The Vice-President of the Government highlighted in Angra do Heroísmo the international dimension achieved by the Folk Azores festival, which, since its inception, has already bought thousands of participants from more than 90 countries to the Azores.
 
"It is one of the main cultural events taking place in our Region" and in the country that has achieved and consolidated its international recognition," said Sérgio Ávila, who spoke at the welcoming ceremony of the 33rd Folk Azores - International Folklore Festival.
 
For the Vice-President, this festival contributes to the "dissemination of the Azores in the world, either from the perspective of knowing our reality or from the perspective of promoting tourism."
This year's edition features the participation of 13 groups from 12 countries and takes place until Sunday. The event is organised by the Organising Committee of International Festivals of Terceira Island (COFIT); there will be several performances throughout the island.

In addition to national and Azorean folk groups, the event includes participants from Argentina, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Latvia, Hungary, Spain, France and USA and, for the first time, from India.