Straznice Folklore Festival

Name: Straznice Folklore Festival
Start: 2025-06-25
End: 2025-06-28
Location: Straznice

A Living Celebration of Moravian Song, Dance, and Tradition

2026/06/24 - 2026/06/27

Every June, the historic town of Straznice in South Moravia is transformed into a vibrant world of color, music, and dance during the Straznice Folklore Festival—the largest and oldest folklore festival in the Czech Republic. Over four days, more than 2,000 performers and thousands of visitors gather in the castle gardens and open-air museum to celebrate the folk cultures of Moravia and countries from around the world. This is a special place where you can experience Czech tradition with all your senses.

Embroidered skirts swirl, boots stomp on wooden stages, and children’s laughter rings out through the craft market. The summer air is filled with the aroma of grilled sausages and sweet koláče, while at dusk, the sound of fiddles and singing drifts across the lawns. The festival feels like being wrapped in the magic of memory and community.

Main Attractions

Folk Music and Dance Performances

The heart of the festival is its nonstop program of folk music and dance. Groups from Moravia, all over the Czech Republic, and more than 20 countries perform on open-air stages, showcasing cimbalom bands, ballads, and dazzling dances. Dancers in traditional costumes often invite the audience to join them on stage.

Parades & Costume Contests

The opening parade features hundreds of participants in embroidered costumes, floral wreaths, and masks. Costume contests highlight the beauty and pride of hand-embroidered heirlooms passed down through generations.

Craft Markets & Workshops

Stalls throughout the grounds offer embroidery, pottery, woodwork, and folk crafts, with artisans demonstrating their skills and workshops where you can learn folk songs and dances directly from local masters.

Cultural and Historical Background

The Straznice Folklore Festival was founded in 1946, just after World War II, with the goal of preserving and passing on Moravian folk traditions to future generations. It was started by the National Institute of Folk Culture to revive and celebrate Moravia’s rich cultural heritage, which was at risk of being lost due to war and modernization.

Straznice is famous for its open-air museum that recreates traditional Moravian village life, and the festival is held in this historic setting. Over the decades, it has grown into an international festival with folk groups from all over Europe and the world, making it the largest and oldest folklore festival in the Czech Republic.

This festival is a living treasury of Moravian culture—songs, dances, costumes, and crafts are passed down through generations. Even through war, regime changes, and major social shifts, it remains a symbol of cultural pride and resilience for the Czech people.

It also plays a major role in fostering community spirit and international cultural exchange, offering both locals and visitors a lively, hands-on experience of authentic folk culture.

Participant Voices

I visited from abroad and was moved by the warmth of the people and the authenticity of the performances. I even learned some dance steps at a workshop, making it an unforgettable memory.

Festival Dates

The Straznice Folklore Festival is held every June in Straznice, South Moravia. Join the parade, singing circles, and taste traditional foods to immerse yourself fully in the heart of Moravian culture.