Folklore Without Borders Brings Music, Dance and Tradition to Ostrava City Hall
As is tradition, the new festival edition will open today with a procession of folk ensembles in traditional costumes through the centre of Ostrava, followed by a concert at Masaryk Square. In the following days, the celebrations will also take place at Ostrava-Jih Square, Mariánské Square and Hlavní třída in Poruba.
In addition to these established festival venues, this year brings a new programme. On Friday 21 August the folk relay will move from Silesian Ostrava Castle to the National Museum of Agriculture Ostrava, located in the post-industrial complex of Dolní Vítkovice. The Friday programme will be free of charge. The organisers aim to make it accessible to everyone – young people, families with children and seniors alike.
Deputy Mayor Lucie Baránková Vilamová highlighted the festival’s lasting place in the cultural programme of the Moravian-Silesian capital and personally thanked the performers: “I am very pleased that, especially at a time when we need it most, we can remind ourselves of our traditions, our folklore and our national culture, which is the foundation we all share. I have already had the pleasure of welcoming some of you several times, which makes me especially happy, while for others this is your first visit. I firmly believe that you will enjoy the entire week in our city and that the smiling faces of visitors and Ostrava residents will welcome you wherever you perform. I wish you wonderful experiences in Ostrava, and thank you very much.”
The festival also includes a project called Together Without Borders. As part of the project, the folk ensembles will visit the residential homes for seniors, the Centre for people with disabilities, and the spa colonnade in Klimkovice. This means that folklore will also be enjoyed by those who are unable to attend events in public spaces.
“Folklore Without Borders is based on the idea of a travelling festival – we travel around the city, we are not confined to specific venues, and we go to the people. From the very beginning, we wanted to bring joy to our fellow citizens who are unable to join us in the large squares. I believe that our activities are a great way for them to take a break from their everyday routine and gain encouragement for the days ahead,” said festival director Lukáš Pavlík.
The Folklore Without Borders Ostrava festival is held with the support of the Statutory City of Ostrava, the Moravian-Silesian Region, the Ministry of Culture, and the city districts of Moravská Ostrava and Přívoz, Ostrava-Jih, Ostrava-Poruba, Ostrava-Vítkovice and Silesian Ostrava.
