For the first time ever, in the oldest Albanian community in the United States, ancient Albanian folkore and costumes from different regions of Albania will be in full display. The Massachusetts Albanian American Society (MAASBESA) and Bashkimi Dance Group are proud to announce the First Annual Massachusetts Albanian Folk Festival(www.albfest.com) to be held at Boston’s Strand Theatre on June 5th.

The Folk Festival follows in the history of earlier festivals in Worcester and Boston organized by other Albanian organizations, and will feature acts that represent the rich and diverse nature of Albanian folklore in addition to the traditional costumes of various regions of Albania and Kosova. Albanian dance and song groups from New York, Detroit, and Boston will headline the show, along with well known Albanian singers Aurela Gace and Xhoni Athanas.

The festival will bring alive a colorful celebration of Albanian culture to the stage of the Strand Theatre to an audience of over 1000 people. The Festival will appeal not only to all Albanians regardless of their region of origin who are proud of their Albanian heritage and customs, but also to non-Albanians who are curious about Albanian Folklore. This and future festivals will help to preserve Albanian culture and also present it to the wider non-Albanian communities in Massachusetts.

All proceeds from tickets and/or donations benefit the Bashkimi Dance Group