One of the largest and most important children’s events in the region – the international children’s folklore festival Licider Heart will be held from 15 to 19 August in Užice, Zlatibor and Višegrad, the organizers announced yesterday in Belgrade.

This year, 11 countries, 1,100 participants and 17 folklore ensembles are participating in the Festival, including Pale cultural and artistic society Mladost and Višegrad cultural and artistic society Soko HED.

The Festival is traditionally supported by the Representative Office of the Republic of Srpska in Serbia, and the Head of the Representative Office, Mlađen Cicović, said that one of the Festival’s greatest values was that it preserved the identity values of the Serbian people, which is especially important in times of many trials.

He thanked the organizers for preserving tradition, culture and customs in the best possible way for 17 years, and noted that this event had a special place in the program of the Representation.

‘It is special because every year we from Serbia and Republic of Srpska together best represent everything that we are,’ he said.

Jovana Borovčanin Đurević, envoy of the Head of the Municipality of Višegrad, said it was an honor that Višegrad, as a city of tradition and culture and bridges, both symbolic and actual, would be a good host of the event this year and that it awaited everyone with an open heart.

She stated that Licider Heart was more than a festival and bore a strong message that young people know how to best build bridges of friendship, which have been connecting them for years on the banks of the Drina in both the Republic of Srpska and Serbia.

Ivana Cvetković from the event’s organizing committee said that one of its greatest values was that, in addition to being international, it also had a cross-border character.

Cvetković announced this year’s Festival opening on 15 August in Užice, with foreign folklorists and students from Užice who have achieved special results in international competitions.

The event will continue on 16 August in Užice and Zlatibor, on 17 August in Višegrad, and on 18 August in Užice, where the event will be ceremonially closed on 19 August.

Source and photo: Republic of Srpska Representative Office in Serbia