Sunday, 21th August 2005
Opening ceremony of the 8th IFF was held in the Croatian Army Hall “Zrinski” in Karlovac. The concert started with the Chorus “Maraska” from Zadar. FE “Matija Gubec” and KUD “St. Juraj” from Draganic presented Croatian dances. Guests from Italian city Mondragone presented their wedding and carnival customs.
Especially attractive were the dancers from Rumanian city Oradee who performed dances from Transylvania, and presented diversity of their national costumes.
 Among special guests at the Opening ceremony were present County Prefect Mr. Ivica Horvat, Vice County Prefect Mr. Marinko Milcic, County Government Member in charge of culture Mr. Zeljko Stajcer, County chairman for education, culture and sport Mr. Zeljko Sancic, Vice City Mayors Mr. Igor Horvat and Mr. Damir Jelic, Chairman for social works Mrs. Marina Grcic.
During the Opening ceremony County Prefect Mr. Horvat declared that this Festival contributes to better tourist offer of the Karlovac County and brings closer traditional customs of other countries to our citizens.
Monday, 22nd August 2005
The performance was held in the Zrinski and Frankopan square in Slunj in front of the numerous audiences. Among the representatives of the City Slunj there was also Vice Prefect Mr. Marinko Milcic. Programme lasted for two hours. Host KUD “Korana” from Slunj and KUD “Ladjevac” from Ladjevci presented Croatian dances from their region as well as the Italian and Roman guests from their countries.
Before the evening performance participants visited Rastoke which delighted them.
Tuesday, 23rd August 2005
Tuesday was predicted to be the day off for the participants of the Festival, but for some it started with work.
Guests from Romania and the organizers of the Festival performed in the traditional show “Good Morning Croatia” at the Croatian Network.
Spectators had the opportunity to see the performance of the Romanian orchestra and their singer Otilia Floare Haragosh.
The rest of the day Romanian group used to visit Topusko, and guests from Italy went to National Park Plitvice Lakes.
Wednesday, 24th August 2005
Duga Resa supported IFF for one more year, so Mr. Zeljko Sancic, President of the Organization Committee of the 8th IFF publicly thanked to the Duga Resa City Mayor Mr. Ivan Barsic and Tourist Office Manager Mrs. Ana Piskuric for their trust.
Dancers from Italy, Romania, Poland and Greece delighted gathered citizens of Duga Resa who appreciated the quality of their performance and often rewarded them with tumultuous applause.
In the evening groups performed to the citizens of Ogulin. City Mayor Mr. Nikola Magdic welcomed the performers.
Full halls in Duga Resa and Ogulin showed that there is great interest for this kind of manifestations.
Thursday, 25th August 2005
In front of the Cultural Centre at 9 pm numerous inhabitants of Draganic and their guests enjoyed the performances of the groups from Austria, Italy, Greece, Poland and Romania as well as their domestic KUD “St. Juraj”. Municipal Chief Mr.
Stjepan Golub welcomed gathered spectators and participants hoping that they will have nice memories from Draganic. After the performance Mr. Vlado Turkalj, Draganic Tourist Office President handed out to the participants local souvenirs to remind them of this Festival and the hospitability of people in Croatia and in Draganic.
Friday, 26th August 2005
In the morning, on behalf of the Town Karlovac and Karlovac County, Karlovac County Prefect Mr. Ivica Horvat, Karlovac Mayor Mr. Miro Skrgatic, and Vice Mayor Mr. Damir Jelic welcomed the representatives of the Festival participants. They thanked them for coming to our country and wished them to bring home many happy memories from Karlovac and Karlovac County. Mayor emphasised the value of this Festival and announced that they will continue to contribute to the organization of this important cultural event. The president of the Organization committee Mr. Zeljko Sancic thanked them for their financial support without which it would be impossible to organize this Festival which contributes to cultural exchange of many countries.
In spite of the rain, guests from Austria danced to our citizens in Stjepan Radic Street in front of the “Benefit” store.
Hosts organized gathering and lunch in the “Lovacki rog” restaurant for representatives of the Festival participants and media.
Members of FE from Austria surprised children and teachers of Home for Children Vladimir Nazor in which they were situated during the Festival. They spent their fee for candies and toys for children who live in that Home and that way thanked them for their hospitality.
In the evening, after the Opening ceremony of the 19th Bear Festival participants of the Festival performed in front of the numerous audiences on the central stage of SRC Korana.
Saturday, 27th August 2005
Last day of the Festival started with the performance in front of the shopping centre “Gavranovic”. For the first time, this year Festival visited Samobor where the guests from foreign countries presented their culture and customs to the gathered citizens in front of the shopping centre “Era Tornado”.
Final performance of about 200 participants was held at the Central stage of the Bear Festival. Hosts and guests exchanged gifts and promised to continue to cooperate in the future with one another.
 At the Closing Ceremony there was also present Mr. Ante Cukrov, C.I.O.F. secretary for Croatia, who expressed to media that Town Karlovac and Folk Ensemble “Matija Gubec” (as the organizer of the festival) have full support of C.I.O.F. and that they should continue to organize this Festival because it is conceptually and organizationally very good.
With waving of flags, gathered participants remembered nice experiences and days spent in Karlovac and Karlovac County with tears in their eyes.
Festival was officially closed by Director Mr. Zeljko Stajcer with promise: "See you next year...!"
|
