The Days of Czechs from Banat were opened by Ambassador Jiří ŠItler on Friday, May 10. The delegation of senators from the Czech Republic, including Chairman of the Standing Commission on Compatriots Living Abroad Tomáš Grulich, attended also the very first event, screening of documentary films Piemule directed by Jana Ševčíková and The Wind that Broke the Land by Ivo Bystřičan. The screening was followed by a discussion of spectators with the Czechs living in Banat.

The programme continued in the National Village Museum, where music and dance ensembles from the Czech villages of Gerník and Svatá Helena  as well as traditional handicrafts shown by the Czechs from Eibenthal and tasting of local specialities met with great interest of visitors. The Baptist choir from Svatá Helena performed with success also in the Anglican Church of the Resurrection.  Two photography exhibitions are part of the Days of Czechs from Banat – the opening of  the exhibition “Czechs from Banat” by Pavel Hroch took place in Henri Stahl hall of the National Village Museum on Saturday and it will continue until 5 June. Pictures from Czech villages in Banat by photographer Ivo Dokoupil can be seen in the University Passage. There a parade in traditional costumes started on Saturday night. People went dancing to Czech folk music through the Old Town to La Historia Pub where the fun continued.  The Days of Czechs from Banat were attended by some 7 000 visitors.