BitFest cultural summer festival kicks off in Bitola, Macedonia

The 18th edition of BitFest, the Bitola cultural summer festival, opened on 19 June and will run until 29 August. Organisers selected 70 projects from 140 applicants, covering drama, exhibitions, music‑stage performances and folk events.

The programme includes 20 drama projects, six exhibitions, 40 music‑stage manifestations, two folk festivals, and the traditional Ilinden Days, Bitolino and Lokum Fest. National ensembles “Dance” from Macedonia and “Lado” from Croatia will perform, and Simon Trpchevski will give a concert at Heraclea. The festival will close on 29 August with a jubilee concert by the band Foltin celebrating its 30‑year anniversary.

Director Dimitar Mihajlovski of the Cultural Information Centre said, “I am satisfied with the selection and the chosen contents, especially as we are participating as direct organisers of BitFest for the first time.” The festival’s poster features a mural of Bitola by artist Borco Lazeski and events will take place at the Officer’s House, the old bazaar, the Cultural Centre and other venues in Bitola.