Romanian Festivals

Posted on Feb 08, 2010 Posted by Georgiana Gavriluta

If you have an interest in foreign customs, or you’d just like to see what gets celebrated in Romania, please have a look at our first attempt to recommend local festivals. We don’t intend to index everything that’s on in 2010. It’s just our list with recommendations; please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any comments or suggestions.

Transylvania Fest – Biertan 30 July - 1 August 2010

Inspired by the European harvest festivals, Turda Fest (its name was changed to Transylvania Fest in 2010) brings together locals farmers and promotes tourism in the beautiful Aries Valley and Apuseni Mountains – participants are invited to visit the local tourist sites: Turda and Tureni Gorges, the Salt Mine, the Roman Castrum, the History Museum, and a number of historic churches.
www.turdafest.ro

Plai Festival – Timisoara – September 2010

A three-day world music and jazz celebration set in greenery on the outskirts of Timisoara (plai means “field”) stages a colourful programme of arts workshops and theatre performances. September 2010 at “Muzeul Satului Banatean” (local village museum).
www.plai.ro

International Romani Art Festival - IRAF – Timisoara July 2010

International Romania Art Festival IRAF brings together Roma artists from all over the world, in a music, dance, theatre and specific Romani live performances (juggling, acrobatics, knife throwing, magic, fire eating and sword swallowing) show. There are going to be film screenings, photo exhibitions, a craftsmen fair, creative workshops and, of course, the traditional Gypsy Chill–out (hammocks, accordions, cooking brownies, nothing serious).
www.iraf.ro

Festivalul National al Traditiilor Populare - Astra Museum, Sibiu August 2010

An interactive festival to welcome the music, dance, traditional art and crafts, foods of the many Transylvanian counties and all the other Romanian historical regions. For a whole week, 450 re-enactors will celebrate, encourage and make known the neglected inheritance of traditional Romania.
www.muzeulastra.com

Watumi Festival & Fringe – Brasov July 2010

Romania’s own Fringe: Watumi – held in Brasov between 22nd – 26th July! Organised by a team of people who understand the Fringe is a state of mind and are passionate about introducing in Romania, it brings together hundreds of artists, many shows and events, partners, volunteers and, of course, the general public in a cultural celebration with the colour and buzz of great festivals. See you there!
www.watumi.ro

The Plum Brandy Festival - Valenii de Munte 31st October - 1st November 2010

This festival is the main reason for organising The Autumn Celebration in Valenii de Munte, which takes place between 30st October and 1st November ,and which will be at its 13th edition this year. While you taste the various types of brandy and cheese offered, you can enjoy traditonal music, get to meet the local people, and also visit the main attractions in the area: the memorial house of Romanian historian Nicolae Iorga, the Etnography Museum and The Religious Art Museum. Each year the festival gathers more than 60 plum brandy producers from all over the country, competing to win the contest’s title of the best brandy producer, therefore you might not want to miss this one!

Sighisoara Medieval Festival 23-25 July 2010

For the last weekend in July, medieval Transylvania is alive again with troubadour music and costume parades, street entertainers, art and crafts workshops, open-air concerts and medieval ceremonies. Be charmed by Sighisoara – the best-preserved and still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe (World Heritage Site by UNESCO)!
www.sighisoaraonline.com

Transylvania International Guitar Festival - Cluj Napoca – August 2010

Run by volunteers, Transylvania International Guitar Festival invites participants to enjoy live guitar performances by some of the world’s most renowned performers. Every year the organisers run an international classical guitar competition, lectures and a few seminars and there’s an instrument gallery for those interested.
www.transilvaniaguitar.ro

Garana Jazz Festival - Poiana Lupului -July 2010

Set in a small beautiful village (only a few hundred houses) high up in the mountains, amazing surroundings, absolutely fantastic all year round, but especially when Garana Jazz Festival is on. Organisers say hitchhiking to Poiana Lupului very common, as jazz lovers like to help each other; you can either stay in a local B&B, camp or rent a room from the locals. Hope to see you there, as we’ve decided: we’re definitely going!
www.garana-jazz.ro

Caffe Festival – Bucharest - May 2010

Talking over a glass of beer or wine, laughing, relaxing while you listen to jazz, blues or pop, Caffe Festival takes you on the true European “savoir vivre”. A charming mixture of events that brings musicians closer to the public, in a unique space of improvisation and interaction, the festival offers 6 days of live music, blues, jazz & pop concerts and improvisation on open stage.
www.jmevents.ro

EUROPAfest – Bucharest – May 2010

Concerts, contests, unforgettable encounters with musicians from all around the world, creative synergies, excitement, ecstatic audiences, ambience and bon-tone. Blues, jazz, pop & classic, all in one event! For a week (May 7 – 13) EUROPAfest 2010 revives the capital’s musical stage, gathering in Bucharest over 300 musicians.
www.jmevents.ro

Festivalul George Enescu - Bucharest

Organised in honour of Romanian composer George Enescu, is the biggest classical music festival and classical international competition help in Romania and one of the biggest in Eastern Europe. The concerts are held in three different venues in Bucharest, iasi and Sibiu and the competition section lasts a week.
www.festivalenescu.ro

ARTmania Festival – Sibiu – July 2010

ARTmania Festival hosts, in the Large Square of Sibiu, live concerts by rock / metal bands. In addition to live performances, Artmania Festival features visual art exhibitions, film screenings, classical music performances, lectures and workshops.
www.artmaniafestival.ro

Vlahia Folk Festival – Moeciu de Sus July 2010

Vlahia Folk Festival takes place between 15th and 18th July in Moeciu de Sus, Brasov County. Beautiful surroundings, good music, beer and great fun all day and all night long. Everyone welcome - free entry. For local accommodation please visit http://vlahiainn.ro.

B'est Fest – Bucharest -16th-18th July 2010

The first "made in Romania" major festival - B'ESTFEST- is getting ready for its fourth edition! This year B'ESTFEST will take place over three days, on 16th, 17th and 18th of July at Romexpo, the first headliner confirmed being the same as the one who got the party started four years ago, at the first edition - Faithless!
www.bestfest.ro

Stufstock - Vama Veche - September 2010

Stufstock (stuff – Romanian for reed, stock from the well known Woodstock) a rock music festival in Vama Veche (non-mainstream tourist destination, held to protest against bad quality music and also to save the area from the development that has overtaken much of the Black Sea Coast. If you’re up for camping on the beach (by the “no camping” sign, as camping is theoretically not permitted) you’ll love this countercultural oasis!
www.stufstock.com