2024-07-28 02:16:28
A costume parade reminiscent of the underwater world was part of Friday’s opening of the Prázdniny festival in Telč. Over 100 bands and musicians will perform on its five stages until August 11, including Michal Prokop, Karel Plíhal, Hradišťan, Javory, Ivan Hlas and Bratři Ebenová. The program will be complemented by theater groups such as Cirk La Putyka and, for the first time this year, debates with personalities from social life.
The discussion is to be hosted by the library of the Telč University Center of Masaryk University. “It’s a new format that could add a new dimension to the festival,” believes the director of this institution, Jaroslav Makovec. Until August 8, guests will be former Prime Minister Petr Pithart, Russian historian Andrej Zubov living in the Czech Republic, former ambassador Michael Žantovský or actress and politician Magda Vášáryová.
The holidays in Telč are taking place this year for the 42nd year. Vojtěch Kolář started the new year on the wooden pier of the Štěpnický rybník shortly after 5 p.m. as the organizer. He pointed out that the sound for the B-Side Band for the evening concert is already being adjusted. South African bluesman Gerald Clark, who temporarily resides in Třebíč, was the first to play at the pond with Czech musicians.
At last year’s opening, the festival organizers were inspired by the film When the Cat Comes, which was largely shot in the city six decades ago.
Participants in this year’s parade walked in soap bubbles with models of jellyfish, fish and sharks or in divers’ suits. Behind them the band rode in the back of an old truck. Kolář said that the theme was given by this year’s mascot of the festival, which is a jellyfish.
Folk, rock, swing, jazz and rock’n’roll will be played in Telč for the next two weeks. On Saturday, the main stage in the courtyard of the castle will welcome the lawyer and singer Ivo Jahelka and the band Nezmaři, followed on Sunday by the Liberec indie-rock band Jarret and Dan Bárta with their formation Illustratosphere. The concert will also be held in the courtyard of the Manor. Fairy tales in the park, events in the square and on the embankment of Štěpnický rybník are free of charge.
In previous years, the festival was visited by around 10,000 people. “It’s getting better every year, this year it’s a little more than last year,” said Vojtěch Kolář about the demand for tickets before the festival started. According to him, there is interest in all concerts, but none were sold out at that time.