International folklore inspires: Festival starts in Lusatia!

International folklore inspires: Festival starts in Lusatia!

Last weekend, Lusatia was transformed into a cultural mecca as the 15th International Folklore Festival brought a wealth of music, dance and traditional crafts to the region. From theJune 26th to 29th, 2025The celebrations took place in the cities of Bautzen, Drachhausen and Crostwitz, organized by the Sorbian umbrella organization Domowina in collaboration with numerous partners. Over300 international participantsfrom eleven folklore groups demonstrated their craftsmanship and performing skills.

The event began with a colorful opening parade through Bautzen's city center before the festive activities took place in the German-Sorbian Folk Theater. The opening already offered a first impression of what the coming days had to offer: regional specialties and rousing performances from all over the world, such as the famous Grupo de Danzas of the Uni del Valle from Colombia, whose representative Carmen Rosa Bejarano Gonzalez emphasized the importance of cultural exchange.

Diversity of folklore ensembles

The festival focused not only on the cultural heritage of Lusatia, but also on the intangible heritage of small ethnic groups and minorities. New this year was the participation of a group from Africa, the Saly Velingara Ballet from Senegal. The Senegalese Amadou Gueye emphasized the importance of intercultural dialogue: “Such events bring people together and create understanding across borders.”

Overall, the participating folklore ensembles from different countries presented themselves with a colorful program that, in addition to passionate dance, also included music and craftsmanship. Below are some of the highlights:

• Donnerstag, 26. Juni: Festumzug von Bautzen zum Kornmarkt, feierliche Eröffnung.
• Freitag, 27. Juni: Estrade internationaler Folklore in Drachhausen, ergänzt von regionalen kulinarischen Köstlichkeiten.
• Samstag, 28. Juni: Musik und Tanz in den festlich geschmückten Höfen von Crostwitz, unter anderem im Pfarrhof und Hof Kockel.
• Sonntag, 29. Juni: Mehrsprachiger Festgottesdienst sowie festlicher Abschluss auf der Hauptbühne.

Cultural heritage in focus

The festival stands out through its membership of CIOFF®, which stands for high organizational standards and cultural authenticity. This status guarantees that the programs and performances offer viewers an authentic experience. Accompanying the festival was a market of traditional crafts, where visitors could gain an insight into regional crafts.

Thanks to the live stream on Sunday afternoon on MDR+, not only those present had the opportunity to take part in the event. This means that the folk historical heritage is carried beyond the borders of the region - a step in the right direction to promote and preserve cultural diversity. After all, it's not just the dancing and singing that counts, but also the knowledge of traditions, such as UNESCO as the guardian of the intangible cultural heritage.

Overall, the 15th International Folklore Festival sent a strong signal for cultural exchange and appreciation of cultural heritage in all its facets. And so we can only hope that the momentum of these days continues beyond the festival - because there is something important when people come together and share their stories.