For three days, the Moașa Valley in Sebeșu de Sus, Racovița Commune, became a place where music, nature, and communities met in a vibrant atmosphere. Set against a summer landscape, Făgăraș Fest brought together those who love mountains, nature, music, and authentic encounters. Organised by Foundation Conservation Carpathia and Racovița Town Hall, with support from Alpha Bank, the festival offered a memorable summer experience with a diverse programme, including concerts, guided tours, workshops for all ages, and meaningful dialogues through Carpathia Talks.
Over 3,500 individual participants attended Făgăraș Fest this year, with many returning each day, drawn by music, tours, and the special atmosphere. In total, more than 7,000 people experienced the festival, and the Moașa Valley clearing, at the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains, became a lively space, full of laughter, dancing, curiosity, and unforgettable moments.
Music, Documentaries, and Meaningful Dialogues
The festival opened on Friday with a highly anticipated concert: Subcarpați launched the sixth edition with rhythms that made the entire valley floor vibrate. The evening continued with the screening of the documentary The Architects of Nature, an emotional story about the reintroduction of beavers and European bison in the Făgăraș Mountains, followed by an authentic discussion with specialists Adrian Aldea, Species Reintroduction Department Manager, and Liviu Ungureanu, Beaver Reintroduction Specialist.
On Saturday, Vama brought joy and movement to the crisp mountain air, accompanied by DJ Raul Carpiuc and local artists, completing the festival’s soundscape.
Nature on Foot: Over 1,200 Participants in Guided Tours
Făgăraș Fest is not just about music; it is also an invitation to explore and understand nature. Twenty-seven guided tours, led by fifteen guides, took 1,219 participants through forests and lesser-known spots. The most popular was the nocturnal bat tour, where participants observed bats flying close by, an experience that sparked genuine wonder.
Other appreciated tours included those focused on flora, fauna, insects, and birds, as well as walks exploring the history, culture, and identity of Sebeșu de Sus.
A Festival Where Every Step is a Discovery: Workshops, Games, and Moments for All Ages
Among the festival highlights was the Făgăraș Mountains Explorers competition, an adventure for children and adults in which 3,600 participants, guided by ten teachers from local schools (Racovița, Arpașu, Porumbacu de Jos, Bradu, Gheorghe Lazar High School, Avrig, Sebeșu de Sus Primary School), followed the paths of nature. Ten engaging stations challenged observation skills, teamwork, and the joy of discovery, offering a lively encounter with the mountains.
Meanwhile, the djembe drums and rhythm games in the percussion workshop created a space for intergenerational connection, a place where music was felt rather than performed, welcoming everyone regardless of experience.
Seventeen workshops by local artisans and producers, as well as nine guided cycling tours organised by a local entrepreneur, further enriched the festival programme.
Dialogues in the Heart of Nature: Carpathia Talks
Each edition of Făgăraș Fest creates space for important questions, shared ideas, and solutions rooted in reality. This year, Carpathia Talks offered four outdoor discussions in a quiet corner of the festival, surrounded by forest and the flowing river. Topics ranged from coexisting with wildlife to exploring how nature can support the local economy. The discussions were lively, authentic, and close to people, with participants listening, asking questions, and reflecting on what a National Park, community, conservation, and the role of NGOs mean.
“Făgăraș Fest is a festival lived with the heart, amidst nature, communities, and ideas that matter,” said Victoria Donos, Director of Communications at Foundation Conservation Carpathia. “For us, it was a joy to see so many people engaged, curious, and present. From guided tours and debates to workshops and chance encounters at the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains, everything contributed to an authentic and warm atmosphere. This is the spirit of Făgăraș Fest: a place where people reconnect with nature, with each other, and with themselves, part of the vision to create the Făgăraș Mountains National Park.”
A Festival Designed Sustainably
Făgăraș Fest 2025 was a plastic-free festival: cups were returnable, cutlery and packaging recyclable, and participants were encouraged to act responsibly toward nature.
For visitors from nearby towns and villages, the festival offered eco-friendly transport: a free minibus brought people close to the mountains, with a route synchronized with trains from Sibiu and Brașov. It was a slow-paced journey, away from car traffic, connecting places and people with the idea of a greener future.
Participants stayed in the nearby camping area, with around 400 tents, or in local guesthouses and bed and breakfast places.
People, Community, and Energy
Beyond the numbers, the festival was about people. Of all the participants, 800 were from the local community, including ensemble members and their families. The festival hosted 18 small local producers and traders, 46 volunteers, and a dedicated team from the Foundation Conservation Carpathia.
One of the visual highlights was the ‘Susur’ installation by Atelier Vrac on the Moașa River, which sparked curiosity and dozens of moments of interaction among participants. This temporary, inspirational, and interactive structure invited visitors to cross the water, listen to it, and observe it with attention. It became not just a resting place, but a space for reflection, a silent dialogue between people and the surrounding landscape.
Additionally, the Făgăraș Fest sign– a familiar feature in thousands of participant photos – was artistically reimagined by Diana Bobeș. Present at the festival since 2022, this year’s totem combines the mountain silhouette with the inscription Făgăraș Fest, emphasising nature and its authentic symbols, inspired by the local landscapes and spirit. It stands as an emblematic presence, seemingly gathering the mountain’s energy and the joy of those celebrating it.
A Pause in Images: ‘Memorable Encounters Through the Făgăraș Mountains’
Amid the festival’s vibrancy, the photo exhibition ‘Memorable Encounters Through the Făgăraș Mountains’ offered a space for quiet reflection. Created as part of an album of the same name, the exhibition tells the story of a journey from the villages at the foothills of the mountains to the virgin forests, high ridges, and remote valleys of the Făgăraș Mountains. Visitors discovered people keeping crafts and traditions alive, as well as wildlife from emblematic species such as deer and lynx to bison and beavers, reintroduced after major conservation efforts. It was a subtle but profoundly impactful highlight, adding authentic emotion to the festival experience.
The event was supported by Alpha Bank.
Partners: Sibiu County Council, Poșta Română, Sibiu County Public Salvamont Service – Salvaspeo Brașov, Romanian Mountain Rescue Association, Voluntariat Brașov.
Media partners: Radio Guerrilla, Radio România Cultural, Radio Itsy Bitsy, Rock FM Brașov, Magic FM Brașov, Zile și Nopți, Tribuna, Cărturești, Natural High.
An Edition That Leaves Its Mark
Făgăraș Fest 2025 was more than an outdoor celebration. It was a reminder that, amidst nature, people, music, and dialogue, a living and attentive community can be built. It is an annual invitation to rediscovery, celebrating valuable places and the people who give them meaning.
Thank you to everyone who was part of this edition – we look forward to seeing you in 2026! Until then, we will remember the river, the mountains, the encounters, and the rhythms that made the 2025 edition unforgettable.
