Făgăraș Fest: Contest Launched to Choose Festival’s New Location

Făgăraș Fest, the festival that brings together nature and tradition lovers from all over the country every year, is opening a new chapter! After five itinerant editions, the festival is preparing to find a permanent “home”, and the city halls in the areas at the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains are invited to apply to become hosts of this emblematic event. Between January 13 and January 26, local authorities can submit projects to provide the perfect place where Făgăraș Fest will take place year after year.
Since its debut, Făgăraș Fest has become a symbol of the region, bringing together thousands of people from all over the country to celebrate the beauty of nature and local culture. In 2024, the festival brought together 7,000 participants, 750 tourists took part in guided tours and 30 local craftsmen and producers had stands within Făgăraș Fest. The economic impact of the festival in the area was over 350,000 euros in 2024, and its success is proven not only by the large number of visitors, but also by the support given to small local businesses. The year 2025 marks a moment of stability for the festival, which will find its “home” in a permanent location. Thus, Făgăraș Fest will continue to promote essential principles for the sustainable development of the region: nature conservation, supporting local communities, promoting small producers and preserving traditions. The festival will bring added visibility to the region and contribute to the growth of local tourism.

Which Communities Can Apply?
The competition is open to municipalities within the administrative-territorial units located at the foothills of the Făgăraș Mountains. These include:

  • Argeș: Nucșoara, Arefu, Rucăr, Lerești, Dragoslavele, Stoenești, Dâmbovicioara, Albeștii de Muscel, Valea Mare Pravăț, Brăduleț, Bughea de Sus.
  • Brașov: Hârseni, Recea, Șinca, Lisa, Ucea, Sâmbăta de Sus, Viștea, Drăguș, Șinca Nouă, Victoria.
  • Sibiu: Porumbacu de Jos, Avrig, Cârțișoara, Arpașu de Jos, Turnu Roșu, Racovița, Cârța, Tălmaciu.
  • Vâlcea: Câineni, Perișani, Sălătrucu, Boișoara, Boița, Titești.

How Can Municipalities Apply to Host the Festival?
The application deadline is January 26, 2025, with selection criteria detailed in the competition regulations. Key considerations include:

  • Justification for hosting the festival in the proposed location.
  • Location quality (including potential or existing outdoor activities, landscapes, and natural attractions).
  • Availability of utilities.
  • Accessibility of the location.
  • Accommodation facilities.

Project Submission Process:
Projects must be submitted by completing all mandatory fields in the application form available at the following link.

Evaluation Criteria:

  1. Justification, Necessity, and Opportunity for Organizing the Festival in the Proposed Location (15 points)
  2. Location Quality (30 points):
    • Types of outdoor activities possible (hiking, biking trails, nature observation), landscapes, and natural attractions – 10 points
    • Shaded areas, trees, or other location facilities – 5 points
    • Utilities (drinking water, sewage, electricity, lighting) – 15 points
  3. Accessibility to the Location and Parking Areas (20 points)
  4. Accommodation Facilities in the Area (7.5 points)
  5. Existing Campsites or Potential for Setting Up a Camping Space (7.5 points)
  6. Partners Involved in Organizing the Festival (10 points)

Background:

In 2024, Făgăraș Fest celebrated its fifth edition, marking the conclusion of the project “Creating a Wilderness Area in the Southern Carpathian Mountains, Romania,” LIFE18 NAT/RO/00108, which supported the festival’s funding.
Up until this year, the festival was itinerant, hosted successively in Lerești, Nucșoara, Valea Avrigului, Porumbacu de Sus, and Sebeșu de Sus.

Starting in 2025, Făgăraș Fest will establish a permanent location, making this selection process crucial for identifying a site that will host the festival annually.
The Conservation Carpathia Foundation, as the festival’s organizer, will cover all organizational and logistical costs related to the event.


Project Evaluation:

Projects will be assessed by a jury of three event organization specialists. To qualify, each project must score at least 70 points based on the evaluation criteria. The best projects will be shortlisted and proceed to the final stage, which includes on-site verification.


Competition Timeline:

  • January 13: Contest announcement
  • January 26: Application deadline
  • January 27–28: Project evaluation
  • January 29: Preliminary list announcement
  • January 30–31: On-site visits
  • February 4: Winner announcement
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  • Panagiotis Spyridis

    Sâmb?ta de Sus