ARMAT Fest Brings Thousands Together in Dilijan

On August 15, Armenian culture could be seen, heard, tasted and experienced firsthand in Dilijan. Music, traditional crafts, local brands and Armenian cuisine came together in one place as Dilijan hosted ARMAT Fest for the first time.

The festival’s name was not chosen by chance. “Armat” means “root” in Armenian and symbolizes the connection between the past and the present, as well as between tradition and contemporary culture.

From traditional crafts to modern Armenian design, the festival featured local brands and producers. Visitors could also sample both traditional and contemporary Armenian cuisine.

One of the highlights of ARMAT Fest was a series of workshops dedicated to traditional Armenian crafts. The workshops on vordan karmir, a traditional Armenian red dye, and national doll-making attracted so many visitors that the number of participants exceeded one hundred.

Holding the festival in Dilijan also contributes to the city’s development as a tourist and cultural destination. Organized by Green Rock, the event took place next to the newly opened Villa3 Community Hub, on the site of the future concert hall of the multifunctional complex.

For Artem Zatsepin, who has been living in Dilijan for several months, the city’s appeal lies not only in its nature and mountains. He also enjoys its cultural life and the community that brings together new people and ideas every day.

In the second half of the day, the festival continued with a musical program. Garik and Sona, the band Lav Eli, and Mikael Voskanyan and Friends took to the stage.

This marked the end of the first ARMAT Fest in Dilijan, with a promise to return next year.