UNTOLD festival, the main project of the 2015 Cluj-Napoca-European Youth Capital program is kicking off today, July 30, with over 250,000 persons being expected during the four-day event. Tourists from Mexico, New Zealnd, Japan, Philippines and Canada are also expected.
The festival brings four of the most beloved electro-dance music artists on the same stage for the first time in Romania: AVICII, ARMIN van BUUREN, DAVID GUETTA and DIMITRI VEGAS&LIKE MIKE.
Over 170 international and Romania artists will thread the boards, among whom ATB, Fedde le Grande, Tinie Tempah, John Newman, Patrice, Dj Premier, AronChupa, Foreign Beggars, Wilkinson, ANDYC, Tom Odell, John Digweed, Sharam, Nic Fanciulli, Satoshie Tomiie, Duke Dumont, Michael Calfan, Lost Frequencies, Gentleman andGramatik.
Organizers have spread the events to several areas of the city: Hoia Forest, on the shore of Somes River, Unirii Square uptown Cluj-Napoca, the Central Park and Cluj Arena Stadium. Each of these areas got a new fairytale name: ‘The Mountain’, ‘The River’, ‘The Forrest’, ‘The Citadel’ and ‘The Arena’.
In “the Arena” area eight stages will be set up, with the largest of them measuring 80 meters long and 18 meters high.
On the other hand, the most expected festival also stirred some criticism, as the traffic in the city has been restricted and the Central Park has been partially closed down due to security reasons. Only those who have tickets for the festival can enter the park.
For that reason the Cluj locals voiced discontent on Internet or in letters, banners and manifestos, arguing the 180-year-old Central Park is the main green area of the city and it belongs to all, not only to those who have tickets for the festival.
Another issue the organizers faced was the lack of accommodation seats. The accommodation capacity of the hotels and boarding houses in the entire county and in the neighborhood localities have run out three months ago. So, the organizers had to come up with new ideas such as setting up a camping or accommodation in hostels.