29th KFF 2024

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
FOLK CRAFT FAIR
Karlovy Vary – area in front of the main post office and in Smetana Park (Smetanovy sady)
Demonstration of traditional crafts and sale of crafted products including numerous delicacies

7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
DANCES OF THREE CONTINENTS
Karlovy Vary – Imperial Baths (Císařské Lázně) – Atrium Hall
Opening concert of the 29th KFF – performances by foreign ensembles
Tickets are available here.

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
FOLK CRAFT FAIR
Karlovy Vary – area in front of the main post office and in Smetana Park (Smetanovy sady)
Demonstration of traditional crafts and sale of crafted products including numerous delicacies

3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
SLOVAK DANCE
Rosnice – U Kaštanů Restaurant
A performance by a Slovak ensemble for the Slovak community in the Czech Republic (private party)

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
CONCERTS AROUND THE REGION
Sokolov – Old Square
Performances of foreign ensembles as part of the 29th KFF

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
FOLK CRAFT FAIR
Karlovy Vary – area in front of the main post office and in Smetana Park (Smetanovy sady)
Demonstration of traditional crafts and sale of crafted products including numerous delicacies

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
FOLKLORE AT PORCELAIN FESTIVITIES
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.    Karlovy Vary – stage next to the Grandhotel Ambassador National House
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.   Performances by folklore ensembles as part of the 29th KFF

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
MUSIC AT THE FAIR
Karlovy Vary – stage next to the main post office
Folk music by ensembles participating in the 29th KFF playing for visitors to the fair

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
FESTIVAL IN SWING
Karlovy Vary – stage next to Hotel Thermal
Performances by folklore ensembles as part of the 29th KFF

6:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
FOLKLORE PARTY
Karlovy Vary – Stará Role – Lidový dům Karlovy Vary
Evening gathering of participants in the 29th KFF (private party)

8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
CONCERT BY THE KARLOVY VARY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Karlovy Vary – Market (Tržní) Colonnade
KSO under the direction of leader Jakub Sedláček
Dulcimer: Johana Klára Kratochvílová

9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
EXHIBITION OF HISTORICAL VEHICLES
Karlovy Vary – area in front of Hotel Thermal
Veteran car show organised in cooperation with the association Veteránisté Bohatice

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
FOLK CRAFT FAIR
Karlovy Vary – area in front of the main post office and in Smetana Park (Smetanovy sady)
Demonstration of traditional crafts and sale of crafted products including numerous delicacies

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
DANCE AT HOTEL THERMAL
Karlovy Vary – stage next to Hotel Thermal
Performances by folklore ensembles as part of the 29th KFF

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
DANCING KARLOVY VARY
Karlovy Vary – Park (Sadová) Colonnade
Performances by folklore ensembles as part of the 29th KFF

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
MUSIC AT THE FAIR
Karlovy Vary – stage next to the main post office
Folk music by ensembles participating in the 29th KFF playing for visitors to the fair

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
FOLKLORE AT PORCELAIN FESTIVITIES
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.   Karlovy Vary – stage next to the Grandhotel Ambassador National House
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Performances by folklore ensembles as part of the 29th KFF

1:30 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
CONCERTS AROUND THE REGION
Milíkov – Milíkov Farm
Performance by a folklore ensemble at the Milíkov farm harvest festival

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
DANCE AT THE FAIR
Karlovy Vary – stage next to the main post office
Folk dance lessons for visitors to the fair

2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
EXHIBITION “FOLK JEWELLERY”
Karlovy Vary – Nová louka – Karlovy Vary Museum
Folk music performances as part of the 29th KFF at the opening of the exhibition

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
DANCING KARLOVY VARY
Karlovy Vary – Market (Tržní) Colonnade
Performances by folklore ensembles as part of the 29th KFF

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
DANCING KARLOVY VARY
Karlovy Vary – Mill (Mlýnská) Colonnade
Performances by folklore ensembles as part of the 29th KFF

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
THEATRE AT THE FAIR
Karlovy Vary – stage next to the main post office
Ondřej Theatre plays for children visiting the fair

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
MUSIC AT HOTEL THERMAL
Karlovy Vary – stage next to Hotel Thermal
Dulcimer music performance

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
FESTIVE FOLK COSTUME PARADE
Karlovy Vary – route from the Market (Tržní) Colonnade to Hotel Thermal
Parade of ensembles participating in the 29th KFF through the town with music, singing and dancing

6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.
GATHERING WITH A GLASS OF WINE
Karlovy Vary – Hotel Thermal – Festival Lounge
Gathering of leaders of ensembles, festival sponsors and representatives of the town of Karlovy Vary and the Karlovy Vary Region

7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
FESTIVAL GALA PROGRAMME
Karlovy Vary – Hotel Thermal – Grand Hall
The main programme of ensembles participating in the 29th KFF

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
A TOAST BY THE SPRINGS
Karlovy Vary – Market (Tržní) Colonnade
Toast by the performers at the 29th KFF (private party)

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
FOLK CRAFT FAIR
Karlovy Vary – area in front of the main post office and in Smetana Park (Smetanovy sady)
Demonstration of traditional crafts and sale of crafted products including numerous delicacies

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
SINGING BY THE SPRINGS
Karlovy Vary – Park (Sadová), Mill (Mlýnská), Market (Tržní) and Hot Spring (Vřídelní) colonnades, and Freedom (Svoboda) Spring
Concerts by folklore ensembles as part of the 29th KFF at the spa colonnades and at the spa springs

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
FOLKLORE AT PORCELAIN FESTIVITIES
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.    Karlovy Vary – stage next to the Grandhotel Ambassador National House
Performances by folklore ensembles as part of the 29th KFF

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
MUSIC AT THE FAIR
Karlovy Vary – stage next to the main post office
Folk music by ensembles participating in the 29th KFF playing for visitors to the fair

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE AFTERNOON IN LOKET
Loket – natural amphitheatre
Closing programme of the 29th KFF (voluntary entrance fee)

SOUBOR PÍSNÍ A TANCŮ BZENČAN
Bzenec

The ensemble of songs and dances Bzenčan was founded in April 2015 and its name was derived from the hometown of Bzenčan. Due to the fact that the city lies on the border of Kyjovsk, Strážnice and Uherskohradišťsk, the ensemble’s repertoire consists of dances such as sedlácká, verbuňk, danaj from Strážnice or skočná from Kyjov. Of course, the repertoire also includes specific urban dances such as the shiml and šotyš or, just to diversify the viewer’s eye, dances from Myjava or Těrchová. The ensemble members are most often presented in 19th century semi-urban clothing styles. On this garment, the viewer can see both folk and urban elements. It is this costume that distinguishes SPT Bzenčan from other Slovakian ensembles.

SLOVÁCKÝ KRÚŽEK V BRNĚ
Brno

The Slovak Circle in Brno was founded in 1908 as a free association of compatriots from Slovácko. Over the decades, it formalized as a folklore group, but the spontaneity and sincerity of its activity did not disappear. In addition to performances with the ensemble, its members are also bonded by weekly playing in the streets of Brno, ending in pubs or playing on festive occasions. The musicians are mainly from Horňáck and Veselsk in Slovakia, but also from Brno and Wallachia.

FOLKLORNÍ SOUBOR JITŘENKA
Dolní Čermná

The ensemble was founded in 1995. The organization of the Čermenská slavnosti MFFF contributed significantly to the foundation of the folklore ensemble Jitřenka, where the local ensemble was noticeably absent. And what better way to start building a tradition than in the form of a children’s folklore group. From the beginning, Jitřenka operated as a children’s folklore group. After its 20th anniversary, the children’s ensemble became an adult ensemble. The ensemble’s diverse repertoire draws mainly from preserved regional sources of folk song and dance collectors and focuses mainly on the ethnographic region of Eastern Bohemia. In their own adaptations, they include the choreography of entire bands as well as individual dances, typical of Eastern Bohemia, such as mateníky, rezanky or, for example, mazura or razor. Currently, the ensemble has created its own young folk music, led by Eliška Zpěváková.

FOLKLORNÍ SOUBOR KRUŠNOHOR
Chomutov

The folk group Krušnohor was founded in 1988 at the Cultural and Social Center in Chomutov, where it still operates. It currently has a total of 20 members aged 12 and over. The ensemble processes folklore material from the Krušnohoří Mountains, Karlovy Vary and the entire western and southwestern part of Bohemia. Krušnohor is a regular participant in shows and festivals in the Czech Republic and abroad. He is a member of the regional association “Shirší Karlovy Vary” and regularly participates in meetings of children’s folklore ensembles in Teplá near Mariánské Lázně and in competition shows in Karlovy Vary. The artistic director is Mgr. Jaroslava Macháčková.

FOLKLORNÍ SOUBOR MARJÁNEK
Mariánské Lázně

The folklore group Marjánek was founded in the mid-1990s originally as a children’s drama group. It gradually developed to its present form. Today, the ensemble mainly deals with customs and dances from the Chodsko region and, in addition to its own bagpipe music, it also has three dance components. The ensemble regularly performs at festivals at home and abroad and is the organizer of the International Folklore Festival Mariánský podzim, which takes place every third weekend in September in Mariánské Lázně.

FOLKLORNÍ SOUBOR RŮŽE
Český Krumlov

Folk ensemble Růže was founded in 1987. The members of the ensemble were mostly former dancers of the children’s folklore ensemble Jitřenka. The desire to focus on folklore even when they had outgrown children’s costumes was so strong that it led to the founding of an adult ensemble. The ensemble is also largely involved in organizing the International Folklore Festival in Český Krumlov.

FOLKLORNÍ SOUBOR STÁZKA A UMARUŠ
Teplá

The folklore ensemble Stázka was founded in the mid-1990s at the Elementary School in Teplá. He processes Czech folk songs, customs and dances and also deals with the folklore of the wider Karlovy Vary, mainly from the Poohří region. He participates in the organization of the Karlovarsk Singer competition and the Meeting of Folklore Ensembles in Teplá. He performed at many folklore festivals in Bohemia and Moravia and regularly travels to Germany to perform. Three times he was selected for the national show of children’s folklore ensembles and in 2014 he received the title Laureate of the Guard.

FOLKLORNÍ SOUBOR TACHOVSKÝ KOLOWRÁTEK
Tachov

The folklore group Tachovský Kolowrátek was created in December 2018 from the original group Kaštánek, which played and sang in the Children’s Home in Tachov since 2013. The reason for renaming this group is very simple, it is thanks to the foundation fund “Kolowrátek”, which is the patron of the Children’s Home in Tachov for 10 years and thus refers to the name of the old Czech family of the Kolowrats. The ensemble helps to further develop the traditions of Choda folk music and the legacy of our ancestors. Currently, the file operates under the banner of the Children’s Home in Tachov. The leader of the ensemble is Vítězslav Langr.

SOUBOR PÍSNÍ A TANCŮ DYLEŇ
Karlovy Vary
The ensemble of songs and dances Dyleň focuses on the presentation of folk songs and dances of the westernmost part of Bohemia, mainly Karlovarska and Poohří – that is, the area where Czechs and Germans lived side by side for centuries. With more than a hundred members and several dance groups, it boasts that parents and their children, and even grandchildren, often dance on stage. The ensemble, which is one of the most important bearers of folk traditions in Western Bohemia, often goes abroad to demonstrate its art. He is also the organizer of the Karlovy Vary Folklore Festival, which has been held since 1996.

FOLKLORNÍ SOUBOR RADISŤ
Česká republika
The Radisť Ukrainian Folk Choir was established under the Regional Ukrainian Association in Eastern Bohemia in 2015. The members of the choir, Ukrainians living in the Czech Republic, introduce the Czech public to the culture and tradition of Ukraine. With the beginning of the war in Ukraine, new members joined the group. Currently, the group consists of 20 people.
The Choir of the Ukrainian folk song Radistť is a regular participant in folklore festivals and cultural events organized in the Czech Republic and every autumn organizes the Days of Ukrainian Culture in the Hradec Králové region.

The choirmaster is Natalia Ivanova, Musical accompaniment is arranged by Natalia Strashidlová.

ASI ES COLOMBIA 
Acacías, Colombia

The folklore ensemble “ASI ES COLOMBIA” was founded on August 7, 1980 under the name “DANZAS DE OFELIA RAMOS” in the town of Acacías in the Meta region, just 130 km from the capital Bogotá. In 1988, the members decided to change the name to “ASÍ ES COLOMBIA” (“This is Colombia”). The ensemble is a non-profit entity that contributes to the artistic and cultural development of the municipality of Acacias and is dedicated to all generations: children, youth, adults and seniors. The artists then process llanero, national, modern or “dance of lost identity” accompanied by instruments such as: harp, cuatro, maracas and bandola. The ensemble works hard on folklore development projects agreed with the Ministry of Culture, shows, festivals and cultural exchanges at the national and international level; offers young people meaningful use of their free time.

BALLET AMO A MEXICO
Naucalpan, Mexico

Amo a México Folkloric Ballet is a project founded in 1987. Under the leadership of founder, choreographer and leader María Dolores Olivier Rodríguez (Lolita Menchaca), the company has become one of the most famous folk dance groups in Mexico. The group performs dances from various states of the republic, such as from the capital of Mexico, from the state of Sinaloa, Jalisco, Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Oaxaca, Yucatán, Chiapas, as well as Aztec dances, which is why their stock of costumes is just as varied. The ensemble’s music is similarly diverse, offering keyboards, accordion or guitarrón in addition to the typical trumpet and violin. And while you’re enjoying the dancing Mexicans, keep an eye out for a character called a catriachi on stage, who should be handing out gifts and interacting with others during the performance.

THE FOLKLORIC DANCE ANZAR OF THE CULTURAL ASSOCIATION YESSIS IDHOURAR
Tizi Ouzou, Algeria

ANZAR Group is a captivating celebration of Algeria’s rich cultural heritage. A dynamic group of dancers aged between 18 and 45, dressed in traditional Kabyle, Chaoui and Algerian costumes, bring to life the stories of wedding festivities, circumcision ceremonies or New Year celebrations through expressive choreography. Accompanied by talented musicians aged between 18 and 60 including three percussionists and a piper, their performance creates a vibrant atmosphere.

NAFPAKTOS DANCE GROUP OF FRIENDS OF GREEK TRADITION “NAFS”
Nafpaktos, Greece

The dance group of friends of Greek tradition NAFS was founded in 1984 in Nafpaktos by teacher Vassilis Vafiadis. Since 1993, the artistic director of the group is Giannis Vafiadis, a great teacher of folk tradition and culture known throughout Greece, who is assisted by two other directors.

Member associations help to spread knowledge about Greek tradition in a professional way. 120 people work in the association with the mission of drawing attention to the cultural heritage and folk culture of the Greek tradition, especially targeting the young generation. with special emphasis on revitalizing events in villages in the wider area, especially in the mountain area of ​​Nafpaktia.
The association includes dance groups of all ages with a total of about 200 dancers who learn and perform dances from all regions of Greece with a rich wardrobe of costumes .

FOLKLORNÁ SKUPINA KŇAHINKA
Čičava, Slovakia

Folk group Kňahinka was founded in 1998 in the village of Čičava, 5 km from Vranov nad Topľou. The name Kňahinka comes from the folk name of the local well, to which in the past the people of Čičava went to refresh themselves while working in the fields, and according to legend, “the princess used to go there to drink water…”
The group has a singing, dancing and musical component. Since its establishment, the repertoire of performances has changed considerably. In the beginning, it was a singing performance by a female and male group accompanied by an accordion. In the course of the next ten years, the group already had folk music composed of violin, accordion, double bass, and gradually the group’s repertoire changed to singing and dancing. For the past ten years, the group has been showing dances and songs mainly from the Zemplín region at its performances. She rehearsed the dances of Parobsk verbunka, girls’ karicka, bed dance, bottle dance, polka, krúné and čardáš.
The number of members of the group was initially 25 people in a two-generation composition, currently it is more than 30 people in a three-generation composition. The average age of dancers is 23 years, singers 61 years and musicians 40 years.

For more than 25 years of the existence of FS Kňahinka, more than 100 members have performed in its programs and currently the group works as a civic association in the premises of the House of Culture of the city of Vranov nad Topľou and brings together members of different ages and from different municipalities of the district.

Participating groups will be accommodated in youth hostes or pensions in Karlovy Vary and near surrounding. Our partners for accommodation are:

Pension hestia
Located in calm district of Karlovy Vary called Drahovice. Approximatelly 10 meters from accommodation is bus station, where the bus can take you through 5 stops to centre. There are triple bed rooms or 4-bed rooms in accommodation used usually by students. More information you can find here:  http://www.penzionhestia.cz/

Festival has also other partners for accomodation, which are used usually for foreign groups participating longer period within festival.

Participants are eating in following locations.

Hotel Kriváň
Located in the centre of Karlovy Vary directly infront of main scene, which is before Hotel Thermal. In this hotel is served food for participants mainly during the weekend. Information about hotel you can find here: https://bohemia-lazne.cz/hotel/hotel-krivan/

Festival is cooperating also with other partners adjusted to festival program.

Exception in hot meals are in on Thursday and Saturday dinner, which is only cold meal bacause of tight programm in evening. Cherry on the cake is “Breakfast by the springs” on Sunday, which became traditional event and last meeting of all groups within Mill collonade drinking 13th spring Becherovka and sweet cakes from Globus.