Famed trumpet festival kicks off in Guča

Famed trumpet festival kicks off in Guča

The event, held for the 54th time this year, represents "the biggest festival of love, companionship and joy amid the sound of the trumpet," Andrić said, noting that it "strengthens friendship among nations."

Chairman of the festival committee Mladomir Sretenović said that the festival honoring the trumpet promotes Serbia in the best light, as a country of joy, optimism and sincere hospitality.

The 54th iteration of the Guča festival will feature 1,080 participants, including international competitors from Macedonia, Italy, Moldova and Slovenia.

For the first time in the festival's history, a woman - Danijela Veselinović - will compete for the Golden Trumpet award, performing on Sunday with a band.

In a preliminary competition held on Mt. Zlatibor, the jury selected the best 17 bands that will be competing in the final.

In addition to trumpet performances, the festival will feature diverse cultural and entertainment events, and visitors will also be able to become acquainted with old Serbian trades, folklore and art.

The competitors and the audience will be able to enjoy and take part in the events in the festival program from August 6 to 10.

Organizers say that everything is ready for the hundreds of thousands of visitors from Serbia and other countries of the world. Around 450,000 people attended the Guča trumpet festival last year.

Guests will be able to stay at private houses, camp, motels and hotels in the vicinity of Guča, in Ivanjica and Požega. Accommodation prices range from around EUR 5 in camps, EUR 15 in locations near Guča and EUR 30 in motels.

The Serbian Interior Ministry will be in charge of security at the festival, with the local health center to provide medical care to visitors, under supervision of World Health Organization officials.

Guča became the "trumpet capital" in 1961, when the first trumpet festival was held in the Dragačevo area.

The festival has since become one of the biggest and most popular music festivals in the world. It is also one of the most important festivities featuring Serbia's authentic folk culture and art and presenting the unique music of Serbian and Balkan brass bands.

The National Geographic website has listed the Dragačevo trumpet festival in Guča as one of the ten most important cultural events in the world.