Balkanik Festival to take place in Bucharest this weekend

The tenth edition of Balkanik Festival, known as the Home of World Music, will be held from September 8-10 in Bucharest, spanning both Uranus Garden and Uranus Street. This event promises three days filled with live concerts, an expansive crafts fair, exhibitions, DJ sets, workshops, demonstrations, debates, and opportunities for relaxation in nature.

In this special anniversary edition, the festival’s main stage in Uranus Garden, running from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, will feature captivating performances by artists such as Ovidiu Lipan Tandarica and Fanfara din Zece Prajini (Romania), Extraliscio (Italy), Taraf de Caliu (Romania), Papiers d’Arménies with Dan Gharibian (Armenia-France), SMADJ Balkan Project (France-Tunisia), Paulina (Romania), Ufuk Coskun & friends (Turkey-Romania), Wernyhora (Poland), and Kristijan Azirovic Orkestar (Serbia).

Meanwhile, on Uranus Street, starting at 4:00 PM on Friday and running from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday, a DJ stage dedicated to world music and nostalgia will host performances by ABASC, M.O.Z.A.R & Bad Mirel, Miko, Ligia Kesisian & Lucas Molina, Pixar Stelar, Daniel Mitulescu, and Irina Popescu.

The Balkanik Street Fair

The tenth edition Balkanik Festival also brings a new component – the Balkanik Street Fair. Uranus Street will be closed to cars between September 8-10 and will open up for a fascinating journey through regional culture and creative traditions, featuring a craft and reinterpretation market, jam sessions, workshops, and various activities that complement and expand the festival.

The audience is invited to celebrate to the rhythms of music collected from all over the world, with dishes inspired by cuisines from around the globe, a fair that welcomes local artisans dear to the community, and many activities that bring people together year after year.

In Uranus Garden, there will be concerts on the main stage of the festival, art exhibitions, and installations, demonstrations of disappearing crafts, and the audience can disconnect from the city’s pace in a nature oasis where relaxation areas will be arranged.

Workshops and more at Balkanik Festival

Some of the workshops include Goat Hair Weaving, Ceramics and Folk Ornament Sewing, among others, courtesy of Prietenii de la Vatra Meșterilor și Creatorilor de Patrimoniu – in English, the Hearth of Artisans and Heritage Creators.

Balkanik Festival - Prietenii de la Vatra Meșterilor și Creatorilor de Patrimoniu

Baba Family – Goat Hair Weaving (Friday – Sunday): The Baba Family is a group of folk artisans from Buzău. All members of the family work on vertical looms, using goat hair and wool as their primary materials. They employ traditional techniques in their craft, passionately dedicating themselves to ensure that their artisanal skills are preserved for generations to come.

Mihaela Pleșea – Ceramics (Friday – Sunday): Mihaela, at the age of 16, began her journey into the art of pottery at the tender age of 7. In creating her ceramic pieces, she uses a “ficheș” (also known as a comb or knife) to refine the shape of her vessels, as well as wire, leather, paintbrushes for decoration, and scratching tools for creating relief patterns. A significant element of the decoration on Mihaela’s vessels is the “glazes” she uses. These are powdered glass-based materials that she selects with great care, ensuring they are eco-friendly and free from lead. Her repertoire of ceramic objects includes everything from mugs, carafes, and flower vases to cooking pots and even small pieces of jewelry. Mihaela’s dream is to turn her passion for pottery into a profession and become internationally recognized for her craftsmanship.

Ladies’ Craft Circle – Folk Ornament Sewing (Friday – Saturday): Ms. Uță grew up with a deep love for Romanian folk attire and its iconic patterns. Under her guidance and initiative, the young women of Domnești now have the opportunity to participate in sewing classes at the County Center for Culture and Arts in Argeș. Here, they learn to sew, starting from basic stitches and simple patterns to intricate traditional garments adorned with ancient, beautiful designs. These diligent young ladies have revived the traditions of their grandparents and great-grandparents, forming the Ladies’ Craft Circle. They gather with enthusiasm, working diligently with songs and good spirits, just as it used to be in their village.

Tickets are still available here.

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