From folk festivals to textile exhibits and riverside concerts, Moldova offers a rich weekend lineup full of culture, tradition, and summer charm. Whether you’re in the mood for handmade crafts, live music, academic fairs, or open-air art, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this July 5–6.
🎨 IA Mania Festival
- 📍 Pensiunea Holercani, Dubasari 🗓 Sunday, July 6 | 🕒 From 12:00
- 👥 For: Lovers of folklore, crafts, and open-air festivals
- 🎟 Tickets: iTicket.md; Free for children under 12 and pensioners with ID.
Mania returns for its 11th edition in a new forested location with shade, fresh air, and a view of the Nistru River. Expect a massive traditional fair with over 120 artisans and local producers from Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine. Enjoy workshops in weaving, pottery, woodcraft, embroidery, and basketry. Don’t miss the IA Parade, live concerts by Snails, Prima Dragoste, and special guest Madalina Paval with her orchestra from Romania. Free parking and organized transport are available.
🧵 Zestrea Miresei: Carpets from the Heart of Moldova
- 📍 Restaurant La Badis, Straseni (Km 32, Chisinau-Ungheni) 🗓 Saturday–Sunday, July 5–6 | 🕒 11:00–23:00
- 👥 For: Heritage lovers, textile enthusiasts, families
- 🎟 Free entry; table reservations at +373 686 22 622
Step into a living museum of Moldovan dowry traditions. This open-air exhibition showcases more than 35 handwoven carpets, each woven with the story of a bride, a household, and generations of family heritage. Some are over 100 years old. Guests who reserve a table receive a complimentary glass of sparkling wine from Vinaria Radacini. Expect a sensory journey through wool, wine, and floral ambiance.
🎹 Preludii si Nocturne – At Nistru River
- 📍 Villa Drago 🗓 Saturday, July 5 | 🕒 Open doors: 17:00 | Concert: 19:30
- 👥 For: Classical music lovers, romantics, riverside dreamers
- 🎟 Tickets: 250 MDL on iTicket.md
Let Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Brahms accompany your evening by the river. Sip chilled cocktails, listen to birdsong, and let the music drift with the current experience curated by pianist Marcel Lazar.
🎬 Chronograph Evenings
- 📍 “Alunelul” Park, Chisinau 🗓 Saturday, July 5 | 🕒 21:00
- 👥 For: Documentary fans, history buffs, cinephiles
- 🎟 Free entry
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Watch Delirul Blajinilor (1989), a poignant documentary featuring testimonies from survivors of the 1946–47 famine and the 1932–33 Holodomor. The screening also commemorates the victims of the 1949 Soviet deportations from Bessarabia.
🖼 Exhibition ”Motiv” – Plein Air Reflections
- 📍 Cartego, str. Vlaicu Parcalab 2, Chisinau 🗓 Saturday, July 5 | 🕒 17:00
- 👥 For: Art lovers, nature observers, cultural explorers
- 🎟 Free entry
Artists Vasile Coretchii and Stefan Mocanu explore fleeting rural landscapes through plein air painting. Their works honor Moldova’s disappearing countryside—haystacks, barns, and old homes—captured with reverence and simplicity.
🛍 YARDSALE Market – Summer Edition
- 📍 Stefan cel Mare 103, Chisinau (across from the Opera and Ballet Theatre) 🗓 Saturday–Sunday, July 5–6 | 🕒 12:00–19:00
- 👥 For: Treasure hunters, design lovers, foodies
- 🎟 Free entry
Shop from 100+ local artisans, designers, and food vendors. Expect everything from vintage fashion and handmade ceramics to eco jars, puzzles, and natural cosmetics. Enjoy live DJ sets, refreshing drinks, and bites from Teatrul Gastronomic, Cafe Central, Chernomorka, and Piana Vyshnia.
🎓 Romanian Universities Fair – 14th Edition
- 📍 Chisinau (July 3), Ungheni (July 4), Balti (July 5), Causeni (July 6) 🕒 09:00–16:00
- 👥 For: High school graduates, future students, parents
- 🎟 Free entry
Meet representatives from Romanian universities and explore study programs, scholarships, and admission details. Organized by the Federation of Young Basarabians, this fair offers direct guidance on studying in Romania, including for those applying through the “Romanii de pretutindeni” program.