Carol Festival "Oh, what wonderful news!"
The Carol Festival-Competition " Oh, what wonderful news!" in Botoșani is a traditional event organized by the County Center for the Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture, which reached its 13th edition in December. The event brings together vocal groups, choirs and lovers of winter traditions, including competition sections and extraordinary recitals.
The County Carol Festival-Competition "Oh, what wonderful news!" is a landmark cultural event organized annually in the municipality of Botoșani, dedicated to the promotion, preservation and valorization of Christian traditions and Romanian winter customs. The event brings hundreds of participants from the county and the entire region of Moldova to the stage, transforming into a meeting place for children, young people, folklore groups and renowned choirs.
The main goal of this festival is to discover new performing talents and educate the public in the spirit of preserving the authenticity of traditional caroling. Structured as a rigorous competition, the event includes sections dedicated to vocal soloists, small groups and choral ensembles, organized by age categories. A specialized jury, made up of ethnomusicologists and music teachers, carefully evaluates the quality of the performance, the value of the chosen repertoire and the authenticity of the folk costumes worn by the competitors.
Traditionally held in mid-December, the festival officially opens the series of major winter holidays in the local community. Each edition ends in a festive atmosphere with the Laureates' Gala, when the best performances are rewarded and the Grand Trophy is awarded, followed by exceptional recitals by renowned artists. The event thus succeeds in uniting different generations around Romanian spiritual and cultural values.