Galičnik Wedding Festival (July, weekend around St Peter's Day) — Held in the mountain village of Galičnik in Mavrovo National Park, this is one of the most unusual and genuine folk events in the Balkans. A real wedding is performed using centuries-old Mijak customs: traditional costumes, music, dances, and rituals played out over two days. Visitors mix freely with participants. It's crowded but worth the effort to get there.
Ohrid Summer Festival (July–August) — A month-long cultural programme of classical music, theatre, and folk performances held in Ohrid and on the lake shore. The outdoor venues — ancient churches, amphitheatres, the fortress — make the setting as memorable as the events.
Skopje Jazz Festival (October) — One of the region's better jazz festivals, held in Skopje since 1982. International and local acts perform across several venues.
Balkan Folklore Festival (Ohrid, late August/early September) — Groups from across the Balkans and beyond perform traditional music and dance in Ohrid. A good opportunity to see how much variety exists within regional folk traditions.
Strumica Carnival (February/March, before Lent) — One of the larger carnival events in the region, with masked processions and street parties in Strumica.