2022 Event

The XXI Edition of the Romania Day Festival took place on Sunday, June 12, on Broadway, under the severe threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms.

The forecast put a damper and a real challenging gloom over the entire event initially, but winds and rain came to an end as the sun came out strong by Noontime. Many decided to stay home initially, but several thousand tourists and Diaspora members turned out and stayed well beyond the 5:00 p.m. closure time of the event. This year, the Romania Day Festival turn out to be another success, with a remarkable turnout on the half on the second half of the day.  The celebrated Canyon of Heroes on Lower Broadway in Manhattan (between Liberty St. and Bowling Green Plaza) – became a dedicated Romanian mini-island filled with music, dans, recitals, costumes, an honor guard military show, and traditional foods enjoyed by an audience from over 100 countries. This is the very same Broadway stretch that honored global celebrities – from presidents like Dawit Eisenhauer, Charles de Gaulle, a dozen Prime Ministers, Pope John Paul II, Charles Lindberg, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong, Queen Maria of Romania, Queen Elisabeth of England, general McArthur, general Ben-Gurion and may, many other world-famous people.

Organized by the Romanian American Business Council – RABC, the Minovici Medical Development – MMD, and ZIUA USA Foundation, with strong support from the Romanian Embassy in Washington, the Festival was made possible in large by a sponsorship from the Studium Green Corporation in Cluj-Napoca and its owner, Dorin Bob, the support of Transgaz, S.A.  led by its president, Ion Sterian and a generous donation from the Minovici Foundation and its leader, Stefan A. Minovici.

With Broadway closed to traffic the entire day, the organizers welcomed the official delegation led by H.E. Andrei Muraru, the Romanian ambassador to Washington DC, as well as a delegation of high-ranking dignitaries from Bucharest. Among them, Hon. Pavel Popescu – PNL, Hon. Alfred Simonis – PSD, Hon. Csoma Botond – UDMR, Hon. Laura Vicol – PSD, Hon. Silvia Țoiu – USR, Hon. Iulian Muraru – PNL, Hon. Mircea Fechet – PNL, Hon. Robert Sighiartău – PNL, and the Hon. Gabriela Horga – PNL- all leaders in the Romanian Parliament. Ambassador Muraru was the keynote speaker and was seconded by Robert Sighiartau.

The six-hour long program included performances by the “Doinita Ensable” from Bucharest, led by Simona Leasa, performances by renowned singer Lia Lungu, new talent like Luca Dorotovics, Lara Thompson, Ionel Manole and many others. The national anthems of Romania and the United States were sung while presented by a military band of cadets from the JROTC Xavier High School in Manhattan, led by Lt. Col. Mark Kelly. The band also performed a military drill to the delight of the audience.

The event was recognized and eulogized by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, (R-NY).