Calendar of events under the "Tree of Life" country tourism brand umbrella

Are you a passionate runner who likes adventure? Wine Run is an
underground 10km race, unique in Europe, reaching depths of up
to 100 meters in the labyrinthine cellars of Moldova’s most famous
winery, Cricova. In 2018, the competition is scheduled for January 28th.

What could Cricova cellars hide besides mesmerizing wine, thousands
of barrels, the cool of its stone labyrinths and decades of history?
Underland Wine & Music Fest is the first and only underground
wine and street music festival in the world, unfolding underground
in the legendary Cricova underground city and gathering over 100
national and international artists. Here, fairy tales connect with
reality, miracles meet at every step, and wine flows without end to
the sound of music. Street artists, jugglers, magicians, live statues,
delicious food, and plenty of red, white, and sparkling wines await
you in the streets and squares of Underland city!

Do you know the legend of Martisor? Martisor is the red and
white symbol of spring, traditionally worn on the chest as
a pin from March 1 until March 31, when it is hung on a tree
while making a wish."Mărţişor" Festival is an attraction for
those who want to discover the rich culture and talented artists
of Moldova. Throughout March, music and dance ensembles
from Moldova and abroad transform the Nicolae Sulac palace
stage into a true parade of traditions, joyfully greeting the
coming of spring. For over 50 years, the Martisor Festival has
paid homage to this romantic tradition through music and
dance, with help of local and foreign enthusiasts.

Do you love good wine? Are you always ready to discover
new favorites? Wine Vernissage takes place twice a year in
Chisinau, in an elegant and distinguished atmosphere. Gourmets
and wine lovers alike are invited to taste and discover local
wines and their makers. At the same time, the visitor can also
explore the culture of local wines, and regional varieties and
the inventions of our winemakers are put in perspective. Moldovan
wine-makers and sommeliers are the main heroes of the evening,
and visitors sail along with glasses of wine in hand, tasting all
of Bachus’ novelties.

May Day at Asconi Winery. Wine, barbeque, dance - these words
are music to the heart of every Moldovan. And where there's
music there is dance! At May Day, everybody drinks, eats and
dances together - the Hora, Sirba and other Moldovan dances!

The “Orheiul Vechi” XCM Mountain Bike Marathon is an event where
sports, tourism and adventure meet on their bicycles in the most
picturesque Moldovan district, Orhei. Discover Moldova on a bicycle!
There are so many beautiful places out there to be discovered, promoted
and valued. We're glad that the organizers chose Orhei district to host
this Mountain Bike marathon, simultaneously promoting Moldova’s
touristic treasures and opportunities for sports activities.

Had enough of your daily routine? Then it's time to fill up
with a dose of energy and joy. Every May the "Dulce Floare
de Salcâm" ethno-folkloric festival takes place in Văleni,
a picturesque village on the shores of the Prut River. The
festival brings together folk groups from the nearby region,
but also from nearby counties in Romania. The event is
traditionally organized in a blooming acacia (salcâm) garden
at the edge of the village, where collections of various
folk craftsmen and local producers are also exhibited.

This year, the only hot-air balloon festival in Moldova
turns into a true Moldovan tradition. Ballooning is a
great experience for all adventure lovers, while a bird's
eye view of Moldova is just magnificent! Come and see
how the largest balloon has a height equivalent to that
of a 9-story building.

Do you have a sweet tooth? Do you know what a cherry basket,
poppy seed pie or pumpkin pie is? The "MAI DULCE" Festival
is a Chisinau culinary tradition, where homemakers pay
tribute to traditional dessert recipes and children celebrate
the beginning of the school holidays. The atmosphere of
the festival is so charming that it’s impossible to resist.

Curious about the authentic traditions of the popular
Duminica Mare (Pentecost Sunday) holiday? During
this holiday, widely considered the most important
Sunday of the year, people decorate their households
with herbs and leaves. Floors are covered with thick
grass, wormwood and other field plants. The festival is
open to all those keen discover or rediscover the ethno-
folkloric traditions and craftsmanship of our people, while
gourmet-lovers can taste local foods prepared by local
housewives, according to the region's ancient recipes.

Want to know Moldova's authentic traditions better?
iProsop is a unique festival, organized in Southern
Moldova, dedicated to the towel weaving tradition. In
Moldova the woven towel (prosop) is a traditional
household hand-embroidered item used for various occasions.
The charm of the event is set by the host, Selemet village,
and the festival gathers many towel embroiderers, towel
weaving workshops, exhibits and other local traditions
to celebrate Duminica Mare (Pentecost Sunday).

When was the last time an event truly took your breath away?
The DescOpera Festival is a unique musical event of rare
beauty, organized at the foot of the Orheiul Vechi Reservation
limestone cliffs. The event takes Opera from its traditional
scene and transports it into the midst of nature. Audiences
get the unique opportunity to simultaneously enjoy beautiful
weather, fresh air, amazing views and classical music, played
live on an improvised natural stage. The festival showcases
well-known classical masterpieces and spans 2-3 days, during
which visitors can enjoy performances featuring artists from
the Moldovan National Opera, led by conductor Friedrich
Pfeiffer from Austria.

Do you know the most precious dowry of a bride in Moldova?
A hand-woven carpet! The village of Clişova Nouă, Orhei, is
considered by some to be a small capital of Bassarabian rugs.
Here you can find the Carpet Museum, whose craftsmen preserved
the carpet-making tradition and can show you how carpets are
woven. Those looking for a dowry will be able to admire authentic
carpets at the exhibition, or even buy some. The art of carpet-
weaving using traditional equipment (razboi) is endangered in
Moldova, but the Bassarabean Carpet Festival is contributing to
its salvation.

The "DeVin & DeGust" Festival is the first event in Moldova
celebrating Moldovan Wine blended with traditional dishes,
and the specific culture of each region with Protected
Geographical Indication (PGI). The "DeVin & DeGust"
experience offers a unique opportunity to discover the wine,
gastronomic, tourist and cultural potential of Moldova’s PGI
areas. Here visitors can attend wine tastings and dishes from
the PGI regions, take part in gastronomic theater and master
classes held by famous chefs and sommeliers, and enjoy a
special cultural show from regional artists.

Summer is the time when you can relax, admire the stars,
and capture them in your glass with a perfect sparkling
wine. Sparkling Night is Moldova’s most dazzling summer
event, which also hosts the country’s most grandiose and
extensive sparkling wine tasting. Those eager to spend
a hot summer night with a cool refreshing glass of
sparkling wine in the elegant ambience of a jazz
music concert must not miss this event.

On the last Sunday of June, Moldovans celebrate Folkloric
Clothing Day, paying homage to authentic costumes representing
Romanian folklore and the folklore of other ethnicities in the
country. The holiday has three key themes: heritage costumes,
guest costumes, and modern costumes based on traditional
costume. The "Ia", a Romanian blouse, is also widely represented
at the festival.

Do you want to know and understand Moldovans better? Do you
want to discover the cultural traditions of Moldova? Go to
IA Mania, a festival founded in 2013, which promotes
traditional hand-embroidered blouses, and supports the
craftsmen who carefully preserve this tradition. The event is
organized on the banks of the Nistru River and gathers dozens
of artisans with hand-made objects, dozens of chefs with
traditional recipes, music and dance, workshops, animation
and other activities, all in the Holercani village stadium.
The festival hosts the "Mandria" (Pride) contest for young
designers which presents fashion collections inspired by
traditions. The festival also organizes the mural art contest
"Cai verzi pe pe pereti", and the "Podul de flori" conference
on folklore inspired themes.

Are you interested in crafts and traditions? Pottery is one
of the ancient crafts forming Moldova's cultural traditions.
Hogineşti village is home to one of the most valued potters
in Moldova. Vasilii Gonceari inherited the craft from his
ancestors and after a period spent abroad, Gonceari returned
home to continue the family business and establish the "Vatra
Olarului" International Pot Fair, where visitors can buy pots,
souvenirs and household objects. Dozens of craftsmen gather in
the courtyard of the potter's house, each showing pride in their
work. Kids can try the potter's craft in hands-on workshops.
Traditional gastronomy, folklore and dancing all come together
in the unparalleled atmosphere of the fair.

Do you and your friends like adventures in nature
with good music? What about setting up a tent, and
having fun till morning? The Gustar Festival
represents a unique opportunity to spend a special
weekend with family or friends in an incredible natural
place, where you can listen (and dance!) to the most
popular artists of the moment. Camp fires, camping,
traditional food, a handicraft fair, entertainment for
children – at Gustar Festival we have it all. If any of
this sounds like you, come and join us in Orhei!

Purcari Wine Run is a unique trail race in Moldova, which
takes place in the grounds of the Chateau Purcari winery.
Here you can find beautiful landscapes of various
elevations, unpredictable lands, and a lot of vineyards. There
are pit-stops every 2 km, bearing names of the most famous
wine varieties: Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Rose,
where runners can eat fruit, hydrate with water and of
course taste wine of different varieties.

Cricova MUST fest celebrates the glory of the Moldovan
grape harvest season. Visitors to the event travel through
the famous underground cellars, a paradise of red, white,
dry or sparkling wines, where almost every variety has its
own street. Take a stroll on the Legenda Plaiului underground
pedestrian street, accompanied by beaujolais, live music,
artistic representations, and film screenings, etc. Another key
attraction is the Wine School, welcoming guests with select
wines and lessons about the art of serving this nectar from
the most important specialists.

Bostaniada is an ethno-gastronomic festival, which is held
each year on the last Sunday of September. The festival
celebrates the pumpkin harvest and all that it brings.
Different competitions are organized at the festival, to
identify the strangest pumpkin, the biggest pumpkin, the
smallest pumpkin etc. At the fair you can find a wide
range of local products: vegetables, fruits, tools, articles
of wood, textiles, clothing, and other hand-made artefacts,
while folk craftsmen present masterclass sessions in pottery,
wood sculpture, wicker weaving, or embroidery.

Are you passionate about sports? Or maybe you would like to
test your resistance in a brand new place? Then the International
Marathon Chisinau is for you. Gathering over 17.000 people
each year from 50 countries around the world, and testing
their endurance at distances of 5, 10, 21 and 42 km, this is
the biggest sporting event of the year. At the finish line all
participants are awarded with a medal, and the winners
get valuable prizes.

Is opera music is your weakness? Does the theater make
you vibrate? Each edition of the "Maria Biesu" festival
brings artists and performances that keep the audience
entranced and generate spontaneous, lengthy applause.
Valuable artists from Moldova and abroad honor this
beautiful festival with their presence, diversifying the
cultural life of the country.

Does Jazz make you happy? Then "Etno Jazz Festival" is
definitely an event you can't miss. The "Trigon" band,
host of the project, surprises the audience every year
with jazz bands from all around the world. A week of
live concerts with both young and seasoned Jazz artists
will cure you of your daily routine and charge your
batteries for a long time.

CreYou think you know everything about wine? The National
Wine Day of Moldova will give you a thousand more reasons
to stay pleasantly amazed. Over 30 participants, including
wine producers from across the country, from large famous
companies to small and crafty artisans, are waiting for you
in the Great National Assembly Square. Over two days, these
producers encourage you to taste and appreciate their wines.
The festival spreads out from Chisinau to the wineries
scattered across the countryside, each one preparing an
attractive program with many exciting discoveries. October
is the perfect time to visit Moldova, and each year you can
see our national pride growing more and more.

Do you love good wine? Are you always ready to discover
new favorites? Wine Vernissage takes place twice a year
in Chisinau, in an elegant and distinguished atmosphere.
Gourmets and wine lovers alike are invited to taste and
discover local wines and their makers. At the same time,
the visitor can also explore the culture of local wines, and
regional varieties and the inventions of our winemakers are
put in perspective. Moldovan wine-makers and sommeliers
are the main heroes of the evening, and visitors sail along
with glasses of wine in hand, tasting all of Bachus’ novelties.