Festivals, events and entertainment

Festival tourism, as a social phenomenon that contributes to sustainable development, is currently a priority for most countries in the world. Festivals are meant to maintain, animate, and promote national culture, traditions, and customs, thus becoming a new destination and a source for tourism activity.

Since ancient times, cultural events have attracted a huge number of spectators from all over the world. Today, few have not heard of the Rio Carnival, Oktoberfest, Il Carnavale di Venezia, Mardi Gras, the Cannes Film Festival. These events, which take place annually, attract an impressive number of tourists and contribute enormously to the promotion of the country’s image, becoming even national brands that have managed to establish themselves worldwide.

Taken from French terminology, the notion of the festival represents in its essence an “occasional or periodic event, national or international, with a festive character, in various cultural-artistic fields: music, film, theater, ballet, etc.” The term “event tourism”, which formalizes the link between events and tourism, was coined in 1980. Event tourism was defined as “the systematic planning, development and marketing of festivals and special events as tourist attractions, catalysts and image builders.” 

Festivals, events, and leisure in the Reni Territorial Community

The Reni community is famous for its ethnic festivals, which have made Reni famous far beyond its borders. The Gagauz Festival “Stars of Budzhak” (“Budzhak Ildizi”) has a history of over 15 years and is a qualitative representation of the Gagauz folk heritage. The festival was attended by artists from the Gagauz villages of Moldova, Turkey, and Bulgaria, by ethnic Turks and Tatars from Romania and Crimea. The festival is traditionally attended by the best Gagauz bands from the villages of the Odessa region – the popular choreographic ensemble “Sevda Gul” (“Love Rose”), the vocal ensemble “Chalikushu” (“Bird’s Song”), world-renowned vocalist Natalia Deniz and others. The Reni Territorial Community has been the capital of the Martisor Festival of Moldovan Culture for many years. The festival has long since surpassed its nationality and has become a unifying motive for all the inhabitants of the Danube region. The festival takes place on the first day of spring and has its own symbol – a white and red buttonhole (“marțișor”). Every year, the most colorful Moldovan villages are selected for the festival, and bands from all over Ukraine and abroad are invited. The “Bulgaria for the Last” International Festival brings together all those who love Bulgarian culture and who preserve the customs and traditions of their ancestors. Every year, Bessarabian Bulgarians look forward to this holiday, which is always held on the eve of Bessarabian Bulgarian Day (October 29). The idea for this holiday was born in 1938 when Bulgaria solemnly celebrated the 100th anniversary of the consecration of the Church of the Holy Transfiguration in Bolgrade. In the community there is a Sailing Club, where you can learn to sail with yachts and catamarans, there is a private tennis court, and the society of hunters and fishermen can organize real fishing trips. The company has 10 boats and is located in the village of Novosilske, tel. : +38 04840 41957. It is on the territory of the former Orthodox monastery of St. Ferapont, from which two buildings have survived – a cell and an annex.

Festivals, events and leisure in Cahul district, Republic of Moldova

In the Cahul district are organized various cultural events designed to ensure the verticality and continuity of the cultural process on multiple components: folklore, music, dance, painting, theater, literature, museums, folk crafts, tourism, etc. In this sense, there are various festivals, concerts, professional days of representatives from different fields, book launches; local, district, regional competitions, national holidays. The activities of the Arts Schools in the district and in the municipality are supported by holding competitions for the disciples of these institutions and supporting their participation in regional, national and international competitions. The participation of model artistic groups in national and international festivals is also supported.

The most representative cultural-artistic activities are:

  • Open Day at the Grigore Vieru Children’s Library / FabLab Cahul;
  • The celebration “Grigore Vieru – poet of the nation”;
  • “Mărțișor” International Music Festival;
  • The contest “At the fountains of wisdom”;
  • Librarian’s Professional Day;
  • Victory Day and Europe Day;
  • International Children’s Day;
  • National Day of Folk clothes;
  • Independence Day of the Republic of Moldova;
  • Festival of winter customs and traditions “Florile Dalbe”;
  • “Nufărul Alb” International Folk Festival, Cahul;
  • International Ethnofolk Festival “Sweet Acacia Flower”, Văleni village;
  • National Interethnic Festival “Festival of Ethnicities”, Cahul;
  • Folk festival “Sunday at the Flowers”, Câșlița Prut village;
  • National Wine Day, Cahul;
  • “Mărțișor” Festival, Cahul.

The most representative participation in festivals, galas, competitions, national/international fairs:

  • Festival – competition of whistle performers “The Nistru with smooth water”;
  • “La La Play Voices” National Competition;
  • National Patriotic Poetry Contest “My country with words of longing”;
  • International Choral Music Festival Festival “The leaf from the vineyards is yellow”;
  • “Mihai Bătrânu” National Accordion Players Competition;
  • National Literary Folklore Contest “Village Storytellers”;
  • Folk crafts fair;
  • Autumn fair: Iarmaroc at Cimișlia Mioriță, “Laie-bucălaie”;
  • Participation in the activities of the Moldexpo International Exhibition Center.

Museum activities:

  • International Museum Day and European Museum Night;
  • In memory of those deported;
  • European Heritage Days;
  • Activities to promote popular customs and traditions;
  • Activities within the social-cultural projects: competitions, trainings, round tables, etc .;
  • Heritage collection and registration campaigns;
  • Craft promotion workshops: making mărțișoare, sewing threads, training in the art of weaving, etc.

Recreation areas in Cahul district

The Green Horseshoe from the village of Slobozia Mare is a riding center, where those interested have the opportunity to take a horse ride on the territory of the “Lower Prutul de Jos”  reserve. At the moment, the center has 7 horses, a cart for 8 people, 5 tents. Visitors have the opportunity to ride in the specially arranged riding school, rent tents, take boat rides, go for walks in the reserve.

Contact details: +373 696 89 393

La Cotihana- This leisure and recreation base is a complex agro touristic destination, which was conceived in 2008 on an area of 2 ha of private land in the village of Cotihana in Cahul district. Landscaping ensures the presence of the necessary natural conditions for the growth of water and land plants, which exhibit their beauty and diversity. Here you can admire white and yellow water lilies, various species of plants, swans, and wild ducks.

Services offered: possibilities for fishing, preparation of skewers, various national grilled and baked dishes, including fish, poultry, vegetables grown organically on the territory of the base, organization of various events, etc.

The area has 7 pavilions for 15-60 people each, 4 lakes with fish and crayfish, and a boat. A cottage for 2 people, with all the amenities, is currently under construction.

Contact details: +3730688 65 666; Facebook link

Frumoasa Lake – is located in Cahul. Among the services offered are boat rides, jet-skiing, volleyball court, skewers, terrace, children’s pool.

 

La Izvoare – is located in the village of Tartaul de Salcie. It is distinguished by the presence in the area of several springs, each with its own name: Spring of Wonders, Resan, Spring of Tractor drivers, Spring of Drivers, etc., which were named in memory of those who carried out works to arrange the springs. The waters of some springs accumulate in the lake in the forest, while those of the others flow into the river Salcia Mică. Various sports and cultural activities take place here, as well as events organized on the occasion of the day of the village’s patron saint, etc. Terraces are arranged on its territory for individual and collective rest. Access to this area is free.

Mihăieș – a recreational area located in Taraclia de Salcie, where the owner turned the village ravine into a recreational area. The area is distinguished by the relief it exhibits and by its location (on the eastern slope of the village, near the sheepfold and the forest). Its surface of 1.5 ha was planted with firs, various species of trees and shrubs, rare plants, and herbs. It is a botanical garden that offers leisure conditions for the locals, with specially arranged spaces made of tree stems.

The “Horelor” Square is the place where every Sunday the people of Cahul and the guests of the town gather to dance the Hora – a collective national dance. Also here take place various activities on various occasions, such as sports competitions, concerts, and festivals of national and international importance.

“Grigore Vieru” Town Leisure Park dates from 1850, and on its territory is situated the Cathedral. The park is a resting place for all the inhabitants and guests of the city, being equipped with benches, cafes, terraces, and playgrounds for children. Since May 6, 2010, according to the decision of the Cahul City Council, the Central Park in the city of Cahul has been given the name “Grigore Vieru” Town Leisure Park, and in 2014 the bust of the poet was installed in the park. Capital renovation works have started in 2020.

Festivals, events and leisure in Galati county, Romania

The cultural agenda of Galați includes a variety of events that take place annually, and we can talk about a series of festivals that have already become a tradition: concerts, theater performances, film, dance, opera, exhibitions. These festivals enjoy great success and national and even international participation, being organized annually in Galati.

“Leonard” International Festival. Starting with 2004, between November and December, the “Leonard” International Festival takes place in Galați, which includes opera, operetta and magazine performances, symphonic concerts.

“Fani Tardini” National Comedy Festival. October – November is the interval in which the Dramatic Theater “Fani Tardini” organizes a real marathon of shows, which are more and more attractive and which include the newest and best productions. We must not omit the fact that it has been in existence for over 40 years, being the first theater in Romania to set up a competitive comedy festival.

Gulliver International Animation Festival. The Gulliver Puppet Theater, in partnership with the Galați City Hall and the Galați Local Council, organizes in May the longest-running animation theater festival in the whole country: the Gulliver International Animation Festival in Galați. The “Gulliver” Puppet Theater in Galați was founded in 1952 and is one of the most prestigious children’s theater institutions in Romania. The festival is appreciated as an “artistic effervescence in which the participating bands, both from the country and from abroad, offer their talent to the delight of the public”.

“Iosif Ivanovici” International Marching Band Festival. For over 17 years in August, the traditional “Iosif Ivanovici” International Marching Band Festival takes place, being organized by the “Dunărea de Jos” Cultural Center. It promotes already established bands that enjoy the admiration of the public but also encourage the participation of younger orchestras. The technical quality of the performance, the instruments, and the varied repertoire from marches, waltzes, overtures, selections from operas and operettas, light and popular music make this event to be appreciated by all age groups.

“Doina Covurluiului” International Folklore Festival. The Cultural Center “Dunărea de Jos” under the auspices of the Galați County Council and CIOFF – UNESCO organizes annually, in August, the International Folklore Festival “Doina Covurluiului” bringing in the same place established ensembles both in Romania and abroad. Host of the festival, the ensemble “Doina Covurluiului” continuously adds to its heritage treasures from all national representative areas, around a nucleus of authentic dances and songs from Covurlui.

The Modern Movie Film Festival. For over 12 years, the “Modern Movie” Film Festival has been inviting the people of Galaţi, and not only, to outdoor film screenings in July, the access being free, a project run by the Dunărea de Jos Cultural Center in Galați.

Danube Rock Festival. Galați City Hall and the National Opera and Operetta Theater “Nae Leonard” organize annually on the Danube Stadium the “Danube Rock Sounds”, a celebration of the sounds of guitars, drums, bass, and keyboards, where the music of the invited artists always electrifies the audience Galaţi. Due to the pandemic, in the last year, the organizers have allowed access only to people vaccinated with both doses or those who have shown a negative test.

“Tudor Pamfile” Christmas and New Year Traditions Festival takes place in December. With a tradition of over 30 editions, the festival brings together folk ensembles from Galati County, from the rest of the country, and also from the Republic of Moldova.

Traditions and customs inherited from ancestors bring together participants who enjoy carols performed by ensembles of people of different ages. It is also a place where the elders try to teach their children the traditional dances of the goat, the bear and the carol, in the hope that these habits will be carried on.

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