Experience the vibrant musical traditions of the Balkans and beyond at
Zlatne Uste Golden Festival 2024. Now in its 38th year, the Zlatne Uste Golden Festival is the country’s biggest, most inclusive festival celebrating Balkan music, dance, and the joy of community. From international stars to local favorites to debut acts, over 50 bands representing traditions around the world will perform, including Bulgarian, Romani (Gypsy), Macedonian, Serbian, Greek, Turkish, Hungarian, Scandinavian, Klezmer, Ukrainian, and Georgian music during the two-night festival.
The organization’s first full-scale in-person event since the pandemic, this year’s Golden Festival* will be held at Astoria World Manor (25-22 Astoria Blvd., Astoria, NY 11102) in Queens. The celebration begins Friday, May 10, with a dance workshop to live music from 7:30 pm to 8:45 pm and four bands playing live music until 12:30 am. Friday is a great way to ease into the festival and an excellent opportunity to dance! The celebration resumes at 6 pm Saturday, May 11 with four simultaneous music stages, not winding down until early Sunday morning.
Golden Festival is an all-volunteer effort that benefits relief efforts through organizations such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and human rights organizations like the European Roma Rights Center as well as related educational organizations, including the East European Folklife Center. Leading musicians donate their time for the joy of sharing in the fun, and the knowledge that they are helping to support organizations that serve communities in the Balkans and promote awareness of Balkan cultures.