It is our great pleasure to announce that the 2010 Croatian Children's and Youth Festival will take place April 24-25, for the first time in the beautiful auditorium of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria.

With the Festival's return in 2009 after a five year absence, we achieved great success and an emptiness that was felt for many years in our community was filled. Our children and youth once again demonstrated their desire for socializing with one another and learning, as well as a wonderful talent for song and dance with which they delighted spectators as they had done in years past.

We are therefore especially pleased to reintroduce the Festival Evening for Youth at this year's event. A group of 18 youth will perform during the first Festival Evening on Saturday, April 24th beginning at 7 pm. A second group of 22 children between the ages of six and twelve will perform at 5 pm on Sunday, April 25th.

The organizing committee, equipped with valuable experience from last year's festival and those of previous years, has already completed a large amount of work and preparations are moving forward at full speed. In order to organize another unforgettable event of Croatian song in the heart of New York, however, we need the support of our entire community. We need your valuable support.

This year’s festival will also receive extensive media promotion, and a crew from Croatian Television has already announced that it will film both Festival Evenings.

As you may be aware, the organization of a festival is very demanding and requires the substantial financial support of many sponsors, without whom this Festival would not be possible. Your donation contributes to the recording of songs, the rental of the auditorium and the Festival’s technical aspects. The realization of this complex cultural event is possible thanks to the enormous effort of members of the Croatian community in Astoria, countless volunteers as well as that of the performers themselves - children, youth and their parents.

It would mean a great deal to all of our children and to the entire community should you decide to join this effort and become one of the Festival’s sponsors. Your donation will enable the continuation of this truly unique cultural manifestation, not only to Croatians in New York but beyond.

The names of all festival donors and sponsors will be announced throughout both Festival Evenings while the names of large donors will be published on our web site and their logos printed on our DVD and CD.

With our best wishes and appreciation for your continued support,
The Committee of the Croatian Children's and Youth Festival