The 2006 edition was most likely the most successful yet, as the event was also televised live to an audience of over 14 million people, not only in the United States, but all over the world from Tel Aviv to Montreal.
People from the New York metropolitan region, tourists, diplomats, businessmen, leaders of the Romanian-American community and church officials and other dignitaries took part in the event this year.
The Festival reunited Romanians and Americans from both continents and promoted the great relationship between the two countries.
Among the honored guests were HE Sorin Ducaru – ambassador of Romania to the United States -, HE Mihnea Motoc – ambassador or Romania to the United Nations -, the Labor Minister, Mr. Gheorghe Barbu and the Hon. Pietro Pavoni – Consul General of Romania in New York.
Well-known Romanian artists and groups – Akcent, Nico, George Rotaru and Maria Ciobanu – performed live for the audience as hundreds danced Romanian traditional dances.
The program included a parade of Romanian national costumes from Maramures, Banat, Moldova, Dobrogea and Muscel regions.
A message from New York City’s mayor Michael Bloomberg was read by deputy mayor for diplomatic affairs, Elisabeth Daly stating that “Romanian New Yorkers have made a great contribution to the Big Apple, and we salute them for their exceptional achievements.”