Banat and Timisoara will be at the forefront of the fourth edition of the 'Romanian Weekend at The Wharf', a large festival part of the week of events dedicated to the celebration of the Strategic Partnership with the USA, which takes place between July 11 and 13 in one of the most lively areas in Washington, The Wharf, the Romanian Embassy in the United States of America informs on Friday in a press release.

Launched in 2022, the festival has become Romania's largest cultural diplomacy project in the North American space.

Organized by the Romanian Embassy in the United States of America and the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York, in partnership with the Timisoara City Hall, the festival aims to bring the lively, open and creative spirit of Romanian culture to the American public, with an emphasis this year on Banat and Timisoara - an emblematic city for its cultural diversity, artistic effervescence and European profile, according to the press release.

Over the course of three days, visitors will have the opportunity to experience a complex cultural universe, with traditional music and dance, contemporary fusion shows, craft demonstrations, exhibitions, workshops for all ages, Romanian gastronomy and wines.

'We are concluding the week of celebration of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States of America with a remarkable project that offers us the opportunity to present the richness of Romanian culture, embracing its perennial traditions, its fascinating heritage and the unique spirit that defines Romania as a nation. (...),' stated the Romanian ambassador to the US, Andrei Muraru.

This year's edition has as a special guest the city of Timisoara, the capital of Banat and one of the most dynamic cultural centres of Romania.

'For us, it is essential that Timisoara be as visible internationally as possible, to inspire, attract visitors and affirm its cosmopolitan profile. In recent years, Timisoara has been a constant presence at the international tourism fairs and cultural events organized in collaboration with Romanian embassies in European capitals. Now we are taking a natural and ambitious step across the Atlantic,' said the mayor of Transylvania Municipality, Dominic Fritz.

The festival also offers a large interactive area, where the public is invited to explore authentic Romanian crafts, reinterpreted for today's audience. The clothing tradition is highlighted through the 'Threads of Tradition' exhibition, dedicated to the Banat folk costume, while the contemporary design showcases brought together under the 'Ce Fain!' brand bring to the public creations inspired by reinterpreted folk aesthetics. Participants can attend traditional shoe making demonstrations, held by the last traditional shoemaker in Banat, Ciprian Mert, workshops on icons on glass, guided by an iconic craftsman, Alin Pater, or at macrame activities, which reinterpret traditional techniques in current decorative forms, thanks to the presence of artist Daniela Epure. For gourmets and wine lovers, the festival proposes 'The Taste of Romania' and 'The Joy of Romanian Wines' - a selection of authentic products.

The event is completed by a moment dedicated to Universal Ia [Romanian Blouse] Day, organized in collaboration with Romanians from Washington, DC - a celebration of traditional attire and the Romanian-American community. The little ones will be able to discover Romania in the creative space 'Drawing Hut', and visitors will have the opportunity to interact with leaders and organizations of the Romanian-American community, present in the area dedicated to civic dialogue and community participation. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Gabriela Ionescu; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)