Director: Galina Panayotova Edirne The Balkan Folk Festival is held in the city of Edirne, Turkey and is a concomitant event of the 662th edition of Turkey 's largest Festival oil wrestling, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, which is held every year in Edirne Fighting Tournament "Kirkpainar". The audience from all over Turkey and abroad gathers in Edirne to hold the fights. The town of Edirne is located in the European part of the Republic of Turkey and is the administrative center of the province of the same name. It is located 50 km from Lesovo, Bulgaria border crossing. The historic city of Edirne is extremely impressive with its authentic atmosphere and architectural landmarks. It was the capital of the Ottoman Empire before Istanbul. Participants: Participants in the Balkan Folklore Festival are amateur groups from Turkey, Bulgaria and other Balkan countries. Dance, singing and instrumental folklore ensembles and groups for processed and traditional folklore without age restrictions can participate in the festival. The group's folklore program lasts 10-15 minutes. Wear distinctive banners and signs of the collective and the state. Goals of the festival: to develop cultural exchanges between the Balkan countries; to encourage the creativity of the personality; to present the folklore and cultural traditions of the Balkan peoples; to promote Balkan folklore. Participation fee: Package Price: hotel 3* with breakfast 85 Euro per person - includes 2 nights in hotel 3* with breakfast 120 Euro per person - includes 3 nights in a hotel 3* with breakfast The rooms at the hotel are double and triple. You will be accommodated in a double room, if available. Single room surcharge EUR 25 per day per person. The participation fee does not include transport to the city of Edirne, parking and personal expenses. For a group of 25 people there is one free place (25 + 1). Program: The PROGRAM of the Balkan Folklore Festival offers: - participation in an open-air festival concert in the center of Edirne on July 2-3 - Participation in the program for the opening of the Festival of Fat Fighting (optional) - certificates and plaques for the groups - July 2 - Gala Dinner (optional) and rewarding of the participants in the festival at a suitable restaurant in the city of Edirne - for an extra charge. Tourism sites in Edirne: Adrianopol's Ancient Fortress, Sultan Selim II Mosque, Museum of History and Ethnography, Museum of Turkish and Muslim Art, Monument of Sinan Architect, Museum of the Balkan War, old bridges over the Tundja and Maritsa rivers, Adrian's Medieval Tower, Karaagach Station, the Bulgarian Church "St. Georgi ", the Orthodox Church" St. St. Konstantin and Elena ", the school of Dr. Petar Beron, the Complex of Sultan Bayazid II and the Museum of Medicine, covered bazaars - aristocratic and others. In Bulgaria Edirne is also known as the "city of shopping tours". Entry fees are at an additional cost. Possibility for organized visit to the sites. DEADLINES FOR REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT Candidates wishing to participate in the festival must declare their participation by filling in an Application Form for registration by 14 April 2023. Deadline for payment of the full amount 31 May 2023. Please observe the registration and payment terms as they are bound to book rooms in the hotel. 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.