International folklore enthusiastic: Festival starts in Lausitz!

International folklore enthusiastic: Festival starts in Lausitz!

Bautzen, Deutschland - Last weekend, Lausitz transformed into a cultural Mecca, because the 15th International Folklore Festival brought a wealth of music, dance and traditional craftsmanship into the region. From 26. Until June 29, 2025 , the celebrations took place in the cities of Bautzen, Drachhausen and Crostwitz, organized by the Sorbian umbrella organization Domovina in cooperation with numerous partners. About 300 international participants from eleven folklore groups demonstrated their manual and acting skills.

The start was a colorful opening parade through the Bautzen city center before the festive activities in the German-Sorbian Volkstheater found their official framework. The opening already provided a first impression of what the coming days had to offer: regional specialties and thrilling performances from all over the world, such as the famous Grupo de Danzas of the University of Del Valle from Colombia, whose representative Carmen Rosa Bejarano Gonzalez emphasized the importance of cultural exchange.

variety of folklore ensembles

The festival not only focused on the cultural heritage of Lusatia, but also on the intangible legacy 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 how important the intercultural dialogue is: "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. Following some of the highlights:

• Thursday, June 26th: parade from Bautzen to the Kornmarkt, solemn opening.
• Friday, June 27: Estrade International Folklore in Drachhausen, supplemented by regional culinary delights.
• Saturday, June 28: music and dance in the festively decorated courtyards of Crostwitz, including in the rectory and Hof Kockel.
• Sunday, June 29: Multilingual festival service and festive conclusion on the main stage.

cultural heritage in focus

The festival stands out through its membership at CIOFF®, which is for high organizational standards and cultural authenticity. This status guarantees that the programs and performances offer viewers an authentic experience. Accompanying the festival, a market of traditional trades took place where visitors were able to gain an insight into the regional craft.

by the livestream on Sunday afternoon in the MDR+ not only had the opportunity to participate in the event. This also takes the folk -historical legacy beyond the borders of the region - a step in the right direction to promote and preserve cultural diversity. After all, it is not only dancing and singing what matters, but also the knowledge of traditions, such as UNESCO emphasized as the guardian of the intangible cultural heritage.

Overall, the 15th International Folklore Festival set a strong sign for cultural exchange and appreciation of the cultural heritage in all its facets. And so it is only to be hoped that the momentum of these days will also go beyond the festival - because there is something when people come together and share their stories.