TIRANA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Folklore bands and artisans from Albania and other European countries gathered Saturday in the southern Albanian city of Gjirokastra for the 2017 Argjiro Fest featuring cultural diversity, traditional costumes and folklores.
The four-day Argjiro Fest showed the folklores and ethno-cultural traditions of all Albanian ethnic regions, as well as some Albanian minorities abroad like Arberesh communities in Italy and Greece and Diaspora in the United States and elsewhere, the event organizers told reporters.
The event attracted several folklore bands and thousands of artists and artisans from Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and the United States.
On the opening day, a series of cultural activities were held, including a national costume parade and a craftsmen's fair, which exhibited traditional Albanian arts and crafts.
Mayor of Gjirokastra Zamira Rami said the festival helps promote his city, which has entered the World Heritage List in 2005.
