On August 18, in an exchange with Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Le Van Nam - Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that Mr. Dau Thanh Tung - Vice Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee - has signed and issued a plan to organize the Festival of Culture of Ethnic Groups in Thanh Hoa province in 2026.
Accordingly, the festival is expected to be held from November 22nd to the end of November 24th at Lam Son Square, Hac Thanh ward, with the theme "Colors of Thanh land culture".
The festival is organized on the occasion of "Vietnam Cultural Day" November 24, associated with "Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day" November 23 and Great National Unity Festival November 18.
The event was attended by people of 7 ethnic groups including Kinh, Muong, Thai, Dao, Tho, Mong and Kho Mu from 166 communes and wards in Thanh Hoa province.
The goal of the festival is to introduce and promote the cultural values, heritage and unique traditions of ethnic groups; and at the same time create space for people and artisans to directly participate in preserving, performing and transmitting traditional cultural values.
The highlight of the festival is the opening ceremony expected to take place from 8 pm on November 22nd at Lam Son Square stage and will be broadcast live.
According to the plan, the opening art program is themed "Colors of Thanh Hoa Culture", lasting about 90 minutes, including 3 chapters.
Chapter 1 "Historical flow and cultural origins of Thanh land", using light technology, laser combined with festival drums, gongs, large-scale dances and songs about Thanh Hoa homeland to recreate the cultural sediments of Thanh land.
Chapter 2 "Colors of Thanh Hoa Culture", focuses on introducing the characteristics in the cultural life of ethnic groups through performances, recreating intangible cultural heritage. Artisans, actors and people of ethnic groups in the province directly participate in the performance.
Chapter 3 "Thanh Hoa and the country in harmony", using songs about Thanh Hoa and the country to show the transformation and development of the locality in the common flow of the whole country.
The stage is expected to be designed with many layers of space, combined with LED screens, lighting and lasers. Music is arranged in the direction of combining symphony with folk instruments.
It is expected that about 500 artisans, mass actors and members of traditional folk cultural clubs from communes and wards will participate in the festival activities. Some central artists and singers are also expected to be invited to perform at the opening program.
During the 3 days of the event, Lam Son Square will be organized into an experience and cultural performance space for ethnic groups.
The organizers plan to create 2 large cultural spaces on both sides of the main stage and about 50 standard spaces for communes and wards.
Here, localities will introduce the unique cultural features of ethnic communities, traditional cuisine, typical OCOP products, and organize community cultural experience and activities to serve people and tourists.
On the evening of November 23, a mass art performance program will take place at Lam Son Square. Cultural and artistic clubs of communes and wards will perform special performances associated with local identity and ethnic communities.
In addition to activities concentrated in Lam Son Square, the plan also orients the organization of cultural, artistic, folk games and mass sports activities at the grassroots level such as tug-of-war, stick pushing, crossbow shooting, stilt walking, con throwing, volleyball, badminton...
The festival is expected to close on the evening of November 24 with an art program summarizing a 3-day series of cultural activities.
According to Mr. Le Van Nam - Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the organization of the festival aims to create opportunities for exchange between ethnic communities, bring heritage closer to the public and promote the role of people and artisans in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.
