The Armenian Street Festival opens its doors this weekend: August 26-27, Bucharest Botanical Garden, free entrance
This weekend, August 26th and 27th, the Armenian Union in Romania opens the gates to the 7th edition of the Armenian Street Festival, which will premiere at the „Dimitrie Brândză” Botanical Garden in Bucharest. On Saturday and Sunday, between 12:00 PM and 10:45 PM, the urban nature on the brink of autumn will host the last major festival of this summer, a unique picnic that highlights Armenian culture and traditions, alongside the ethnic diversity of Romania. The festival is open to the general public, and the entrance is free. To access the festival area, a ticket to the Botanical Garden is required, priced at 10 lei, available at the entrance or online in advance: https://events.unibuc.ro/gradina-botanica/intrare-22/
The 7th edition of the Armenian Street Festival promises two days filled with authentic experiences for all ages. The Bucharest Botanical Garden will host ten live concerts, two DJ sets, numerous workshops for adults, young people, and children, as well as a variety of gastronomic delights, sand coffee and a library in nature provided by Ararat Publishing.
The Armenian Street Festival celebrates the richness of musical heritage, dance, and culture highlighted by the artists on the festival stage, connecting traditions and modernity in a vibrant symphony of global sounds. Artists from Romania, Armenia, and the Republic of Moldova will take the stage this weekend, each bringing their unique contribution to creating a multicultural celebration.
MĂDĂLINA PAVĂL ORCHESTRA from Romania combines world music, acoustic, film, and dance music in a new and eclectic style. Mădălina Pavăl and Alexei Țurcan, along with 11 other talented musicians, bring together sounds from Bucovina, Moldova, Southern Danube, and the Balkans. From the Republic of Moldova, VIA DACĂ impresses as a captivating trio at the confluence of folklore, tribal myth, and modernity. Their music, a charming blend of acoustic and electronic elements, wrapped in rhythms and motives of trance, rock, ethno, indie, and ambiance, represents a reinterpretation of traditional narratives for the modern audience. BOGDAN SIMION & LĂUTARII DE MĂTASE from Romania keep the flame of Lăutari music alive. Born in 1990 in Râmnicu-Vâlcea, Bogdan Simion travels through Romania, gathering melodies from older Lăutari musicians. Collaborating with the Lăutarii de Mătase ensemble, he contributes to the preservation of this musical tradition. KARIN FOLK DANCE AND SONG GROUP, a renowned ensemble from Armenia, revives ancient dances and songs. Founded by creative director Gagik Ginosyan, who documents and collects traditional movements and songs from the Armenian history, the ensemble revitalizes these authentic cultural treasures. MIQAYEL VOSKANYAN TARUP TRIO, also from Armenia, reinterprets traditional Armenian music in an innovative way. Created in 2013, they combine the captivating sounds of the tar with the delicacy of the blul, adding accordion and jazz percussion to create a harmonious and innovative acoustic resonance. TARAF FLAMENCO, an ingenious fusion of Romanian and Argentine musicians, blends flamenco, Lăutari music, and the romantic songs of old Bucharest. Through instruments such as violin and accordion, they transport the audience across continents and eras, fusing cultures into a harmonious mix that evokes the vibrant atmosphere of the past. HAYK KAROYI FEAT. SUSANNA NAJARIAN, representing Armenia, explore experimental music. Hayk Karoyi, a multi-instrumentalist and composer, creates compositions inspired by the roots of traditional Armenian music, exploring various genres in search of new creative perspectives. ANSAMBLUL VARTAVAR, a collaboration between Romania and Armenia, brings Armenian traditions to life through dance. Founded in 2001, the ensemble preserves ancient rituals through choreography, carrying on the spirit of Vardavar, an ancient Armenian festival. MAHALA RAI BANDA from Romania perfectly illustrates the fusion of two villages, Clejani and Zece Prăjini, which have offered the best taraf and fanfare music in Romania. Their energetic performances, with remarkable trumpet, saxophone, trombone riffs, and wild vocals, highlight the vibrant Romanian musical heritage that resonates on stages around the world. The Mahala Rai Banda concert is supported by the Pro-Europa Roma Party. The Greek Union of Romania offers a Greek music concert at the Armenian Street Festival, featuring artists IONUȚ GALANI and the Asteria Ensemble of the Greek Union of Romania & Antonia Cojocaru.
Here is the schedule for the two-day event:
Saturday, August 26th
12:00 Stone Carving Workshop – Hacikar, hosted by Narine Poladian (duration 2h-2h30) 12:00-13:00 Trio Puppet – Puppet Theatre Show (for children)
13:00 Armenian Motif Embroidery and Painting Workshop, hosted by the Teryan Cultural Center (duration 1h – 1h30)
13:00 – 19:00 Workshops for children hosted by the Mark Twain International School
15:00 Armenian Traditional Dance Workshop, hosted by Karin Folk Dance and Song Group and Ansamblul Vartavar (duration 40min-1h)
16:00 Armenian Motif Embroidery and Painting Workshop, hosted by the Teryan Cultural Center (duration 1h – 1h30)
16:00 Stone Carving Workshop – Hacikar, hosted by Narine Poladian (duration 2h-2h30)
15:00 – 17:00 Daytime Party: Ligia Keșișian DJ Set & live percussion by Lucas Molina
17:00 Vartavar Ensemble Dance Show
17:30 Ionuț Galani and the Asteria Ensemble of the Greek Union of Romania & Antonia Cojocaru Show
18:30 Taraf Flamenco Concert
19:30 Mahala Rai Banda Concert (offered by the Partida Romilor Pro-Europa Association)
20:30 Via Dacă Concert
21:30 Hayk Karoyi & Susanna Najarian Concert
Sunday, August 27th
12:00 Stone Carving Workshop – Hacikar, hosted by Narine Poladian (duration 2h-2h30)
12:00 – 13:00 Trio Puppet – Puppet Theater Show (for children)
13:00 Armenian Motif Embroidery and Textile Painting Workshop, hosted by the Teryan Cultural Center (duration 1h – 1h30)
13:00 – 19:00 Workshops for children hosted by Mark Twain International School
15:00 – 17:00 Sound Therapy: Hayk Karoyi
16:00 Armenian Traditional Dance Workshop, hosted by Karin Folk Dance and Song Group and Ansamblul Vartavar (duration 40min-1h)
16:00 Stone Carving Workshop – Hacikar, hosted by Narine Poladian (duration 2h-2h30)
17:00 Armenian Motif Embroidery and Textile Painting Workshop, supported by the Teryan Cultural Center (duration 1h – 1h30)
17:30 Armenian Jam Session
18:30 Miqayel Voskanyan’s Tarup Trio Concert
19:30 Bogdan Simion and Lăutarii de Mătase Concert
20:30 Karin Folk Dance & Song Group Concert
21:30 Mădălina Pavăl Orchestra Concert
ABOUT THE ARMENIAN UNION IN ROMANIA
The Armenian Union in Romania is a non-governmental organization established in 1919 with the aim of assisting Armenians who sought refuge in Romania after the 1915 Genocide. After 1990, the Armenian Community re-established the Union of Armenians in Romania, aiming to preserve the cultural and spiritual heritage of Armenians in the region, as well as promoting Armenian culture and traditions to the wider public.
Partners: Armenian Youth Organization, The Fresh, DPD România, Grădina Botanică „Dimitrie Brândză”, Universitatea din București, Rock FM, Cărturești, International Mark Twain School, Aperol, Uniunea Elenă din România, PRPE, ARARAT, Periodic al Uniunii Armenilor din România.
Website: http://www.stradaarmeneasca.ro/
Evenimentul Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1142862666671310
Instagram: www.instagram.com/stradaarmeneasca/
