Council.
