The 53rd instalment of the Jurjevanje festival, which is a member of the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF), will feature 21 adult folklore groups, including Zaite from Colombia, Piskavica from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Šiljakovine from Croatia, and Bartok from Hungary.
The kids’ section of the festival will showcase seven groups from Slovenia. Earlier this week, Zaite already organized a well-attended workshop on Latin American and Caribbean folk dances.
This year’s festival, which will run until Sunday evening, will be bigger than ever. It will see 70 events over 13 venues across Črnomelj’s old town centre and feature 1200 performers from 12 countries. The old town centre will be closed to vehicular traffic.
The festival’s flagship venue will be the parking lot in front of Črnomelj Castle. Miran Jarc Street will be transformed into a craft street with 16 local craftsmen showcasing their finest work. According to Gregor Jevšček, the organizer of the event, Stane Rozman Street will be turned into a promenade featuring a food market, local merchants, street artists and performers. Jevšček stressed that this year’s festival will be geared towards families. The festival will offer families an opportunity to participate in a range of activities, attend workshops, taste a wide variety of foods, and wrap up the day with a show or a concert.
Jože Žura, Radio Slovenija; translated by D. V.
