The international festival of folklore and traditional folk culture - Folklore Festival Poľana is one of the most successful events in Slovakia.
The Folklore Festival Poľana
Since its beginning in 1966, this festival has been held every year in the second week of July in Detva, the heart of Slovakia and the centre of one of the most vivid and original folklore regions.
During these days, Detva blossoms with the music, singing, festal atmosphere, and welcomes approximately 1,500 performers. There will be approximately ten scenic programs on the stage of the Detva amphitheatre, which is one of the most impressive outdoor scenes. The basis of the programs is the traditional folklore culture in central Slovakia, musical and dance performances and oral lore. Year after year, folklore groups and groups of Slovaks living abroad present themselves in the program called "Krajanská nedeľa".
Visitors can also choose from many accompanying events such as programs in the church, shepherd´s culture presentation, dance school, fujara lessons, traditional fair of folk crafts, carving presentation, ethnographic exhibitions, visual art and photography exhibitions, etc.
The most interesting part of the Folklore Festival Poľana in Detva is the series of the events focusing on the revival of the production of folk musical instruments INSTRUMENTUM EXCCELLENS that is one of its kind in Slovakia. Special attention is paid to the fujara (a large folk shepherd's fipple flute) – a UNESCO treasure.